M/596 - ATEX

IEC 60079-18:2025 gives the specific requirements for the construction, testing and marking of electrical Ex Equipment, parts of electrical Ex Equipment and Ex Components with the Type of Protection encapsulation "m" (hereinafter referred to as "m" Equipment) intended for use in explosive gas atmospheres or explosive dust atmospheres. For Levels of Protection "mb" and "mc", this document applies where the rated voltage does not exceed 11 kV ACRMS or DC. For Level of Protection "ma", this document applies where the rated voltage does not exceed 1 kV ACRMS or DC. This document does not take account of any hazard due to an emission of flammable or toxic gas from the dust. This document supplements and modifies the general requirements of IEC 60079-0. Where a requirement of this document conflicts with a requirement of IEC 60079-0, the requirement of this document takes precedence. This fifth edition cancels and replaces the fourth edition published in 2014 and Amendment 1:2017. This edition constitutes a technical revision. This International Standard is to be used in conjunction with IEC 60079-0, Explosive atmospheres - Part 0: Equipment - General requirements. Users of this document are advised that interpretation sheets clarifying the interpretation of this document can be published. Interpretation sheets are available from the IEC webstore and can be found in the "history" tab of the page for each document. Please see the foreword to this document for the list of significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition.

IEC 60079-18:2025 gives the specific requirements for the construction, testing and marking of electrical Ex Equipment, parts of electrical Ex Equipment and Ex Components with the Type of Protection encapsulation "m" (hereinafter referred to as "m" Equipment) intended for use in explosive gas atmospheres or explosive dust atmospheres. For Levels of Protection "mb" and "mc", this document applies where the rated voltage does not exceed 11 kV ACRMS or DC. For Level of Protection "ma", this document applies where the rated voltage does not exceed 1 kV ACRMS or DC. This document does not take account of any hazard due to an emission of flammable or toxic gas from the dust. This document supplements and modifies the general requirements of IEC 60079-0. Where a requirement of this document conflicts with a requirement of IEC 60079-0, the requirement of this document takes precedence. This fifth edition cancels and replaces the fourth edition published in 2014 and Amendment 1:2017. This edition constitutes a technical revision. This International Standard is to be used in conjunction with IEC 60079-0, Explosive atmospheres - Part 0: Equipment - General requirements. Users of this document are advised that interpretation sheets clarifying the interpretation of this document can be published. Interpretation sheets are available from the IEC webstore and can be found in the "history" tab of the page for each document. Please see the foreword to this document for the list of significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition.

1.1   This document specifies the electrical requirements for the design of automatic electrostatic application systems for liquid coating materials which can be ignited in an atomised state, used within a temperature range from 5 °C to 40 °C.
This document considers automatic electrostatic application systems for processing ignitable liquid coating materials, where the conductivity of the complete system is limited up to 50 nS/cm. Together with additional measures like e.g. potential separation systems, these requirements can also be applied to ignitable liquid coating materials, where the conductivity of the complete system is limited up to 2 000 μS/cm.
Ignition hazards related to the generated explosive atmosphere and the protection of persons against electric shock are considered.
1.2   This document specifies
-   requirements for an interface to machinery according to EN 16985:2018,
-   additional requirements for machinery covered by EN 1953:2025 and EN 12621:2025.
1.3   This document also specifies requirements for a safe operation of electrostatic application systems, including the electrical installation. The requirements consider both the processing of coating materials and the cleaning and purge processes.
1.4   This document applies to three types of spraying systems; see 5.1.1.
Spraying systems are classified as equipment of group II, category 2G (for intended use in zone 1 or zone 2) or category 3G (for intended use in zone 2).
Only electrostatic spraying systems operating with a d.c. sinusoidal ripple of not more than 10 % of the r.m.s. value are considered.
1.5   For electrostatic application systems used in food and pharmaceutical industry, additional requirements may apply.
1.6   This document does not apply to
-   potential separation systems;
-   selection, installation and application of other electrical and non-electrical equipment in areas with explosion hazard, see EN 60079-14:2014 and EN 16985:2018;
-   quality assurance systems for electrostatic spraying equipment (see EN ISO/IEC 80079-34:2020, ZB.11).

1.1 This document specifies the electrical requirements for the design of automatic electrostatic application systems for liquid coating materials which can be ignited in an atomised state, used within a temperature range from 5 °C to 40 °C. This document considers automatic electrostatic application systems for processing ignitable liquid coating materials, where the conductivity of the complete system is limited up to 50 nS/cm. Together with additional measures like e.g. potential separation systems, these requirements can also be applied to ignitable liquid coating materials, where the conductivity of the complete system is limited up to 2 000 μS/cm. Ignition hazards related to the generated explosive atmosphere and the protection of persons against electric shock are considered. 1.2 This document specifies - requirements for an interface to machinery according to EN 16985:2018, - additional requirements for machinery covered by EN 1953:2025 and EN 12621:2025. 1.3 This document also specifies requirements for a safe operation of electrostatic application systems, including the electrical installation. The requirements consider both the processing of coating materials and the cleaning and purge processes. 1.4 This document applies to three types of spraying systems; see 5.1.1. Spraying systems are classified as equipment of group II, category 2G (for intended use in zone 1 or zone 2) or category 3G (for intended use in zone 2). Only electrostatic spraying systems operating with a d.c. sinusoidal ripple of not more than 10 % of the r.m.s. value are considered. 1.5 For electrostatic application systems used in food and pharmaceutical industry, additional requirements may apply. 1.6 This document does not apply to - potential separation systems; - selection, installation and application of other electrical and non-electrical equipment in areas with explosion hazard, see EN 60079-14:2014 and EN 16985:2018; - quality assurance systems for electrostatic spraying equipment (see EN ISO/IEC 80079-34:2020, ZB.11).

No scope available

IEC 60079-28:2025 specifies additional requirements for Ex Equipment, Ex associated equipment or Ex Components containing optical systems emitting optical radiation, which is exposed to explosive atmospheres. These additional requirements are applicable for all equipment groups and all Equipment Protection Levels (EPL). This document contains requirements for optical radiation in the wavelength range from 380 nm to 10 µm. It covers the following ignition mechanisms: • Optical radiation is absorbed by surfaces or particles, causing them to heat up, and under certain circumstances this might allow them to attain a temperature which will ignite a surrounding explosive atmosphere. • In rare special cases, direct laser induced breakdown of the gas at the focus of a strong beam, producing plasma and a shock wave both eventually acting as ignition source. These processes can be supported by a solid material close to the breakdown point. • Annex A provides guidance when considering ignition mechanisms that influence the hazard of optics in explosive atmospheres. This document applies to a) laser equipment; and b) optical fibre equipment; and c) any optical system that converts light into convergent beams with focal points within the hazardous area only. This document does not apply to: d) laser equipment for EPL Mb, Gb, Gc, Db or Dc applications which complies with Class 1 limits in accordance with IEC 60825-1; or e) Single or multiple optical fibre cables not part of optical fibre equipment if the cables: 1) comply with the relevant industrial standards for optical fibre cables, along with additional protective means, for example robust cabling, conduit or raceway (for EPL Gb, Db, Mb, Gc or Dc); or 2) comply with the relevant industrial standards for optical fibre cables (for EPL Gc or Dc); or f) Optical radiation sources as defined in i) to iii) above where the optical radiation is fully contained in an enclosure complying with one of the following Types of Protection suitable for the EPL, or the minimum ingress protection rating specified: 1) flameproof "d" enclosures (IEC 60079-1); or 2) pressurized "p" enclosures (IEC 60079-2); or 3) restricted breathing "nR" enclosure (IEC 60079-15); or 4) dust protection "t" enclosures" (IEC 60079-31); or 5) an enclosure that provides a minimum ingress protection of IP 6X and where no internal absorbers are to be expected and complying with "Tests of enclosures" in IEC 60079-0. This document does not cover ignition by ultraviolet radiation and by absorption of the radiation in the explosive mixture itself. Explosive absorbers or absorbers that contain their own oxidizer as well as catalytic absorbers are also outside the scope of this document. This document supplements and modifies the general requirements of IEC 60079-0. Where a requirement of this document conflicts with a requirement of IEC 60079-0, the requirement of this document takes precedence. This third edition cancels and replaces the second edition published in 2015. This edition constitutes a technical revision

Creating an amendment to list the EN IEC 60079-15:2019 in OJEU by submitting European elements (Annex ZZ and Annex ZA)

IEC 60079-28:2025 specifies additional requirements for Ex Equipment, Ex associated equipment or Ex Components containing optical systems emitting optical radiation, which is exposed to explosive atmospheres. These additional requirements are applicable for all equipment groups and all Equipment Protection Levels (EPL).
This document contains requirements for optical radiation in the wavelength range from 380 nm to 10 µm. It covers the following ignition mechanisms:
• Optical radiation is absorbed by surfaces or particles, causing them to heat up, and under certain circumstances this might allow them to attain a temperature which will ignite a surrounding explosive atmosphere.
• In rare special cases, direct laser induced breakdown of the gas at the focus of a strong beam, producing plasma and a shock wave both eventually acting as ignition source. These processes can be supported by a solid material close to the breakdown point.
• Annex A provides guidance when considering ignition mechanisms that influence the hazard of optics in explosive atmospheres.
This document applies to
a) laser equipment; and
b) optical fibre equipment; and
c) any optical system that converts light into convergent beams with focal points within the hazardous area only.
This document does not apply to:
d) laser equipment for EPL Mb, Gb, Gc, Db or Dc applications which complies with Class 1 limits in accordance with IEC 60825-1; or
e) Single or multiple optical fibre cables not part of optical fibre equipment if the cables:
1) comply with the relevant industrial standards for optical fibre cables, along with additional protective means, for example robust cabling, conduit or raceway (for EPL Gb, Db, Mb, Gc or Dc); or
2) comply with the relevant industrial standards for optical fibre cables (for EPL Gc or Dc); or
f) Optical radiation sources as defined in i) to iii) above where the optical radiation is fully contained in an enclosure complying with one of the following Types of Protection suitable for the EPL, or the minimum ingress protection rating specified:
1) flameproof "d" enclosures (IEC 60079-1); or
2) pressurized "p" enclosures (IEC 60079-2); or
3) restricted breathing "nR" enclosure (IEC 60079-15); or
4) dust protection "t" enclosures" (IEC 60079-31); or
5) an enclosure that provides a minimum ingress protection of IP 6X and where no internal absorbers are to be expected and complying with "Tests of enclosures" in IEC 60079-0.
This document does not cover ignition by ultraviolet radiation and by absorption of the radiation in the explosive mixture itself. Explosive absorbers or absorbers that contain their own oxidizer as well as catalytic absorbers are also outside the scope of this document.
This document supplements and modifies the general requirements of IEC 60079-0. Where a requirement of this document conflicts with a requirement of IEC 60079-0, the requirement of this document takes precedence.
This third edition cancels and replaces the second edition published in 2015. This edition constitutes a technical revision

Creating an amendment to list the EN IEC 60079-15:2019 in OJEU by submitting European elements (Annex ZZ and Annex ZA)