EN 50177:2006

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-marec-2007
1DGRPHãþD
SIST EN 50177:1998
$YWRPDWVNDRSUHPD]DHOHNWURVWDWLþQREUL]JDQMHJRUOMLYHJDSUDKX]DSUHYOHNH
Automatic electrostatic spraying equipment for flammable coating powder
Ortsfeste elektrostatische Sprühanlagen für brennbare Beschichtungspulver
Installations automatiques de projection électrostatique de poudre de revêtement
inflammable
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 50177:2006
ICS:
29.260.20 (OHNWULþQLDSDUDWL]D Electrical apparatus for
HNVSOR]LYQDR]UDþMD explosive atmospheres
87.100 Oprema za nanašanje Paint coating equipment
premazov
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EUROPEAN STANDARD
EN 50177
NORME EUROPÉENNE
October 2006
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 87.100 Supersedes EN 50177:1996

English version
Automatic electrostatic spraying equipment
for flammable coating powder
Installations automatiques  Ortsfeste elektrostatische Sprühanlagen
de projection électrostatique für brennbare Beschichtungspulver
de poudre de revêtement inflammable

This European Standard was approved by CENELEC on 2006-05-01. CENELEC members are bound to comply
with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard
the status of a national standard without any alteration.

Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on
application to the Central Secretariat or to any CENELEC member.

This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other
language made by translation under the responsibility of a CENELEC member into its own language and notified
to the Central Secretariat has the same status as the official versions.

CENELEC members are the national electrotechnical committees of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, the Czech
Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain,
Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

CENELEC
European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization
Comité Européen de Normalisation Electrotechnique
Europäisches Komitee für Elektrotechnische Normung

Central Secretariat: rue de Stassart 35, B - 1050 Brussels

© 2006 CENELEC - All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CENELEC members.
Ref. No. EN 50177:2006 E
Foreword
This European Standard was prepared by SC 31-8, Electrostatic painting and finishing equipment, of Technical
Committee CENELEC TC 31, Electrical apparatus for explosive atmospheres. The text of the draft was
submitted to the formal vote and was approved by CENELEC as EN 50177 on 2006-05-01.
This European Standard supersedes EN 50177:1996.
The following dates were fixed:
– latest date by which the EN has to be implemented
at national level by publication of an identical
national standard or by endorsement (dop) 2007-05-01
– latest date by which the national standards conflicting
with the EN have to be withdrawn (dow) 2009-05-01
This European Standard has been prepared under a mandate given to CENELEC by the European
Commission and the European Free Trade Association and covers essential requirements of EC Directive
94/9/EC. See Annex ZZ.
__________
– 3 – EN 50177:2006
Contents
0 Introduction . 4
1 Scope . 5
2 Normative references . 5

3 Definitions. 6

4 General requirements. 9

5 Construction requirements.10

6 High voltage tests. 12

7 Marking. 12
8 Instruction manual, cleaning and maintenance. 13
Annex A (normative) Spraying areas and powder collection unit . 15
Annex ZZ (informative) Coverage of Essential Requirements of EC Directives. 16

0 Introduction
0.1 Process
In the process of electrostatic powder coating the powder is transported in an air stream from a powder
hopper up to an electrostatic spraying device. As the powder particles flow through the spraying device they
are electrostatically charged by means of a high voltage of the order of some tens of kilovolts and ejected in
the form of a cloud which is directed towards the workpiece. The powder particles of the cloud are attracted
to and deposited on the earthed workpiece. The powder will continue to be deposited on the earthed
workpiece until, at a certain thickness, it acts as an insulator and so further deposition of powder is
prevented.
Powder that is not deposited on the workpiece (overspray) is extracted by the exhaust ventilation system or
other means into the powder collection unit.
The workpieces coated with powder are then passed into an oven where the powder is melted and cured into
a coherent coating.
0.2 Special hazard
1)
A flammable coating powder explosion may occur where both
– the concentration of coating powder in air is in the explosion range and
– a source of ignition of sufficient energy for that coating powder cloud is present. This ignition source can
be for example a hot surface, a naked flame or an electrical arc or spark.
It follows that an explosion can be prevented if one or preferably both of these conditions are avoided. Due to
the difficulty in totally eliminating sources of ignition most reliance should be placed on avoiding explosive
concentrations of coating powder in air.
Although an intimate mixture of flammable coating powder and air may burn with explosive violence,
0.2.1
not all mixtures will do so. There is a range of concentrations of coating powder in air in which the mixture
can explode, but mixtures above or below this range cannot.
NOTE If a burning powder cloud is confined within a space which restricts free escape of expanding gases and combustion products
the explosion may lead to a pressure increase.
The particle size distribution of coating powders is usually in the range of 5 µm to 80 µm. Where there
0.2.2
is a doubt about or no knowledge of the lower explosion limit, an average concentration of the coating powder
suspended in the air of 10 g/m³ shall not be exceeded.
0.2.3 It is important that deposits of powder are not allowed to accumulate within the spraying areas for they
may become disturbed and give rise to an explosive atmosphere. This does not apply to deposits on filter
devices and accumulations of coating powder in hoppers where filters and hoppers are integrated in the
spraying area and are designed to collect the coating powder.
0.2.4 Careful attention should be given to prevent the build-up of an electrostatic charge on various surfaces
close to the powder application zone. These can be the workpieces being coated or moving automatic
devices and fixtures of the powder spraying system etc. Care should be taken that these are adequately
earthed. Of special importance is the attention needed to maintain proper earthing through the fixtures
supporting the workpieces. These should be carefully designed to minimize deposition of powder on them.

1)
In the sense of this European Standard flammable coating powders are treated as combustible dusts.

– 5 – EN 50177:2006
1 Scope
1.1 This European Standard specifies requirements for automatic electrostatic spraying equipment which
are used for spraying flammable powders which create explosive atmospheres in the spraying area. In this
connection distinction is made between spraying devices which due to their type of construction comply with
requirements as laid down in EN 50050:2006 as applicable, and those for which other discharge energies
and/or current limits are stipulated.
It also gives information on the safe operational conditions of the electrical equipment including ventilation
requirements. Additional requirements as to the construction of the spraying areas such as cabins, booths,
etc. are dealt with in EN 12981.
1.2 This European Standard considers the following three types of electrostatic spraying systems.
Type A Systems complying with EN 50050:2006 with a discharge energy limit of 2 mJ (see 5.1.1)

In these systems there is no danger of either electric shock or discharges of incendive energy.
Type B Systems with a discharge energy in excess of 2 mJ but less than 350 mJ and a current limit of less
than 0,7 mA (see 5.1.2)
In these systems there is no danger of electric shock but there are dangers from discharges of
incendive energy.
Type C Systems with a discharge energy in excess of 350 mJ and/or a current in excess of 0,7 mA (see 5.1.3)

In these systems there are dangers of electric shock and from discharges of incendive energy.
1.3 This European Standard considers the hazards specific to explosive atmospheres created by the
electrostatic spraying process.
1.4 The automatic electrostatic spraying equipment for flammable coating powders shall be constructed
suitable for group II category 3 as defined in EN 60079-0.
This European Standard does not deal with matters of noise created by the equipment. For this item,
1.5
the requirements are laid down in EN ISO 11688-1.
2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced
document (including any amendments) applies.
CLC/TR 50404 2003 Electrostatics – Code of practice for the avoidance of hazards due to static
electricity
EN 1127-1 1997 Explosive atmospheres – Explosion prevention and protection –
Part 1: Basic concepts and methodology
EN 1149 series Protective clothing – Electrostatic properties
EN 12981 2005 Coating plants – Spray booths for application of organic powder coating
material – Safety requirements

EN 13478 2001 Safety of machinery – Fire prevention and protection
EN 50050 2006 Electrical apparatus for potentially explosive atmospheres –
Electrostatic hand-held spraying equipment
EN 60079 series Electrical apparatus for explosive gas atmospheres (IEC 60079 series, mod.)
EN 60079-0 2006 Electrical apparatus for explosive gas atmospheres –
Part 0: General requirements (IEC 60079-0:2004, mod.)
EN 60529 1991 Degrees of protection provided by enclosures (IP Code) (IEC 60529:1989)
EN 61340-4-1 2004 Electrostatics – Part 4-1: Standard test methods for specific applications –
Electrical resistance of floor coverings and installed floors
(IEC 61340-4-1:2003)
EN ISO 11688-1 1998 Acoustics – Recommended practice for the design of low-noise machinery
and equipment – Part 1: Planning (ISO/TR 11688-1:1995)
EN ISO 20344 2004 Personal protective equipment – Test methods for footwear
(ISO 20344:2004)
3 Definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
3.1
electrostatic spraying device for powder spraying material
device for producing, charging and depositing suspended powder particles with the assistance of electric fields
3.2
electrostatic spraying system
system in general comprising electrostatic spraying devices, high voltage supply system and connecting cables
3.3
automatic electrostatic spraying equipment
equipment in which the spraying device is either permanently fixed or led by means of moving automatic
devices (e.g. robots)
NOTE An installation with automatic electrostatic spraying equipment comprises in general the following items:
– spraying area;
– high voltage supply system;
– electrostatic spraying device;
– supply of spraying material;
– fixtures of the spraying devices;
– jigs/resp. fixtures of the workpieces;
– conveyors;
– earthing system;
– exhaust ventilation system;
– fire protection equipment;
– explosion protection device.

– 7 – EN 50177:2006
3.4
high voltage supply system
voltage conversion unit comprising in general
– low voltage section with devices for switching on and off the unit and for adjustment, control, regulation,
limitation and monitoring of voltage and current,
– high voltage section for voltage conversion,
– high voltage switching device,
– high voltage cables
3.5
spraying area
area, closed or not, in which the spraying material is deposited onto the workpieces by the electrostatic
spraying system
3.5.1
enclosed spray cabin
area closed on all sides while spraying except openings for ingress and egress of the workpieces and ducts
for ventilation
3.5.2
partly enclosed spray cabin
area closed on all sides while spraying except openings for ingress and egress of the workpieces, the
automatic electrostatic spraying devices and ducts for ventilation
3.5.3
spray booth
area closed on all sides while spraying except on the side of the automatic electrostatic spraying devices and
excluding openings for ingress and egress of the workpieces and ducts for ventilation
3.6
powder collection unit
unit which collects excessive powder of the spraying process which has not been deposited on the
workpiece.
In general, the powder collection unit is connected
...