IEC 60079-17:2007

IEC 60079-17
Edition 4.0 2007-08
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Explosive atmospheres –
Part 17: Electrical installations inspection and maintenance

Atmosphères explosives –
Partie 17: Inspection et entretien des installations électriques

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IEC 60079-17
Edition 4.0 2007-08
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Explosive atmospheres –
Part 17: Electrical installations inspection and maintenance

Atmosphères explosives –
Partie 17: Inspection et entretien des installations électriques

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
PRICE CODE
INTERNATIONALE
W
CODE PRIX
ICS 29.260.20 ISBN 2-8318-9294-5

– 2 – 60079-17 © IEC:2007
CONTENTS
FOREWORD.4
INTRODUCTION.6

1 Scope.7
2 Normative references .7
3 Terms and definitions .8
4 General requirements .10
4.1 Documentation .10
4.2 Qualification of personnel.10
4.3 Inspections.10
4.3.1 General .10
4.3.2 Grades of inspection.11
4.3.3 Types of inspection .11
4.4 Periodic inspections .12
4.4.1 Personnel .12
4.4.2 Fixed installations.12
4.4.3 Moveable equipment .12
4.5 Continuous supervision by skilled personnel .13
4.5.1 Concept.13
4.5.2 Objectives .13
4.5.3 Responsibilities .13
4.5.4 Frequency of inspection.14
4.5.5 Documents .14
4.5.6 Training .14
4.6 Maintenance requirements .15
4.6.1 Remedial measures and alterations to equipment.15
4.6.2 Maintenance of flexible cables.15
4.6.3 Withdrawal from service .15
4.6.4 Fastenings and tools .15
4.7 Environmental conditions .16
4.8 Isolation of equipment .16
4.8.1 Installations other than intrinsically safe circuits .16
4.8.2 Intrinsically safe installations .17
4.9 Earthing and equipotential bonding .18
4.10 Specific conditions of use.18
4.11 Movable equipment and its connections .18
4.12 Inspection schedules (Tables 1 to 4) .18
4.12.1 Equipment is appropriate to the EPL/zone requirements of the
location .18
4.12.2 Equipment group is correct.18
4.12.3 Equipment maximum surface temperature is correct.18
4.12.4 Equipment circuit identification .18
4.12.5 Cable gland .19
4.12.6 Type of cable is appropriate .19
4.12.7 Sealing .19
4.12.8 Fault loop impedance or earthing resistance.19

60079-17 © IEC:2007 – 3 –
4.12.9 Insulation resistance.19
4.12.10 Overload protection .19
5 Additional inspection schedule requirements .19
5.1 Type of protection "d" – Flameproof enclosure (see Table 1 and IEC 60079-1).19
5.1.1 Flameproof joints (see IEC 60079-1) .19
5.2 Type of protection "e" – Increased safety (see Table 1 and IEC 60079-7).20
5.2.1 Overloads.20
5.3 Type of protection "i" and "iD" – Intrinsic safety (see Table 2 and IEC 60079-11
or IEC 61241-11).20
5.3.1 General .20
5.3.2 Documentation .20
5.3.3 Labelling.20
5.3.4 Unauthorized modifications.21
5.3.5 Associated apparatus (safety interface) between intrinsically safe
and non-intrinsically safe circuits .21
5.3.6 Cables.21
5.3.7 Cable screens .21
5.3.8 Point-to-point connections .21
5.3.9 Earth continuity of non-galvanically isolated circuits .21
5.3.10 Earth connections to maintain the integrity of the intrinsic safety .21
5.3.11 Intrinsically safe circuit earthing and/or insulation.22
5.3.12 Separation between intrinsically safe and non-intrinsically safe
circuits.22
5.4 Type of protection "p" and "pD" – Pressurized enclosure (see Table 3 and
IEC 60079-2 or IEC 61241-4) .22
5.5 Type of protection "n" (see Table 1 or 2 and IEC 60079-15) .22
5.5.1 General .22
5.5.2 Restricted breathing enclosures .22
5.6 Type of protection "tD" – Protection by enclosure (see Table 4 and
IEC 61241-1).22
5.7 Types of protection "m" and "mD" (encapsulation), "o" (oil-immersion) and
"q" (powder-filling).22
6 Inspection schedules .23

Annex A (informative) Typical inspection procedure for periodic inspections .28
Annex B (normative) Knowledge, skills and competencies of "responsible persons",
"technical persons with executive function" and "operatives".29
Annex C (informative) Introduction of an alternative risk assessment method
encompassing “equipment protection levels” for Ex equipment .31

Bibliography.36

Table 1 – Inspection schedule for Ex "d", Ex "e" and Ex "n" installations (D = Detailed,
C = Close, V = Visual) .23
Table 2 – Inspection schedule for Ex "i", "iD" and "nL" installa
...