Technical standards

What are the standards for the methods of protection for electrical equipment?

The following, although not exhaustive, is a list of the standards applicable to the selection, installation, maintenance and repair of electrical equipment:

• BS EN 60079:2009 Explosive atmospheres. Equipment. General Requirements Part 0
• BS EN 60079:2007 Explosive atmospheres. Equipment protected by flameproof enclosures "d". Part 1
• BS EN 60079:2007 Explosive atmospheres. Equipment protected by pressurised enclosures "p". Part 2
• BS EN 60079:2007 Explosive atmospheres. Equipment protection by increased safety "e". Part 7
• BS EN 60079:2009 Explosive atmospheres. Classification of areas. Explosive gas atmospheres. Part 10-1
• BS EN 60079:2009 Explosive atmospheres. Classification of areas. Combustible dust atmospheres. Part 10-2
• BS EN 60079:2007 Explosive atmospheres. Equipment protection by intrinsic safety "i". Part 11
• BS EN 60079:2008 Explosive atmospheres. Electrical installations design, selection and erection. Part 14
• BS EN 60079:2010 Electrical apparatus for explosive gas atmospheres Part 15: Type of protection 'n'
• BS EN 60079:2007 Explosive atmospheres. Electrical installations inspection and maintenance. Part 17
• BS EN 60079:2009 Electrical apparatus for explosive gas atmospheres Part 18: Construction, test and marking of type of protection encapsulation 'm' electrical apparatus
• BS EN 60079:2011 Explosive atmospheres. Equipment repair, overhaul and reclamation. Part 19
• BS EN 60079:2007 Electrical apparatus for explosive gas atmospheres Part 28: Protection of equipment and transmission systems using optical radiation

What are the standards for mechanical protection concepts?

The following standards have been published to date or, where indicated, are due for publication shortly:

• BS EN 13463:2009 Non-electrical equipment for use in potentially explosive atmospheres. Basic method and requirements. Part 1
• BS EN 13463:2004 Non-electrical equipment for use in potentially explosive atmospheres. Protection by flow restricting enclosure 'fr'. Part 2
• BS EN 13463:2005 Non-electrical equipment for use in potentially explosive atmospheres. Protection by flameproof enclosure 'd'. Part 3
• BS EN 13463:2003 Non-electrical equipment intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres. Protection by constructional safety 'c'. Part 5
• BS EN 13463:2005 Non-electrical equipment for potentially explosive atmospheres. Protection by control of ignition source 'b'. Part 6
• BS EN 13463:20xx Non-electrical equipment for potentially explosive atmospheres Part 7: Protection by pressurization 'p' (standard in preparation)
• BS EN 13463:2003 Non-electrical equipment for potentially explosive atmospheres Part 8: Protection by liquid immersion 'k'

Other parts of this standard (EN 13463) are currently under development.

Where can I get a list of standards which have been harmonised under ATEX?

A list of standards is available from European Commission Enterprise and Industry - Harmonised ATEX standards.

Products complying with any of these standards carry the presumption of conformity with the Directive. In the absence of an appropriate EU harmonised standard, products compliant with the EPS Regulations are conformity assessed against the essential health and safety requirements (EHSRs) utilising, (in order of preference) existing European, national or other technical standards. The CENELEC website contains more information on the numerical series IEC 60079. (Note that all of these lists are subject to regular change.)