Standards Development

Scope

This standard specifies the requirements for venting devices used to protect enclosures against the major effects of internal explosions arising from the rapid burning of suspended dust, vapour or gas contained within. It includes the requirements for the design, inspection, testing, marking, documentation, and packaging. No electrical aspects are covered.

This standard specifies explosion venting devices which are put on the market as autonomous protective systems. Explosion venting devices are safety devices comprised of a pressure sensitive membrane fixed to and forming part of the structure that it protects, designed to intervene in the event of an explosion at a predetermined low pressure, to immediately open a vent area sufficient to ensure that the maximum pressure attained by the explosion within the enclosure does not exceed its designed resistance to pressure.

The application and specification of explosion venting devices is outlined for dust explosion protection in standards such as NFPA 68 and EN 14491 and for gas explosion protection in standards such as NFPA 68 and EN 14994. The use of venting devices according to these standards on pipelines and on applications other than described in NFPA 68, EN 14491 or EN 14994 shall be carefully evaluated and where appropriate their suitability shall be confirmed by tests.

This standard does not cover details for the avoidance of ignition sources from detection devices or other parts of the venting devices.