Standards Development

Scope

This part of ISO/IEC 80079 specifies the explosion protection requirements for the construction, testing and marking for Group I of Ex Equipment that can be an individual item, or be an assembly of multiple items of Ex Equipment and Ex Components forming mining machinery.

NOTE 1 The Group I designation takes account of the fact coal dust (which is a combustible dust) is expected to be present, with or without the presence of firedamp, which is predominately methane.

NOTE 2 The definition of Group I also covers mines other than coal mines that are susceptible to firedamp.

NOTE 3 The term “assembly” as used in this document is not identical in meaning to the term “Equipment Assembly” as defined in IEC 60079-46.

The standard atmospheric conditions (relating to the explosion characteristics of the atmosphere) under which it can be assumed that Ex Equipment can be operated are:

• temperature -20 °C to +60 °C;
• pressure 80 kPa (0,8 bar) to 110 kPa (1,1 bar); and
• air with normal oxygen content, typically a volume fraction of 21 %

This part of ISO/IEC 80079 applies for Ex Equipment and Ex Components with Explosion Protection Levels (EPLs) Ma and Mb.

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 document is not applicable to tunnelling situations where firedamp or coal dust might be produced if such situations are not classified as mines.  However, it might be appropriate to use this document as guidance for those situations.