What is this standard about?
This is part 17 of the European standard on explosive atmospheres. It deals with how electrical installations should be maintained and inspected to preserve the integrity of the features which render them suitable for operation in such atmospheres.
Who is this standard for?
- Supervisors and inspectors of electrical equipment in explosive atmospheres
- Health and safety bodies
- Regulatory bodies
Why should you use this standard?
Electrical installations in hazardous areas possess features that are specially designed to render them suitable for operations in such atmospheres. It is essential for safety that, throughout the life of such installations, the integrity of those special features is preserved. They therefore require initial inspection and either:
- Regular periodic inspections
- Continuous supervision by skilled personnel in accordance with this standard and, when necessary, maintenance
BS EN 60079:17 applies to users and covers factors directly related to the inspection and maintenance of electrical installations within hazardous areas only, where the hazard may be caused by flammable gases, vapours, mists, dusts, fibres or flyings.
NOTE: This standard does not include:
- Other fundamental installation and inspection requirements for electrical installations
- The verification of electrical equipment
- The repair and reclamation of explosion protected equipment.
This standard supplements the requirements of IEC 60364-6.
What’s changed since the last update?
This revision provides a technical update of the 2007 version of this standard which has been withdrawn. It includes the following significant technical changes:
- Equipment specific inspection tables for luminaires, heating systems and motors have been added into Annex A to supplement the general protection concept tables.
- The document has been updated to complement the changes made to BS EN 60079-14 for initial inspection.
