European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization

Explosive atmospheres - Part 7: Equipment protection by increased safety "e"
 N EN 60079-7

Annotation

This part of IEC 60079 specifies the requirements for the design, construction, testing and marking of electrical equipment and Ex Components with type of protection increased safety “e” intended for use in explosive gas atmospheres. Electrical equipment and Ex Components of type of protection increased safety “e” are either:

a) Level of Protection “eb” (EPL “Mb” or “Gb”); or

b) Level of Protection “ec” (EPL “Gc”)

Level of Protection “eb” applies to equipment or Ex Components, including their connections, conductors, windings, lamps, and batteries; but not including semiconductors or electrolytic capacitors.

NOTE 1 The use of electronic components, such as semiconductors or electrolytic capacitors, is excluded from Level of Protection “eb” as expected malfunctions could result in excessive temperatures or arcs and sparks if the internal separation distances were not applied. It is not generally practical to maintain those separation distances and maintain the function of the electronic component.

Level of Protection “ec” applies to equipment or Ex Components, including their connections, conductors, windings, lamps, and batteries; and also including semiconductors and electrolytic capacitors.

NOTE 2 The use of electronic components, such as semiconductors or electrolytic capacitors, is permitted in Level of Protection “ec” as these are evaluated under both normal conditions and regular expected occurrences, and are not likely to result in excessive temperatures or arcs and sparks. As the requirements for separation distances are not applied to the internal construction, commercially available electronic components are generally suitable if the external separation distances comply.