IEC 60079-17:2013

This part of IEC 60079 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. It does not apply to underground mining areas, areas where a risk can arise due to the presence of hybrid mixtures, dusts of explosives that do not require atmospheric oxygen for combustion, and pyrophoric substances. The significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition are as follows: Additional requirements for inspection and maintenance of electrical installations for combustible dusts and Equipment Protection Levels have been introduced and are explained in the new Annex C.

IEC 60079-17:2023 applies to users and covers only those factors directly related to the inspection and maintenance of electrical installations specifically designed for hazardous areas, where the hazard is caused by explosive atmospheres. It does not include: - other fundamental installation and inspection requirements for electrical installations; - the verification of electrical equipment; - protection or ventilation of rooms; - gas detection systems; - the repair, overhaul and reclamation of explosion protected equipment (see IEC 60079-19). While this document does not include inspection of safety devices such as used in ventilated rooms (see IEC 60079-13), it does include the requirements for inspection and maintenance of individual items of equipment that will be part of such systems, for example motors or sensors. This document supplements the requirements for inspection and testing in non-hazardous areas in IEC 60364-6. This document is intended to be applied where there is a risk due to the potential presence of explosive gas or dust mixtures with air or combustible dust layers under normal atmospheric conditions. It does not apply to: - underground mining areas, - dusts of explosives, - pyrophoric substances. This sixth edition cancels and replaces the fifth edition published in 2013. This edition constitutes a technical revision.