ISO 80079-36:2016

Overview

ISO 80079-36:2016 - Explosive atmospheres - Part 36: Non-electrical equipment for explosive atmospheres - Basic method and requirements - defines the basic method and requirements for the design, construction, testing and marking of non-electrical Ex equipment, Ex Components, protective systems, devices and assemblies that have their own potential ignition sources and are intended for use in explosive atmospheres. It covers all Equipment Protection Levels (EPLs) for Groups I, II and III and supplements/modifies the general requirements of IEC 60079-0. Hand tools and manually operated equipment without energy storage are excluded. The standard applies under standard atmospheric conditions (−20 °C to 60 °C; 80 kPa to 110 kPa; air ~21% v/v O2).

Key topics and technical requirements

• Ignition hazard assessment: formal procedures to identify ignition hazards, evaluate malfunctions and determine required protection measures and EPLs.
• Assessment of ignition sources and control means: evaluation of hot surfaces, flames/hot gases, mechanically generated sparks and friction, electrical and stray-current sources, static electricity, adiabatic compression, shock waves and exothermic reactions.
• Dust and material considerations: guidance on dust deposits, flame arrester integrity, and material selection for non-metallic parts.
• Verification and tests: hot surface ignition tests, mechanical impact and drop tests, thermal endurance, resistance to chemical substances, surface resistance tests and other tests for non-metallic components.
• Documentation, marking and instructions: technical documentation requirements, conformity evidence, marking rules (including examples and requirements for small equipment) and user instructions.
• Annexes: methodologies for confirming EPLs and worked examples / explanations of the ignition hazard assessment procedure.

Practical applications

ISO 80079-36 is essential when developing or certifying mechanical explosion protected equipment and other non-electrical devices intended for potentially explosive atmospheres. Use cases include:

• Design and verification of mechanical components and assemblies that may generate ignition sources (moving parts, hot surfaces, pressure systems).
• Preparation of conformity documentation and marking for equipment placed on market in hazardous locations.
• Establishing test programs and acceptance criteria for non-electrical Ex Components and protective systems.

Who should use this standard

• Design and mechanical engineers working on equipment for petrochemical, mining, pharmaceutical, grain handling and similar industries.
• Manufacturers of non-electrical Ex equipment and Ex Components.
• Certification and conformity assessment bodies, safety engineers, maintenance teams and regulatory authorities responsible for hazardous-area safety.

Related standards

• IEC 60079-0 (general requirements for equipment for explosive atmospheres) - ISO 80079-36 supplements and modifies its general requirements.
• ISO 80079 series (other parts addressing electrical and non-electrical Ex equipment).

Keywords: mechanical explosion protected equipment, non-electrical Ex equipment, ignition hazard assessment, Equipment Protection Levels, explosive atmospheres.