Meeting / Event

Non Electrical Ex Standards

Still more questions than answers?

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Non-electrical standards

Most of us are well familiar with the “Flameproof Standards”

SANS 60079 series – adopted from the IEC 60079 series

60079-0 – General requirements (applies to everything Ex)

60079-X – All the other parts, Exd, Exe, Exi etc

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Say hello to the (not so) new kids on the block!

ISO/IEC 80079-36 (belongs to IEC TC31)

Part 36: Non-electrical equipment for explosive
atmospheres — Basic method and requirements

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Non-electrical standards

Say hello to the (not so) new kids on the block!

ISO/IEC 80079-37
Part 37: Non-electrical equipment for explosive atmospheres –
Non electrical type of protection constructional safety ”c”,
control of ignition source ”b”,
liquid immersion ”k”
(equipment marking will be “Ex h” in all cases)

Development started in 2008 with the formation of IEC TC31 SC31M

Based on EN 13463 (in Europe it all started with ATEX in 2002)
Adopted in September 2016 by IECEx for certification of equipment

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Why do we need these new standards?

The traditional approach to Ex rated equipment has been to

concentrate on electrical equipment but a review of dust explosions in
Germany by BIA shows this to be a mistake.

This review shows that the percentage of ignitions caused by electrical

equipment is only 3.2% and even static electricity only accounts for a
further 8.5%. This means that 88.3% of explosions are caused by
non-electrical ignition sources.

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• All three standards published (globally) in 2016

• SABS TC065 recommended adoption by South

Africa in the same year – SABS still busy with the
admin side of things…….

• Not mandatory standards like the 60079 standards

(yet)

• Ok, so what do the standards cover???????

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Possible ignition sources are:

Hot surfaces – (hydraulic components, frictional components, bearings, brakes…….)

Flames and hot gases (including hot particles) – eg. engines
Mechanically generated sparks (includes cutter picks in part 38 – mining)
Electrical sources
Stray electric currents, cathodic corrosion protection
Static electricity (non conductive materials, hydraulic hoses etc)
Lightning
Radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic waves from 104 Hz to 3 x 1012 Hz
Electromagnetic waves including optical radiation from 3 x 1011 Hz to 3 x 1015 Hz
Ionizing radiation
Ultrasonics
Adiabatic compression and shock waves
Exothermic reactions, including self-ignition of dusts

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Gearboxes:

What should be considered?

How much air is in the gearbox?
What if the oil level gets low?
Is a sight glass and an inspection
good enough?
Do I need a trip mechanism?
What kind of testing can I do?
What kind of testing is available?

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Gearboxes:

What about operational

parameters?
Can they be stipulated?
Can an IA certificate then cover
all such gearboxes, or only
under certain use restrictions?
A RA must consider everything
What safety margins are required? How will different labs concur
on a risk assessment document?
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Fans:

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Fans:

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Bearings:

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How will these standards work?

The manufacturer considers any possibility of creating an ignition

source at the design stage
When the design is complete, an ignition risk assessment is done
When the manufacturer/designer is satisfied that the product
meets the standard, a submission is prepared for the test house
The ignition risk assessment is the key document
The test house will assess the ignition risk assessment and may
do this with the supplier
The test house may or may not require to do physical testing

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At what stage are we in this whole process?

The standards are still voluntary (technically!)

Most of Europe is starting to apply the standards
Our (KMC) last ATEX approval required mechanical assessment

Over 20 IECEx CB’s have already been accredited and many more
already have applications in process

Other countries likely to feel the heat sooner than RSA

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At what stage are we in this whole process?

Our regulators have considered the new standards but want to

see more maturity. “SA industry is not ready”
Komatsu Australia has already carried out a joint exercise with
one of their test labs, using a shuttle car wheel unit

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Other pressures making us engage….

IEC 60079-0 – General Requirements

Edition 7 published last December– all references to electrical
equipment have been removed.
TS 60079-46 – Machines and assemblies (new)
Numerous normative references to the new standards
This standard has been accepted by IECEx, (Washington 2017) and
will require compliance to the mechanical standards to be certified
IEC 60079-19 – Repairs and overhauls
Numerous requests for non electrical standards to be added

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Other pressures making us engage….

IEC 60079-14 IEC 60079-17 IEC 60079-19

All of the above are being considered by SC31M WG1 to ascertain

how the non-electrical standards can be incorporated.

Not sure at this stage whether compliance will be voluntary or

mandatory…….

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Other pressures making us engage….

the IECEx Executive decided that a scope extension to cover TS

60079 – 46 (assemblies) has to be made in conjunction with a scope
extension for ISO/IEC 60079 – 36 and -37

TS 60079-46 requires compliance with part 36 and 37

Ex 60079-46 IIA T4 Gc

After seven months in operation already more than 70 Certificates of

Conformity have been published on the basis of these standards

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Other pressures making us engage….

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Other pressures making us engage….

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Other pressures making us engage….

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The challenges….

It’s a whole new ball game – mechanical engineering staff must

become engaged…..
It’s also a whole new ball game for the certification labs – we have
to work with them
It’s going to cost money – customers wanting compliance need to
realise this
The IECEx is working on a new unit of competency – conducting
risk assessments
What will you do when your customer requests compliance?

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The challenges….

When customers want compliance, who do we turn to?

Up front compliance is always cheaper than redesign and post
sale modification
Replacement parts may have to come from the OEM to maintain
certification

Start doing your homework now!

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Questions?
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