IEC 60079-18 Explosive Atmospheres - Part 18: Equipment Protection with “M” Encapsulation

The IEC 60079-18 standard published by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) defines specific requirements for the construction, testing and marking of electrical equipment, parts of electrical equipment and Ex components of the protection enclosure “M” type, intended for use in explosive gas atmospheres or explosive dust atmospheres. This part of the standard applies only to encapsulated electrical equipment, encapsulated parts of electrical equipment and encapsulated Ex components, where the rated voltage does not exceed 11 kV. The simultaneous use of electrical equipment in environments containing both explosive gas and combustible dust may require additional protective measures.

This standard does not apply to explosive powders or pyrophoric substances that do not require atmospheric oxygen for combustion. This standard does not consider any risk due to flammable or toxic gas emission from dust. This standard replaces and supplements the general requirements of the IEC 60079-0 standard. When a requirement of this standard conflicts with a requirement of IEC 60079-0, the requirement of this standard takes precedence.

The IEC 60079-0 standard describes the general requirements for the construction, testing, and marking of Ex equipment and Ex components intended for use in explosive atmospheres. The assumed standard atmospheric conditions under which Ex equipment can operate are: temperature between -20 and +60 degrees Celsius, pressure between 80 kPa and 110 kPa, and air with normal oxygen content (generally 21 percent).

The test methods defined in the IEC 60079-18 standard are:

• Tests on the compound
  • Water absorption test
  • Dielectric strength test
• On-device tests
  • Maximum temperature test
  • Thermal endurance test
  • Dielectric strength test
  • Cable pull test
  • Pressure testing for Group I and Group II electrical equipment
  • Resettable thermal protection device test
  • Leak test for built-in protective devices
• Routine verifications and tests
  • Visual inspections
  • Dielectric strength test

Among the numerous test, measurement, analysis and evaluation studies it provides for businesses in various sectors, our organization also provides testing services for explosive environments, "M" encapsulation and equipment protection, within the scope of IEC 60079-18 standard, with its trained and expert staff and advanced technological equipment. .