IEC Technical Specification 60079-42

IEC TS 60079-42:2019 provides guidance for equipment manufacturers where electrical safety devices are used to reduce the likelihood of potential ignition sources becoming effective in Ex Equipment located in Explosive Atmospheres. Electrical safety devices perform a safety function to control potential ignition sources from both, electrical or non-electrical Ex Equipment in explosive atmospheres.
This Technical Specification may also be applied to a combination of elements performing a safety function. For example: Sensor, Logic system, Final element. This Technical Specification can also be used for assessing the safety device independently, without being designed for a specific Ex Equipment.
A safety device can be a measure to achieve a required EPL of the Ex Equipment with respect to a potential ignition source. The combination of the safety device and the Ex Equipment could then comply with the relevant standards of the IEC 60079 series and the ISO 80079 series with respect to the Equipment Protection Level. However, increasing the EPL of Ex Equipment by the simple addition of a safety device is not within the scope of this Technical Specification.
This Technical Specification does not apply to:
• mechanical control equipment such as pressure relief valves, mechanical governors and other mechanical safety devices
• the use of gas detection
• control equipment to prevent the occurrence of explosive atmospheres, e.g. inerting systems and ventilation systems
• mitigation of an explosion