IEC 60079-17:2023 is available as IEC 60079-17:2023 RLV which contains the International Standard and its Redline version, showing all changes of the technical content compared to the previous edition.

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.