60079normen

The 60079 norms refer to the IEC 60079 series of international standards governing electrical equipment for use in explosive atmospheres. They cover equipment and systems intended for environments where flammable gases, vapours or dust may be present and aim to ensure safe design, testing, installation and operation.

The standards address both gas and dust atmospheres, including classification of hazardous areas into zones and the corresponding protection concepts. They define methods for safeguarding equipment, such as flameproof enclosures, intrinsic safety, increased safety, pressurization or purging, encapsulation and other protective techniques. The series also covers testing requirements, marking, and documentation to demonstrate conformity.

In Europe, the IEC 60079 series is harmonized as the EN 60079 family, with EN 60079-0 providing general requirements and other parts specifying particular protection concepts (for example, flameproof enclosures and intrinsic safety). The ATEX directive (2014/34/EU) references these standards as the basis for conformity of electrical equipment used in potentially explosive atmospheres. Globally, many manufacturers pursue IECEx certification to facilitate international acceptance of their products.

Equipment covered by 60079 standards is typically marked with an Ex symbol indicating the protection concept, along with information on gas or dust groups, temperature class, and zone applicability. This marking helps users select appropriate equipment for specific hazardous environments and supports safe procurement, installation and maintenance in industries such as oil and gas, chemical processing, mining, and offshore operations.

See also: ATEX, IECEx, EN 60079 family.