This part of IEC 60079 specifies additional requirements for Ex Equipment, Ex associated equipment or Ex Components containing optical systems emitting optical radiation, which is exposed to explosive atmospheres. These additional requirements are applicable for all equipment groups and all Equipment Protection Levels (EPL).
1This document contains requirements for optical radiation in the wavelength range from 380 nm to 10 µm. It covers the following ignition mechanisms:
• Optical radiation is absorbed by surfaces or particles, causing them to heat up, and under certain circumstances this may allow them to attain a temperature which will ignite a surrounding explosive atmosphere.
• In rare special cases, direct laser induced breakdown of the gas at the focus of a strong beam, producing plasma and a shock wave both eventually acting as ignition source. These processes can be supported by a solid material close to the breakdown point.
NOTE 1 See a) and d) of the introduction.
This document applies to
i) laser equipment; and
ii) optical fibre equipment; and
iii) any optical system that converts light into convergent beams with focal points within the hazardous area.
Required fields are indicated with *
