scope:

This part of IEC 60079 specifies alternative requirements for construction, test and marking for electrical equipment that provides Equipment Protection Level (EPL) Ga when single standardised Types of Protection (e.g. Ex "ia" , Ex "ma", Ex "da") cannot be applied. This standard also applies to equipment mounted across a boundary where different Equipment Protection Levels may be required.

EXAMPLE: Equipment installed in the wall of a storage vessel containing Zone 0 (requiring EPL Ga) inside an area defined as Zone 1 (requiring EPL Gb).

This electrical equipment, within the operational parameters specified by the manufacturer, ensures a very high Level of Protection that includes rare malfunctions related to the equipment or two malfunctions occurring independently of each other.

NOTE A malfunction may result from a failure of the component parts of the electrical equipment or from anticipated externally applied influences. Two independent malfunctions which may occur more frequently and which, separately, would not create an ignition hazard but which, in combination, could create a potential ignition hazard, are regarded as occurring together to form a rare malfunction.

This standard supplements and modifies the general requirements of IEC 60079-0. Where a requirement of this standard conflicts with a requirement of IEC 60079-0, the requirement of this standard takes precedence.