2. Getting involved
3. Standards Committees
4. DKE

DKE German Commission for Electrical, Electronic & Information Technologies of DIN and VDE

Overview

This part of VDE 0170 specifies the general requirements for construction, testing and marking of electrical equipment and Ex Components intended for use in explosive atmospheres. Although this standard indicates the standard atmospheric conditions within a range of -20 °C to +60 °C, the normal ambient temperature range for the equipment is -20 °C to +40 °C, unless otherwise specified by the manufacturer. See also 5.1.1. It is considered that -20 °C to +40 °C is appropriate for most equipment and that to manufacture all equipment to be suitable for a standard atmosphere upper ambient temperature of +60 °C would place unnecessary design constraints. This standard and other standards supplementing this standard specify additional test requirements for equipment used outside the standard temperature range of -20 °C to +40 °C. Further additional consideration and additional testing are also required for equipment operated outside the standard pressure range of 80 kPa (0,8 bar) to 110 kPa (1,1 bar) and standard oxygen content of 21 % v/v, particularly with respect to types of protection that depend on quenching of a flame such as flameproof enclosure "d" (DIN EN 60079-1 (VDE 0170-5)) or limitation of energy, such as intrinsic safety "i" (DIN EN 60079-11 (VDE 0170-7)). The requirements described in this standard result from the ignition hazard assessment made on electrical equipment. The ignition sources taken into account are those found associated with this type of equipment, such as hot surfaces, mechanically generated sparks, mechanical impacts resulting in thermite reactions, electrical arcing and static electric discharge in normal industrial environments. It is acknowledged that, with developments in technology, it may be possible to achieve the objectives of the VDE 0170 series of standards in respect of explosion prevention by methods that are not yet fully defined. Where a manufacturer wishes to take advantage of such developments, the clauses of this standard, as well as clauses of other standards in the VDE 0170 series, may be only applied in part. It is intended that the manufacturer prepares documentation that clearly defines how the VDE 0170 series of standards has been applied, together with a full explanation of the additional techniques employed. The designation "Ex s" has been reserved to indicate special protection. A standard for special protection "s", IEC 60079-33, is in preparation. Where an explosive gas atmosphere and a combustible dust atmosphere are, or may be, present at the same time, the simultaneous presence of both should be considered and may require additional protective measures. This standard does not specify requirements for safety, other than those directly related to the explosion risk. Ignition sources like adiabatic compression, shock waves, exothermic chemical reaction, self ignition of dust, naked flames and hot gases/liquids, are not addressed by this standard. Such equipment should be subjected to a hazard analysis that identifies and lists all of the potential sources of ignition by the electrical equipment and the measures to be applied to prevent them becoming effective. The responsible committee is DKE/K 241 "Schlagwetter- und explosionsgeschützte elektrische Betriebsmittel" ("Electrical apparatus for potentially explosive atmospheres") of the DKE (German Commission for Electrical, Electronic and Information Technologies) at DIN and VDE.

Document: references other documents

Document: referenced in other documents

Responsible national committee

DKE/K 241 - Schlagwetter- und explosionsgeschützte elektrische Betriebsmittel