IEC 60079-7:2015 specifies the requirements for the design, construction, testing and marking of electrical equipment and Ex Components with type of protection increased safety "e" intended for use in explosive gas atmospheres. Electrical equipment and Ex Components of type of protection increased safety "e" are either:
- Level of Protection "eb" (EPL "Mb" or "Gb"); or
- Level of Protection "ec" (EPL "Gc"). Level of Protection "eb" applies to equipment or Ex Components, including their connections, conductors, windings, lamps, and batteries; but not including semiconductors or electrolytic capacitors. Level of Protection "ec" applies to equipment or Ex Components, including their connections, conductors, windings, lamps, and batteries; and also including semiconductors and electrolytic capacitors. The requirements of this standard apply to both Levels of Protection unless otherwise stated. For Level of Protection "eb", this standard applies to electrical equipment where the rated voltage does not exceed 11 kV r.m.s., a.c. or d.c. For Level of Protection "ec", this standard applies to electrical equipment where the rated voltage does not exceed 15 kV r.m.s., a.c. or d.c. 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. This fifth edition cancels and replaces the fourth edition published in 2006, and constitutes a technical revision. Refer to the Foreword of the document for a complete listing of the technical changes between edition 5.0 and previous edition of the document. Keywords: electrical equipment and Ex Components with type of protection increased safety "e" intended for use in explosive gas atmospheres. The contents of the Interpretation sheet 1 of September 2016 have been included in this copy.