BS EN 60079-28:2007

This part of IEC 60079 explains the potential ignition hazard from equipment using optical radiation intended for use in explosive gas atmospheres. It also covers equipment, which itself is located outside but its emitted optical radiation enters such atmospheres. It describes precautions and requirements to be taken when using optical radiation transmitting equipment in explosive gas atmospheres. It also outlines a test method, which can be used to verify a beam is not ignition capable under selected test conditions, if the optical limit values cannot be guaranteed by assessment or beam strength measurement.

This standard 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;

• direct laser induced breakdown of the gas at the focus of a strong beam, producing plasma and a shock wave both eventually acting as the ignition source. These processes can be supported by a solid material close to the breakdown point.

NOTE 1 See items a) and d) of the introduction.

This standard does not cover ignition by ultraviolet radiation and by absorption of the radiation in the explosive mixture itself. Explosive absorbers or absorbers that contain their own oxidizer as well as catalytic absorbers are also outside the scope of this standard.

This standard specifies requirements for equipment intended for use under atmospheric conditions.

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 willll take precedence.

NOTE 2 Although one should be aware of ignition mechanism b) and c) explained in the introduction, they are not addressed in this standard due to the very special situation with ultraviolet radiation and with the absorption properties of most gases (see Annex B).

NOTE 3 Safety requirements to reduce human exposure hazards from fibre optic communication systems are found in IEC 60825-2:2000.

NOTE 4 Types of protection \'op is\', \'op pr\', and \'op sh\' can provide equipment protection levels (EPL) Ga, Gb, or Gc. For further information, see Annex E.