UNE-EN IEC 60079-0-2021 PDF

Full title and description

STB UNE-EN IEC 60079-0:2021 — "Atmósferas explosivas. Parte 0: Equipo. Requisitos generales" / "Explosive atmospheres — Part 0: Equipment — General requirements". This standard specifies the general construction, testing and marking requirements for electrical equipment and Ex components intended for use in explosive atmospheres (flammable gases, vapours and combustible dusts).

Abstract

UNE-EN IEC 60079-0:2021 provides the baseline requirements and definitions that apply across the IEC/EN 60079 series. It covers equipment grouping, temperature limits, maximum surface temperatures, materials and enclosure requirements (metallic and non-metallic), marking and identification, selection of appropriate types of protection (as specified in the specific 60079‑x parts), and general test/verification principles used for the certification of Ex equipment. The document aligns the national adoption with the European and international editions it implements.

General information

• Status: Vigente (active / national adoption of the EN/IEC text).
• Publication date: 20 January 2021.
• Publisher: UNE / AENOR (Spanish national standards body) — adopted as UNE-EN IEC 60079-0:2021.
• ICS / categories: 29.260.20 — Electrical apparatus for explosive atmospheres.
• Edition / version: 2021 (national publication of the EN IEC 60079-0 series text; technically aligned with EN IEC 60079-0:2018 / IEC 60079-0:2017).
• Number of pages: 159 pages (typical national PDF pagination).

Scope

Specifies the general requirements for design, construction, testing and marking of electrical equipment and Ex components intended for use in explosive atmospheres under the standard atmospheric conditions defined in the standard (typical ambient temperature and pressure ranges and normal oxygen content). It establishes the baseline requirements that are complemented by the specific protection-type parts of the 60079 series (for example flameproof "d", intrinsic safety "i", increased safety "e", pressurization "p", encapsulation "m", etc.). The standard also incorporates requirements transferred from related IEC documents to cover both gas and dust ignition hazards.

Key topics and requirements

• Equipment grouping and classification (Group I, II, III and sub-groups IIA/IIB/IIC and IIIA/IIIB/IIIC).
• Standard atmospheric conditions, ambient and service temperature ranges, and maximum surface temperature determinations.
• General mechanical, electrical and thermal construction requirements for enclosures and parts (metallic and non‑metallic materials, fasteners, gaskets, threads, etc.).
• Requirements for prevention of ignition sources (hot surfaces, sparks, arcs, electrostatic discharge, thermite reactions, circulating currents).
• Basis for applying types of protection defined in the 60079‑x parts and selection of appropriate Equipment Protection Levels (EPLs).
• Marking, documentation and identification requirements for certified Ex equipment and Ex components.
• Test methods, conformity assessment considerations and references to supplementary / specific protection-type standards.

Typical use and users

Used by manufacturers of electrical equipment intended for hazardous (explosive) atmospheres, notified/certification bodies, design and safety engineers, compliance and quality managers, test laboratories, and end‑users/operators responsible for procurement and safe installation of Ex equipment. It is used to establish baseline design requirements, support certification activities and to guide selection and installation in industrial sectors such as oil & gas, chemical, petrochemical, mining, grain handling and processing, and other industries with flammable atmospheres.

Related standards

Part of the IEC/EN 60079 series. Commonly referenced related documents include (non‑exhaustive): IEC/EN 60079‑1, ‑2, ‑5, ‑7, ‑11, ‑14, ‑15, ‑18, ‑26, ‑28, ‑31, ‑17, ‑25 and other sector‑specific or test‑method standards. National adoption may include amendment sheets (for example UNE-EN IEC 60079-0:2021/A11:2024).

Keywords

explosive atmospheres; Ex equipment; ATEX; IEC 60079; EN IEC 60079-0; equipment protection level (EPL); intrinsic safety; flameproof enclosure; dust ignition; certification; AENOR; UNE.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: UNE-EN IEC 60079-0:2021 is the Spanish national adoption of the EN/IEC standard that sets the general requirements for electrical equipment and components intended for use in explosive atmospheres (flammable gases, vapours and combustible dust).

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers general design and construction principles, temperature and pressure/atmospheric conditions, material and enclosure requirements, marking and documentation, testing and verification principles, and the baseline from which the specific protection-type standards (other 60079‑x parts) apply.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Equipment manufacturers, certification and testing bodies, safety and design engineers, procurement and maintenance teams, and regulators/operators in industries with explosive atmospheres (oil & gas, chemical, mining, food/primary processing, etc.).

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The UNE-EN IEC 60079-0:2021 adoption is the current national publication (published 20 January 2021). It has subsequently been subject to amendment activity (notably an A11 amendment released in 2024 at European level), so users should check for the amendment(s) or corrigenda that apply in their jurisdiction when confirming compliance.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — it is Part 0 of the IEC/EN 60079 series. Part 0 provides the general requirements that are supplemented by the many specific protection-type and application-specific parts (the 60079‑x family).

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Explosive atmospheres, Ex equipment, ATEX, IEC 60079, equipment protection level (EPL), intrinsic safety, flameproof enclosure, dust groups, certification, UNE/AENOR.