For the purposes of this document, the definitions given in SANS 10108 and the following apply.

acceptable to the relevant national regulator or regulators

test laboratory that is accredited by a government-endorsed accreditation body (see foreword), and approved by the relevant regulator(s) to carry out tests specified in the appropriate standards and to issue certificates (known as IA certificates) for explosion-protected apparatus (EPA) indicating that such apparatus complies with safety requirements and any other requirements of the relevant regulator(s)

approved by the relevant national regulator

certification body whose IA certificates are accepted by the relevant national regulator or regulators

standard approved by the regulator in terms of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, Act 85 of 1993.

not more than 300 units of apparatus, for example, basic explosion-protected engines or components of such engines,of the same type and size, from one supplier or repairer and submitted at any one time for assessment and testing, in accordance with SANS 96

testing conducted by an ATL on a batch of apparatus of type tested and certified design, to verify compliance with this recommended practice

document supplied by a manufacturer or a repairer that is a member of a mark scheme, declaring that the equipment covered by the declaration has been manufactured or repaired in accordance with the requirements of the mark scheme

level of protection assigned to equipment based on its likelihood of becoming a source of ignition between explosive gas atmospheres,explosive dust atmospheres, and the explosive atmospheres in mines susceptible to firedamp

NOTE  The equipment protection level may optionally be employed as part of a complete risk assessment of an installation (see SANS 60079-14).

equipment for explosive dust atmospheres, having a "very high"level of protection, and which is not a source of ignition in normal operation, during expected malfunctions, or during rare malfunctions

equipment for explosive dust atmospheres,having a "high" level of protection, and which is not a source of ignition in normal operation or during expected malfunctions

equipment for explosive dust atmospheres, having an "enhanced" level of protection, which is not a source of ignition in normal operation, and which may have some additional protection to ensure that it remains inactive as an ignition source in the case of regular expected occurrences (for example, the failure of a lamp)

equipment for explosive gas atmospheres, having a "very high" level of protection, and which is not a source of ignition in normal operation, during expected malfunctions or during rare malfunctions

equipment for explosive gas atmospheres, having a "high"level of protection, and which is not a source of ignition in normal operation or during expected malfunctions

equipment for explosive gas atmospheres, having an "enhanced" level of protection, which is not a source of ignition in normal operation, and which may have some additional protection to ensure that it remains inactive as an ignition source in the case of regular expected occurrences (for example, the failure of a lamp)

equipment for installation in a mine susceptible to firedamp, having a"very high" level of protection, which has sufficient security that it is unlikely to become an ignition source in normal operation, during expected malfunctions or during rare malfunctions, even when left energized in the presence of an outbreak of gas

equipment for installation in a mine susceptible to firedamp, having a "high" level of protection, which has sufficient security that it is unlikely to become a source of ignition in normal operation or during expected malfunctions in the time span between there being an outbreak of gas and the equipment being de-energized

explosion-protected (Ex) apparatus

equipment designed and approved for use in explosive atmospheres (hazardous  areas) in accordance with a suitable protection method

NOTE 1  In IEC standards, the term "equipment for (use in) explosive atmospheres" is preferred."Equipment" is used as a general term including apparatus, fittings, devices, components, and the like.

NOTE 2  Most current explosion protection techniques apply to electrical equipment, but standards are being developed for mechanical Ex equipment. The SANS 868 series applies to flameproof compression-ignition engines (diesel engines).

electrical equipment intended for use in mines susceptible to firedamp

NOTE 1  The types of protection for Group I take into account the ignition of both firedamp and coal dust along with enhanced physical protection for equipment used underground.

NOTE 2  Electrical equipment intended for mines where the atmosphere, in addition to firedamp, may contain significant proportions of other flammable gases (i.e. other than methane), should be constructed and tested in accordance with the requirements relating to Group I and also to the subdivision of Group II corresponding to the other significant flammable gases.This electrical equipment should then be marked appropriately (for example,"Ex d I/IIB T3" or "Ex d I/II (NH3)").

electrical equipment intended for use in places with an explosive gas atmosphere other than mines susceptible to firedamp

NOTE 1  Electrical equipment of Group II is subdivided according to the nature of the explosive gas atmosphere for which it is intended. Group II subdivisions are as follows:

NOTE 2  Equipment marked IIB is suitable for applications requiring Group IIA equipment. Similarly, equipment marked IIC is suitable for applications requiring Group IIA or Group IIB equipment.

electrical equipment intended for use in places with an explosive dust atmosphere other than mines susceptible to firedamp

NOTE 1  Electrical equipment of Group III is subdivided according to the nature of the explosive dust atmosphere for which it is intended. Group III subdivisions are as follows:

NOTE 2  Equipment marked IIIB is suitable for applications requiring Group IIIA equipment. Similarly, equipment marked IIIC is suitable for applications requiring Group IIIA or Group IIIB equipment.

air, under atmospheric conditions, mixed with flammable substances in the form of gas, vapour, mist, dust, fibres, or flyings which, after ignition, permits self-sustaining propagation

hazardous area

area in which an explosive gas atmosphere, or an explosive dust atmosphere, or an explosive gas/dust atmosphere is, or may be expected to be present, in quantities such as to require special precautions for the construction, installation and use of equipment

NOTE  For information on hazardous areas in specific industries, see SANS 10108.

type certificate

national certificate issued for Ex equipment by an ATL endorsing conformance with the relevant national standards

NOTE 1  IA certificates apply to both surface (Group II and Group III) and mining (Group I) applications.

NOTE 2  The entity who submits the equipment for testing, and in whose name the certificate is issued is described as the "certificate holder", while the issuing ATL is the legal owner of the certificate and may use the information in the public domain.

entity to whom the IA certificate is issued

routine actions taken to preserve the fully serviceable condition of the installed apparatus

NOTE  "Routine" can include minor repairs in the form of change or replacement "in kind", for example, replacement of ballasts or lamps, which are identical to the original parts.

body that carries out the tasks pertaining to the conformity assessment procedures referred to in the applicable ATEX Directive of the European Community when third party certification is required

NOTE  In European countries where the ATEX Directive applies, member countries are responsible for identifying the notified bodies.

mark scheme

scheme that aims to ensure that a product covered under the scheme,and that bears the certification mark of the scheme,complies with the defined standard or standards,by using control elements such as surveillance audits and production sample assessments

means the Department of Employment and Labour

action taken to restore a faulty apparatus to its fully serviceable condition, and in compliance with the relevant standard

NOTE 1  The "relevant standard" means the explosion protection standard to which the apparatus was originally designed or a more recent version.

NOTE 2  Minor repairs carried out on the user's premises by maintenance staff are considered to be maintenance.

intrinsically safe electrical system for which a certificate has been issued confirming that the electrical system complies with the relevant system standard

NOTE  SANS 60079 25 is such a system standard.

intrinsically safe loop

assembly of interconnected items of electrical apparatus, described in a descriptive system document, in which the circuits or parts of circuits, intended to be used in an explosive atmosphere, are intrinsically safe circuits

special type certificate

certificate issued by an ATL for Ex equipment submitted for repair or refurbishment and which has no IA certificate but for which proof of Ex certification exists to endorse conformance with the most critical requirements of relevant national standard(s), and which has a certificate number ending with "S"

assessments and tests conducted on prototype apparatus by an ATL to verify compliance of the apparatus design and performance with the applicable standard(s), and the results of which are normally published in a type test report confidential to the certificate holder and issuing ATL

system in which the equipment (including cabling), type, explosion protection rating and certification) has not been changed and the loop or an additional loop is required to be installed in another location in the existing plant