Considerations regarding test methods against dust and water ingress protection for Ex equipment

The explosion danger in all industries where explosive atmospheres generated by the mixture of combustible dusts or flammable gases with air may form, must be treated as a major hazard, as the explosions that may occur can seriously affect both health and safety people, as well as the environment. It is therefore necessary to assess the explosion risk and to establish appropriate measures to reduce it to acceptable levels in accordance with the requirements of the European Directives. An essential element in the assessment of the explosion risk for electrical and non-electrical equipment intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres is the way in which an appropriate normal degree of protection is provided through the equipment housing (protection against touching of dangerous parts inside the equipment housing and protection against the ingress of dust and water inside it). The aim of the paper is to highlight compliance with the requirements of the ATEX Directive, given that this protection is a basic requirement for explosion protection and to present the important elements to be considered for the assessment of the normal degree of protection and the development of harmonized test methods with the requirements of European standards.