Methodology for the risk assessment of non-electrical equipment and components for intended use in potentially explosive atmospheres; English version of DIN EN 15198:2007-11
This European Standard specifies basic methodology used in achieving safety of equipment for intended use
in potentially explosive atmospheres.
The provisions specified in this European Standard are intended for the designer. It also specifies a strategy
for standard makers.
This European Standard specifies the procedure and information required to allow ignition risk assessment to
be carried out for the design of equipment or component.
This European Standard provides advice for a decision to be made for the categorisation of equipment but
does not provide means to prove the conformity of equipment categories.
In this procedure the following information is to be taken into account:
a) Possible occurrence of an explosive atmosphere inside the equipment or component or penetrating the
equipment or component from the outside (in normal operation or during malfunctions) and the amount of
explosive atmosphere involved leading to possible explosion impact inside of the equipment or
component;
b) equipment or components surrounded by an explosive atmosphere (in normal operation or during
malfunctions);
c) equipment or components wholly or partly surrounded by an explosive atmosphere considering also any
explosive atmosphere in connection (in normal operation or during malfunctions);
d) presence and likelihood (effectiveness) of ignition sources.
The final objective is designing and manufacturing equipment or components intended for use in potentially
explosive atmospheres. For this purpose equipment or components if necessary should be designed with
adequate preventive and/or protective measures.
This European Standard specifies neither specific methods of analysis associated with ignition risk
assessment, nor specific requirements for a category of equipment. It describes the methodology of ignition
risk assessment.
This European Standard does not apply to equipment with a potentially explosive atmosphere inside under
operating conditions, and without interfaces to an external potentially explosive atmospheres.
This European Standard is applicable to all categories of equipment referred to in EN 13463-1.
This ignition risk assessment procedure does not preclude the conditions prevailing in an installation where
the equipment or component is put into operation by a user.
NOTE Functional safety assessment of protective systems is covered by EN 15233.