Working Group (WG) 27 held a two-day meeting and reviewed comments from committee members on IEC 60079-7 (Ex “e”). The latest draft of IEC 60079-0 and its Annexes were reviewed. Since IEC 60079-14, selection, design and erection of fixed electrical installation was ongoing, the committee proposed the inclusion of an Annex relating to EMC and safety related aspects of converter installations.  

Hazardous location motors, often referred to as explosion-proof motors, are designed and tested for use in environments where fire or explosive hazards may exist due to flammable gases, vapors, combustible dusts, or ignitable fibers. These motors must contain any flame within the motor to prevent ignition of the surrounding atmosphere. Various standards govern the use of these motors, including those from Underwriter’s Laboratories (UL), Canadian Standards Association (CSA), International Electrotechnical Commission (IECEx), Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), Factory Mutual (FM), Atmosphères Explosibles (ATEX), and British Approvals Service for Electrical Equipment in Flammable Atmospheres (Baseefa).

Motors that will be used in hazardous locations must meet a variety of special requirements. In these cases, if the motor is not properly specified and/or repaired there can be serious safety consequences.