IEC TS 60079-46-2017 PDF

Full title and description

IEC TS 60079-46:2017 — Explosive atmospheres — Part 46: Equipment assemblies. This Technical Specification specifies requirements for the design, construction, assembly, testing, inspection, marking, documentation and assessment of equipment assemblies intended for use in explosive atmospheres, under the responsibility of the equipment‑assembly manufacturer. It applies where assemblies are formed from individual items covered by the IEC 60079 series or ISO 80079 series and addresses additional aspects of the integrated assembly that may extend beyond the certificates of the individual items.

Abstract

IEC TS 60079-46:2017 provides manufacturer-focused guidance and requirements to validate an equipment assembly at initial supply. It clarifies how certified individual Ex components (from IEC 60079 / ISO 80079) are to be integrated, tested and documented as a combined assembly for hazardous-area use, and which assembly aspects require additional assessment beyond the component certificates. The specification explicitly excludes several situations (see Scope).

General information

• Status: Published Technical Specification (active; stability date listed by IEC).
• Publication date: 31 August 2017 (IEC TS 60079-46:2017).
• Publisher: International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).
• ICS / categories: 29.260.20 — Electrical apparatus for explosive atmospheres.
• Edition / version: Edition 1.0 (2017) — IEC/TS 60079-46 Ed. 1.0 b:2017.
• Number of pages: 16 pages (English PDF edition). Bilingual English/French availability and alternate publisher packaging may list a larger page count in product offerings.

Scope

IEC TS 60079-46:2017 covers requirements for equipment assemblies used in explosive atmospheres where the assembly is formed from individually certified items (per the IEC 60079 or ISO 80079 series). It sets out responsibilities for the assembly manufacturer and the additional validation and assessment needed for the assembled product prior to initial supply. The document does not cover equipment wholly covered by IEC 60079 / ISO 80079 protection types, pressurized rooms (IEC 60079-13), certain analyzer houses (IEC TR 60079-16), end‑user site installation (IEC 60079-14), hazardous-area classification, Group I (mining) assemblies, inherently explosive processing of explosives/pyrophoric dust, rooms for medical use, or electrical installations where the hazard arises from flammable mist.

Key topics and requirements

• Definition and responsibilities of the equipment‑assembly manufacturer.
• Requirements for design, construction and mechanical/electrical integration of certified individual items into an assembly.
• Testing and inspection criteria for assembled equipment (including where component certificates do not fully cover assembly aspects).
• Marking, documentation and certification practices for assemblies (what must be recorded and provided with initial supply).
• Assessment of additional risks introduced by combining components (interfaces, connections, enclosures, supporting structures, thermal effects, etc.).
• Limitations and exclusions (items and situations out of scope that require other IEC/ISO documents or national rules).

Typical use and users

Primary users are manufacturers and designers of equipment assemblies intended for hazardous areas, conformity assessment bodies, notified bodies/certification agencies, compliance and safety engineers, procurement teams specifying Ex equipment, and technical staff responsible for factory acceptance and initial supply validation of assembled Ex equipment. The document is used to determine required evidence, tests and documentation for the safe delivery of assembled equipment to end customers.

Related standards

IEC TS 60079-46 is part of the IEC 60079 family and is closely linked with other parts of that series and the ISO 80079 series. Key related documents include IEC 60079-0 (general requirements), IEC 60079-14 (installation, referred to for end‑user site installation), IEC 60079-13 (pressurized rooms), IEC TR 60079-16 (analyzer houses), and ISO 80079 parts addressing non-electrical equipment and component certification. National adoptions and publisher revisions (bilingual editions) are also commonly referenced when applying the TS.

Keywords

equipment assemblies; explosive atmospheres; hazardous areas; Ex assemblies; assembly manufacturer; IEC 60079; ISO 80079; testing; marking; documentation; initial supply validation.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: IEC TS 60079-46:2017 is a Technical Specification that provides requirements and guidance for creating, assessing and documenting equipment assemblies made from individually certified items for use in explosive atmospheres. It focuses on the responsibilities of the assembly manufacturer and the additional validation needed at initial supply.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers design, construction, integration, testing, inspection, marking and documentation of equipment assemblies composed of items from the IEC 60079 or ISO 80079 series, and identifies assembly aspects that need additional assessment beyond component certificates. It also lists specific exclusions and situations covered by other IEC parts.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Manufacturers of assembled Ex equipment, conformity assessment and certification bodies, safety/compliance engineers, and technical procurement or QA teams who must validate assembled equipment prior to initial supply.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The document was published on 31 August 2017 as Edition 1.0. IEC lists a stability date (stated on the IEC publication record) indicating its expected period of stability; users should check the IEC publication record or national standards body for any revisions or withdrawals after that date if they require the absolute latest status.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — it is part of the IEC 60079 series (explosive atmospheres) and is intended to be used alongside other IEC 60079 parts and relevant ISO 80079 documents that cover component protection types, installation, and application‑specific requirements.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Equipment assemblies, explosive atmospheres, hazardous area, Ex, assembly validation, certification, IEC 60079, ISO 80079.