Mel,
"Intrinsic Safety" is a method used for protecting electrical equipment
for use in Hazardous (Classified) Locations, or Hazardous Areas. A
number of standards exist which define the criteria for this method of
protection.
In Europe the standards to use are;
EN 50 014: 1977 or 1992 with
EN 50 020: 1977 or 1994
Two directives cover the use of 'Electrical Equipment for use in
potentially hazardous areas', these are 76/117/EEC and 94/9/EC. 94/9/EC
has an implementation period which ends 30 June 2003. 76/117/EEC will be in
force in parallel until this time. Both directives require that
equipment is certified by a notified body. (although some exceptions do
exist these will probably not help you if you need the equipment
complying with the requirements of intrinsic safety).
A number of notified bodies exist in Europe. If you want to discuss
this please call me on (617) 255 4847, and I can give you some more
information.
Best Regards
Nick Ludlam - Factory Mutual
At 06:56 7/14/97 -0500, Mel Pedersen wrote:
>I have a customer asking if our parts meet European "intrinsic safety
requirements". What in the world does this refer to? Does it refer to
standards specified in the OJ, or what? Does it have anything to do with
the Low Voltage Directive? Any other directive?
>
>Or does it refer to devices operating at such low power that they are
"intrinsically safe"?
>
>Thank you for any input.
>
>Mel Pedersen Midcom, Inc.
>Homologations Engineer Phone: (605) 882-8535
>[email protected] Fax: (605) 886-6752
>
>
Bill Lawrence
South Yarmouth, MA 02664
[email protected]
