Hazardous Areas Blog

The requirements for documentation for an explosion protected installation area listed in AS/NZS 60079.14:2017 Clause 4.2 ‘Documentation’ and AS/NZS 60079.17:2017 Clause 4.1 ‘Documentation’.

To quote Section 4.2 of AS/NZS 60079.14:

“It is necessary to ensure that any installation complies with the relevant equipment certificate (see also Clause 5) as well as with this standard and any other requirements specific to the plant on which the installation takes place. To achieve this result, a verification dossier shall be prepared for every installation and shall be either kept on the premises or stored in another location. In the latter case, a document shall be left on the premises indicating who the owner or owners are and where that information is kept, so that when required, copies may be obtained.”

NOTE The verification dossier can be kept as hard copy or in electronic form. Methods accepted by legislation in each country can have an impact on the form in which the documentation will be legally accepted.

Section 4.1 of AS/NZS 60079.17 states:

a) zone classification of areas and, if included, the equipment protection level (EPL) required for each location (see IEC 60079-10-1 and IEC 60079-10-2), b) for gases: equipment group (IIA, IIB or IIC) and temperature class requirements,

c) for dusts: equipment group (IIIA, IIIB or IIIC) and maximum surface temperature requirements,

d) equipment characteristics e.g. temperature ratings, type of protection, IP rating, corrosion resistance,

e) records sufficient to enable the explosion protected equipment to be maintained in accordance with its type of protection (see IEC 60079-14), (for example list and location of equipment, spares, certificates, technical information),

f) copies of previous inspection records,

g) copy of the additional initial inspection records as detailed in IEC 60079-14.

The order in which the documents appear within the dossier does not matter, as long as the documents specified in these two standards and in any procedure or instruction, are present.

Qualifications of Personnel

From Clause 4.2 of AS/NZS 60079.17:

The inspection and maintenance of installations covered by this standard shall be carried out only by experienced personnel, whose training has included instruction on the various types of protection and installation practices, the requirements of this standard, the relevant national regulations/company rules applicable to the installation and on the general principles of area classification (see Annex B). Appropriate continuing education or training shall be undertaken by personnel on a regular basis. Evidence of the relevant experience and training claimed shall be documented and available.

Particular Contents of a Verification Dossier

In order to correctly install or extend an existing installation, the following information, additional to that required for non-hazardous areas, is required as part of the verification dossier, where applicable:

Standard

AS/NZS 60079.14:2017
Clause 4.2 Documentation

AS/NZS 60079.17:2017
Clause 4.1 Documentation

Site



ŸArea classification documents (see AS/NZS 60079-10-1 and AS/NZS 60079-10-2) with plans showing the classification and extent of the hazardous areas including the zoning (and maximum permissible dust layer thickness if the hazard is due to dust);


a) A classification of hazardous areas using Zones and, if included, the equipment protection level (EPL) required for each location
(see AS/NZS 60079-10-1 and AS/NZS 60079-10-2)
optional assessment of consequences of ignition (see 5.3);

Ÿwhere applicable, gas, vapour or dust classification in relation to the group or subgroup of the electrical equipment;
b) for gases: equipment group (IIA, IIB or IIC) and temperature class requirements,
c) for dusts: equipment group (IIIA, IIIB or IIIC) and maximum surface temperature requirements,
temperature class or ignition temperature of the gas or vapour involved; d) equipment characteristics e.g. temperature ratings, type of protection, IP rating, corrosion resistance
Ÿwhere applicable, the material characteristics including electrical resistivity, the minimum ignition temperature of the dust cloud, minimum ignition temperature of the dust layer and minimum ignition energy of the dust cloud; e) for dusts: equipment group (IIIA, IIIB or IIIC) and maximum surface temperature requirements
Ÿexternal influences and ambient temperature (see 5.9). f) equipment characteristics e.g. temperature ratings, type of protection, IP rating, corrosion resistance
Equipment Ÿmanufacturer’s instructions for selection, installation and initial inspection;

e) records sufficient to enable the explosion protected equipment to be maintained in accordance with its type of protection (see AS/NZS 60079-14), (for example list and location of equipment, spares, certificates, technical information),
documents for electrical equipment with conditions of use, e.g. for equipment with certificate numbers which have the suffix “X”;
Ÿdescriptive system document for the intrinsically safe system (see 16.2.4.2);
Ÿdetails of any relevant calculation, e.g. for purging rates for instruments or analyser houses;
Ÿmanufacturer’s/qualified person’s declaration (see 4.4.2).
Installation Ÿnecessary information to ensure correct installation of the equipment provided in a form which is suitable to the personnel responsible for this activity (see AS/NZS 60079-0, Instructions);

f) records sufficient to enable the explosion protected equipment to be maintained in accordance with its type of protection (see AS/NZS 60079-14), (for example list and location of equipment, spares, certificates, technical information),
Ÿdocumentation relating to the suitability of the equipment for the area and environment to which it will be exposed, e.g. temperature ratings, type of protection, IP rating, corrosion resistance;
Ÿthe plans showing types and details of wiring systems;
Ÿrecords of selection criteria for cable entry systems for compliance with the requirements for the particular type of protection;
Ÿdrawings and schedules relating to circuit identification;
Ÿrecords of the initial inspection (Annex C).
Ÿinstaller’s/qualified person’s declaration (see 4.5)
4.2 Qualification of personnel

NOTE Records of inspection for assemblies or pre-installed items can be accepted as part of initial inspection records.

Note: The requirements in AS/NZS 60079.14 are mirrored (for the most part) in AS/NZS 60079.17. However, to gain a more complete insight into these requirements, the requirements in both standards should be read.


This material is produced by HAZ. The information is of a general nature only and should not be relied upon.  Each set of circumstances associated with compliance of hazardous areas and Type B compliance is unique and expert advice on your particular circumstances should be sought.  HAZ accepts no liability for any reliance on the information published on this website.