EN 60079-5:2015

Explosive atmospheres - Part 5: Equipment protection by powder filling "q"

NEW! IEC 60079-5:2015 is available as IEC Standards+ 60079-5:2015 which contains the International Standard and its Redline version, showing all changes of the technical content compared to the previous edition. IEC 60079-5:2015 contains specific requirements for the construction, testing and marking of electrical equipment, parts of electrical equipment and Ex components in the type of protection powder filling "q", intended for use in explosive gas atmospheres. This standard supplements and modifies the general requirements of IEC 60079-0. Where a requirement of this standard conflicts with a requirement of IEC 60079-0, the requirement of this standard takes precedence. This standard applies to electrical equipment, parts of electrical equipment and Ex components with:
- a rated supply current less than or equal to 16 A; - a rated supply voltage less than or equal to 1 000 V; - a rated power consumption less than or equal to 1 000 W. This fourth edition cancels and replaces the third edition, published in 2007, and constitutes a technical revision. Refer to the Foreword of the document for a complete listing of the technical changes between edition 4.0 and previous edition of the document. Keywords: electrical equipment and Ex components in the type of protection powder filling "q"

Explosionsgefährdete Bereiche - Teil 5: Geräteschutz durch Sandkapselung "q"

Atmosphères explosives - Partie 5: Protection du matériel par remplissage pulvérulent "q"

NEW! IEC 60079-5:2015 est disponible sous forme de IEC Standards+ 60079-5:2015 qui contient la Norme internationale et sa version Redline, illustrant les modifications du contenu technique depuis l'édition précédente. L'IEC 60079-5:2015 contient les exigences spécifiques de construction, d'essais et de marquage d'appareil électrique, des parties d'appareil électrique et des composants Ex à remplissage pulvérulent, mode de protection "q", destinés à être utilisés dans des atmosphères explosives gazeuses. La présente norme complète et modifie les exigences générales de l'IEC 60079-0. Lorsqu'une exigence de la présente norme diverge d'une exigence de l'IEC 60079-0, l'exigence de cette norme prévaut. La présente norme s'applique aux appareils électriques, aux parties d'appareil électrique et aux composants Ex avec: - un courant assigné d'alimentation inférieur ou égal à 16 A; - une tension assignée d'alimentation inférieure ou égale à 1 000 V; - une puissance consommée assignée inférieure ou égale à 1 000 W. Cette quatrième édition annule et remplace la troisième édition parue en 2007. Cette édition constitue une révision technique. Reportez-vous à l'avant-propos du document pour une liste complète des modifications techniques entre l'édition 4.0 et édition précédente du document. Mots clés: d'appareil électrique et des composants Ex à remplissage pulvérulent, mode de protection "q"

Eksplozivne atmosfere - 5. del: Zaščita opreme s polnjenjem s peskom "q" (IEC 60079-5:2015)

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 23-Apr-2015
• Withdrawal Date: 23-Mar-2018
• ICS: 29.260.20 - Electrical apparatus for explosive atmospheres
• Technical Committee: CLC/TC 31 - Electrical apparatus for explosive atmospheres - General requirements
• Drafting Committee: IEC/TC 31 - Electrical apparatus for potentially explosive atmospheres
• Current Stage: 6060 - Document made available - Publishing
• Start Date: 24-Apr-2015
• Completion Date: 24-Apr-2015
• Directive: 2014/34/EU - Directive 2014/34/EU Of The European Parliament And Of The Council of 26 February 2014 on the harmonisation of the laws of the Member States relating to equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres (recast)
• Directive: 94/9/EC - Directive 94/9/EC of the European Parliament and the Council of 23 March 1994 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States concerning equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres
• Ref Project: SIST EN 60079-5:2015 - Explosive atmospheres - Part 5: Equipment protection by powder filling "q" (IEC 60079-5:2015)

Relations

• Replaces: EN 60079-5:2007 - Explosive atmospheres - Part 5: Equipment protection by powder filling "q"
• Effective Date: 29-Jan-2023
• Amended By: EN 60079-5:2015/A1:2024 - Explosive atmospheres - Part 5: Equipment protection by powder filling "q"
• Effective Date: 26-Oct-2021

Overview

EN 60079-5:2015 (identical to IEC 60079-5:2015) specifies requirements for equipment protection by powder filling - type of protection "q" for electrical equipment, parts of electrical equipment and Ex components intended for use in explosive gas atmospheres. This fourth edition supersedes EN 60079-5:2007 and is a technical revision. It supplements and, where applicable, takes precedence over the general requirements of IEC 60079-0. The standard applies to devices with a rated supply current ≤ 16 A, rated supply voltage ≤ 1 000 V, and rated power ≤ 1 000 W.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope & applicability: Defines the limits for current, voltage and power and clarifies relationship with IEC 60079-0.
• Containers and sealing: Requirements for the design, closing, sealing and pressure testing of the container that surrounds the powder-filled volume.
• Filling material: Material specification, documentation and testing requirements for the powder used to fill and encapsulate live parts.
• Clearances and distances: Rules for distances through filling material and around free space; includes permitted relaxations in certain configurations and evaluation of joints when reduced distances are used.
• Electrical connections & components: Requirements for connections, Ex components, capacitors, cells and batteries when encapsulated in powder filling.
• Temperature limitations: Methods to determine maximum temperatures under overload and malfunction conditions, and protective measures (fuses, thermal devices).
• Verifications and tests: Type and routine tests such as container pressure tests, dielectric strength tests of the filling material and temperature verifications; introduction of batch routine testing.
• Marking & instructions: Required markings and user/installation instructions essential for safe application and conformity.

Practical applications and users

• Manufacturers designing electrical equipment and Ex components for hazardous locations who want to use powder filling "q" as the protection concept.
• Design and test engineers responsible for mechanical enclosure design, filling processes, and temperature/clearance assessments.
• Certification bodies and test laboratories conducting type tests and routine tests per EN/IEC requirements.
• Safety, compliance and procurement teams seeking conformity with EU directives (see Annex ZZ) and harmonized standards for explosive atmospheres.

Related standards

• IEC/EN 60079-0 - General requirements for equipment for explosive atmospheres (supplemented by 60079-5)
• IEC/EN 60079-7, IEC/EN 60079-11 - Other types of protection (increased safety “e”, intrinsic safety “i”)
• Referenced standards for testing and components (IEC 60529 IP code, IEC 61558 series, ISO test sieve standards).

EN 60079-5:2015 is essential when using the powder-filling "q" protection method - it details construction, testing, marking and practical requirements to achieve safe, certified equipment for explosive gas atmospheres.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-julij-2015
(NVSOR]LYQHDWPRVIHUHGHO=DãþLWDRSUHPHVSROQMHQMHPVSHVNRPT,(&

Explosive atmospheres - Part 5: Equipment protection by powder filling "q" (IEC 60079-
5:2015)
Explosionsgefährdete Bereiche - Teil 5: Geräteschutz durch Sandkapselung "q" (IEC
60079-5:2015)
Atmosphères explosives - Partie 5: Protection du matériel par remplissage pulvérulent
"q" (IEC 60079-5:2015)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 60079-5:2015
ICS:
29.260.20 (OHNWULþQLDSDUDWL]D Electrical apparatus for
HNVSOR]LYQDR]UDþMD explosive atmospheres
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EUROPEAN STANDARD EN 60079-5
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
April 2015
ICS 29.260.20 Supersedes EN 60079-5:2007
English Version
Explosive atmospheres - Part 5: Equipment protection by
powder filling "q"
(IEC 60079-5:2015)
Atmosphères explosives - Partie 5: Protection du matériel Explosionsgefährdete Bereiche - Teil 5: Geräteschutz durch
par remplissage pulvérulent "q" Sandkapselung "q"
(IEC 60079-5:2015) (IEC 60079-5:2015)
This European Standard was approved by CENELEC on 2015-03-24. CENELEC members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC
Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration.
Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC
Management Centre or to any CENELEC member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation
under the responsibility of a CENELEC member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre has the
same status as the official versions.
CENELEC members are the national electrotechnical committees of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic,
Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
Turkey and the United Kingdom.

European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization
Comité Européen de Normalisation Electrotechnique
Europäisches Komitee für Elektrotechnische Normung
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Avenue Marnix 17, B-1000 Brussels
© 2015 CENELEC All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CENELEC Members.
Ref. No. EN 60079-5:2015 E
Foreword
The text of document 31/1156/FDIS, future edition 4 of IEC 60079-5, prepared by IEC/TC 31 "Equipment for
explosive atmospheres" was submitted to the IEC-CENELEC parallel vote and approved by CENELEC as
The following dates are fixed:
(dop) 2015-12-24
• latest date by which the document has to be
implemented at national level by
publication of an identical national
standard or by endorsement
(dow) 2018-03-24
• latest date by which the national
standards conflicting with the
document have to be withdrawn
This document supersedes EN 60079-5:2007.

Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. CENELEC [and/or CEN] shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.

This document has been prepared under a mandate given to CENELEC by the European Commission and
the European Free Trade Association, and supports essential requirements of EU Directive.

For the relationship with EU Directive see informative Annex ZZ, which is an integral part of this document.

Endorsement notice
The text of the International Standard IEC 60079-5:2015 was approved by CENELEC as a European
Standard without any modification.
IEC 60050 (series) NOTE Harmonized as EN 60050 (series).
IEC 60664-1:2007 NOTE Harmonized as EN 60664-1:2007.
IEC 60079 (series) NOTE Harmonized as EN 60079. (series)
IEC 61140 NOTE Harmonized as EN 61140.
IEC 60747-5-5 NOTE Harmonized as EN 60747-5-5.

- 3 - EN 60079-5:2015
Annex ZA
(normative)
Normative references to international publications
with their corresponding European publications
The following documents, in whole or in part, are normatively referenced in this document and are
indispensable for its application. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated
references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
NOTE 1 When an International Publication has been modified by common modifications, indicated by (mod), the relevant EN/HD

applies.
NOTE 2 Up-to-date information on the latest versions of the European Standards listed in this annex is available here:
www.cenelec.eu.
Publication Year Title EN/HD Year

IEC 60079-0 -  Explosive atmospheres - Part 0: Equipment - - -
General requirements
IEC 60079-7 -  Explosive atmospheres - Part 7: Equipment EN 60079-7 -
protection by increased safety "e"
IEC 60079-11 -  Explosive atmospheres - Part 11: Equipment EN 60079-11 -
protection by intrinsic safety "i"
IEC 60127 series Miniature fuses EN 60127 series
IEC 60529 -  Degrees of protection provided by enclosures - -
(IP Code)
IEC 61558-1 -  Safety of power transformers, power supplies, EN 61558-1 -
reactors and similar products - Part 1:
General requirements and tests
+EN 61558- 2006
1:2005/corrigendum
Aug. 2006
IEC 61558-2-6 -  Safety of transformers, reactors, power EN 61558-2-6 -
supply units and similar products for supply
voltages up to 1 100 V - Part 2-6: Particular
requirements and tests for safety isolating
transformers and power supply units
incorporating safety isolating transformers
ISO 2591-1 -  Test sieving - Part 1: Methods using test - -
sieves of woven wire cloth and perforated
metal plate
ISO 2859-1 -  Sampling procedures for inspection by - -
attributes - Part 1: Sampling schemes
indexed by acceptance quality limit (AQL) for
lot-by-lot inspection
ISO 3310-1 -  Test sieves - Technical requirements and - -
testing - Part 1: Test sieves of metal wire
cloth
ISO 3310-2 -  Test sieves - Technical requirements and - -
testing - Part 2: Test sieves of perforated
metal plate
Annex ZZ
(informative)
Coverage of Essential Requirements of EC Directives

This European Standard has been prepared under a mandate given to CENELEC by the European
Commission and the European Free Trade Association and within its scope the standard covers only
the following essential requirements out of those given in Annex II of the EC Directive 94/9/EC:

– ER 1.0.1, ER 1.0.2, ER 1.0.3, ER 1.0.5, ER 1.0.6 (partly)
– ER 1.1 (partly)
– ER 1.2.1 (partly), ER 1.2.2 (partly), ER 1.2.3 (partly), ER 1.2.5 (partly), ER 1.2.6 (partly), ER
1.2.7 (partly), ER 1.2.8
– ER 1.3.1
– ER 1.4.1 (partly), ER 1.4.2 (partly)
– ER 1.5.1, ER 1.5.3
– ER 1.6.4
– ER 2.0.1.3
– ER 2.0.2.1, ER 2.0.2.3 (partly)
– ER 2.1.1.2
– ER 2.1.2.3
– ER 2.2.1.1, ER 2.2.1.2
– ER 2.2.2.1, ER 2.2.2.2
– ER 2.3.1.2
Compliance with this standard provides one means of conformity with the specified essential
requirements of the Directive[s] concerned.

WARNING: Other requirements and other EC Directives may be applicable to the products
falling within the scope of this standard.

IEC 60079-5 ®
Edition 4.0 2015-02
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Explosive atmospheres –
Part 5: Equipment protection by powder filling “q”

Atmosphères explosives –
Partie 5: Protection du matériel par remplissage pulvérulent “q”

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
INTERNATIONALE
ICS 29.260.20 ISBN 978-2-8322-2249-2

– 2 – IEC 60079-5:2015 © IEC 2015
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 4
1 Scope . 6
2 Normative references. 6
3 Terms and definitions . 7
4 Constructional requirements . 7
4.1 Containers . 7
4.1.1 Closing and sealing . 7
4.1.2 Pressure test of container . 8
4.1.3 Degree of protection of the container . 8
4.1.4 Filling procedure . 8
4.1.5 Containers that are not external enclosures . 8
4.2 Filling material . 9
4.2.1 Material specification . 9
4.2.2 Documentation . 9
4.2.3 Testing . 9
4.3 Distances . 9
4.3.1 Distances through filling material . 9
4.3.2 Distances surrounding free space . 11
4.4 Connections . 12
4.4.1 Equipment . 12
4.4.2 Ex Components . 12
4.5 Capacitors . 12
4.6 Cells and batteries . 12
4.7 Temperature limitations under overload conditions . 12
4.8 Temperature limitations under malfunction conditions . 12
4.8.1 General . 12
4.8.2 Fuse . 12
4.8.3 Malfunction exclusions . 13
4.8.4 Protective devices for temperature limitation . 16
4.8.5 Power supply prospective short-circuit current . 16
5 Verifications and tests . 16
5.1 Type verifications and tests . 16
5.1.1 Pressure type test of container . 16
5.1.2 Verification of the degree of protection of the enclosure . 17
5.1.3 Dielectric strength test of the filling material . 17
5.1.4 Maximum temperatures . 17
5.2 Routine verifications and tests . 18
5.2.1 Routine pressure test of container . 18
5.2.2 Dielectric strength test of the filling material . 18
6 Marking . 19
7 Instructions. 20
Bibliography . 21

IEC 60079-5:2015 © IEC 2015 – 3 –

Figure 1 – Distances through filling material . 11
Figure 2 – Test arrangement for the dielectric strength test of the filling material . 19

Table 1 – Distances through the filling material. 10
Table 2 – Creepage distances and distances through filling material . 15

– 4 – IEC 60079-5:2015 © IEC 2015
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
EXPLOSIVE ATMOSPHERES –
Part 5: Equipment protection by powder filling “q”

FOREWORD
1) The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is a worldwide organization for standardization comprising
all national electrotechnical committees (IEC National Committees). The object of IEC is to promote
international co-operation on all questions concerning standardization in the electrical and electronic fields. To
this end and in addition to other activities, IEC publishes International Standards, Technical Specifications,
Technical Reports, Publicly Available Specifications (PAS) and Guides (hereafter referred to as “IEC
Publication(s)”). Their preparation is entrusted to technical committees; any IEC National Committee interested
in the subject dealt with may participate in this preparatory work. International, governmental and non-
governmental organizations liaising with the IEC also participate in this preparation. IEC collaborates closely
with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in accordance with conditions determined by
agreement between the two organizations.
2) The formal decisions or agreements of IEC on technical matters express, as nearly as possible, an international
consensus of opinion on the relevant subjects since each technical committee has representation from all
interested IEC National Committees.
3) IEC Publications have the form of recommendations for international use and are accepted by IEC National
Committees in that sense. While all reasonable efforts are made to ensure that the technical content of IEC
Publications is accurate, IEC cannot be held responsible for the way in which they are used or for any
misinterpretation by any end user.
4) In order to promote international uniformity, IEC National Committees undertake to apply IEC Publications
transparently to the maximum extent possible in their national and regional publications. Any divergence
between any IEC Publication and the corresponding national or regional publication shall be clearly indicated in
the latter.
5) IEC itself does not provide any attestation of conformity. Independent certification bodies provide conformity
assessment services and, in some areas, access to IEC marks of conformity. IEC is not responsible for any
services carried out by independent certification bodies.
6) All users should ensure that they have the latest edition of this publication.
7) No liability shall attach to IEC or its directors, employees, servants or agents including individual experts and
members of its technical committees and IEC National Committees for any personal injury, property damage or
other damage of any nature whatsoever, whether direct or indirect, or for costs (including legal fees) and
expenses arising out of the publication, use of, or reliance upon, this IEC Publication or any other IEC
Publications.
8) Attention is drawn to the Normative references cited in this publication. Use of the referenced publications is
indispensable for the correct application of this publication.
9) Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this IEC Publication may be the subject of
patent rights. IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
International Standard IEC 60079-5 has been prepared by IEC technical committee 31:
Equipment for explosive atmospheres.
This fourth edition cancels and replaces the third edition, published in 2007, and constitutes a
technical revision.
This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous
edition:
NOTE The technical changes referred to include the significant technical changes in the revised IEC standard, but
they do not form an exhaustive list of all modifications from the previous edition. More guidance may be found by
referring to the redline version of the IEC standard, if available.

IEC 60079-5:2015 © IEC 2015 – 5 –
Type
Significant changes Clause/subclause Minor and Extension Major
editorial technical
changes changes
Specific references to IEC 60079-0 have been
4.1.3 4.8 4.8.3 X
reworded so the references to IEC 60079-0 can
be non-dated references
The “housing” surrounding the powder filled
equipment or Ex Component has been
redefined as a “container” to avoid confusion 4.1 X
with the “enclosure” requirements of
IEC 60079-0
A relaxation has been introduced to permit
reduced distances through filling material for
4.3.1 X
instances where there is no adjacent gap in the
container
A relaxation has been introduced to permit the
use of creepage dimensions per IEC 60079-7 4.8.3 X
where CTI is better than 175
An evaluation of joints employed when the
5.1.1 X
reduced distances according to Table 1 are
applied, has been added.
Text for determination of maximum temperature
clarified with respect to overloads and 5.1.4 X
malfunctions
A batch routine test has been introduced 5.2.1 X

The text of this standard is based on the following documents:
FDIS Report on voting
31/1156/FDIS 31/1171/RVD
Full information on the voting for the approval of this standard can be found in the report on
voting indicated in the above table.
This publication has been drafted in accordance with the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
The list of all parts of IEC 60079 series, under the general title Explosive atmospheres, can
be found on the IEC website.
The committee has decided that the contents of this publication will remain unchanged until
the stability date indicated on the IEC website under "http://webstore.iec.ch" in the data
related to the specific publication. At this date, the publication will be
• reconfirmed,
• withdrawn,
• replaced by a revised edition, or
• amended.
– 6 – IEC 60079-5:2015 © IEC 2015
EXPLOSIVE ATMOSPHERES –
Part 5: Equipment protection by powder filling “q”

1 Scope
This part of IEC 60079 contains specific requirements for the construction, testing and
marking of electrical equipment, parts of electrical equipment and Ex components in the type
of protection powder filling “q”, intended for use in explosive gas atmospheres.
NOTE 1 Electrical equipment and Ex components protected by powder filling “q” can contain electronic circuits,
transformers, protection fuses, relays, intrinsically safe electrical apparatus, associated electrical apparatus,
switches, etc.
NOTE 2 Type of protection powder filling “q” provides Equipment Protection Level (EPL) Gb or Mb.
This standard supplements and modifies the general requirements of IEC 60079-0. Where a
requirement of this standard conflicts with a requirement of IEC 60079-0, the requirement of
this standard takes precedence.
This standard applies to electrical equipment, parts of electrical equipment and Ex
components with:
– a rated supply current less than or equal to 16 A;
– a rated supply voltage less than or equal to 1 000 V;
– a rated power consumption less than or equal to 1 000 W.
2 Normative references
The following documents, in whole or in part, are normatively referenced in this document and
are indispensable for its application. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any
amendments) applies.
IEC 60079-0, Explosive atmospheres – Part 0: Equipment – General requirements
IEC 60079-7, Explosive atmospheres – Part 7: Equipment protection by increased safety "e"
IEC 60079-11, Explosive atmospheres – Part 11: Equipment protection by intrinsic safety "i"
IEC 60127 (all parts), Miniature fuses
IEC 60529, Degrees of protection provided by enclosures (IP Code)
IEC 61558-1, Safety of power transformers, power supplies, reactors and similar products –
Part 1: General requirements and tests
IEC 61558-2-6, Safety of transformers, reactors, power supply units and similar products for
supply voltages up to 1 100 V – Part 2-6: Particular requirements and tests for safety isolating
transformers and power supply units incorporating safety isolating transformers
ISO 2859-1, Sampling procedures for inspection by attributes – Part 1: Sampling schemes
indexed by acceptance quality limit (AQL) for lot-by-lot inspection

IEC 60079-5:2015 © IEC 2015 – 7 –
ISO 3310-1, Test sieves – Technical requirements and testing – Part 1: Test sieves of metal
wire cloth
ISO 3310-2, Test sieves – Technical requirements and testing – Part 2: Test sieves of
perforated metal plate
ISO 2591-1, Test sieving – Methods using test sieves of woven wire cloth and perforated
metal plate
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in IEC 60079-0 as well as
the following apply.
NOTE Additional definitions applicable to explosive atmospheres can be found in IEC 60050-426.
3.1
powder filling “q”
type of protection in which the parts capable of igniting an explosive gas atmosphere are fixed
in position and completely surrounded by filling material to prevent the ignition of an external
explosive gas atmosphere
Note 1 to entry: The type of protection may not prevent the surrounding explosive gas atmosphere from
penetrating into the equipment and components and being ignited by the circuits. However, due to the small free
volumes in the filling material and due to the quenching of a flame which may propagate through the paths in the
filling material, an external explosion is prevented.
3.2
filling material
solid quartz or solid glass particles
3.3
container (for filling material)
housing immediately surrounding the electrical equipment protected by and containing the
filling material
Note 1 to entry: The container may, in some cases, also be the external enclosure.
4 Constructional requirements
4.1 Containers
4.1.1 Closing and sealing
4.1.1.1 General
Containers of electrical equipment, parts of electrical equipment or Ex components protected
by powder filling ”q” shall be filled and sealed at the time of manufacture. The closing and
sealing shall be the methods of 4.1.1.2 or 4.1.1.3.
4.1.1.2 Containers permanently sealed at the time of manufacture
The container shall be permanently sealed at the time of manufacture and shall not be
capable of being opened without leaving visible evidence that the container has been opened.
The container shall be marked in accordance with Clause 6, item a).
NOTE Suitable techniques that can provide visible evidence of containers being opened are, for example,
welding, soldering, cemented joints, rivets, cementing of screws, or lead-seal safety-wiring of screws.

– 8 – IEC 60079-5:2015 © IEC 2015
4.1.1.3 Containers intended to be opened for repair
Electrical equipment, parts of electrical equipment, or Ex components that are designed to be
repaired shall incorporate sealing methods that are capable of being renewed without damage
to the container when the equipment is repaired, re-filled, and re-sealed. The container shall
be marked in accordance with Clause 6, item b).
4.1.2 Pressure test of container
The electrical equipment, parts of electrical equipment or Ex components protected by powder
filling “q” shall meet the pressure test requirements specified in 5.1.1.
4.1.3 Degree of protection of the container
The container of the electrical equipment, parts of electrical equipment, or Ex components
protected by powder filling “q”, in their normal service condition, i.e. with all openings closed
as in normal use, shall comply at least with the degree of protection IP54 as defined in
IEC 60529. If the degree of protection is IP55 or higher, and the container is not hermetically
sealed, the container shall be provided with a breathing device. The container with the
breathing device in place shall comply at least with the degree of protection IP54 according to
IEC 60529. The test shall be conducted on an empty container without the powder filling
installed. At the end of any water ingress tests, no water shall be visible inside the container.
NOTE 1 As the container may need to be destroyed in order to determine the entrance of dust or water, two
separate test samples could be required for the two ingress tests.
NOTE 2 When the container is also the external enclosure, the tests of enclosures requirements of IEC 60079-0
apply.
The ingress protection of containers or parts of electrical equipment protected by powder
filling “q”, intended for use only in clean, dry rooms, may be reduced to degree of protection
IP43. The certificate number of this equipment shall include the "X" suffix in accordance with
the marking requirements of IEC 60079-0, and the Specific Conditions of Use listed on the
certificate shall detail the restrictions of use.
When Ex components protected by powder filling “q” are intended to be mounted inside
another enclosure complying with IEC 60079-0, this outer enclosure shall have a degree of
protection of at least IP54. The IP rating of the inner container does not need to be specified
provided that the Ex component is mounted in a position where it is unlikely to be
contaminated by any small amounts of water that may enter the outer enclosur
...