IEC 60079:2024 contains the specific requirements for the design of electrical systems, selection, installation and the required initial inspection of electrical installations of Ex Equipment in, or associated with, explosive atmospheres including requirements for documentation and personnel competency.

There are many small changes and clarifications, but the new major technical changes include:

The title is changed to "Electrical installation design, selection and installation of equipment, including initial inspection" to ensure that all areas, including initial inspection are now covered.

• The term "Installation of equipment" is replacing the word "Erection" in the title as more common wording.
• The requirements for simple apparatus have been aligned with IEC 60079-11.
• The flowchart is revised to include consideration of equipment groups, cable lengths and enclosures with a volume cutoff at 2 000 cm3
• The previously informative Annex C to improve details relevant to testing cables and alignment to the selection requirements is now normative.
• The previous normative tables in the section "Initial inspection" are included in the informative Annex O. This allows checklists to be customised for specific installations.

The new IEC 60079-14:2024 now ties in with the recently published IEC 60079-17:2023 which is the Standard for Electrical installations inspection and maintenance. IEC 60079-17:2023 applies to users and covers only those factors directly related to the inspection and maintenance of electrical installations specifically designed for hazardous areas, where the hazard is caused by explosive atmospheres. There were two major technical changes

• Further requirements added regarding Type of Protection "o".
• Modified reference in this standard to align all types of inspection with Continuous Supervision terms for example, Skilled Personnel and Technical Persons with Executive Function.

There are also many other small changes such as the change in terminology from previously used ‘Special Condition of Safe Use’ to current terminology ‘Specific Conditions of Use’

ExVeritas are a UK Government Appointed Body for UKCA ‘Ex’, an ATEX Notified Body and an IECEx Certification Body. ExVeritas offer CompEx and Specialized Courses for Designers, Installers and Inspectors at our multiple centers globally, in addition we have developed new and updated specialist courses covering diverse subjects from advanced intrinsically safe design to non-electrical risk assessment. More on ExVeritas Training here.