BS EN 1710:2005+A1:2008

This European Standard specifies the explosion protection requirements for the construction and marking of equipment that may be an individual item or form an assembly. This includes machinery and components placed on the market by a single supplier for use in mines susceptible to explosive atmospheres of firedamp and/or combustible dust (at atmospheric conditions as defined in EN 1127-2).

NOTE 1 This European Standard deals only with the ignition protection of mining machinery and manufacturers will need to take account of all other relevant EU Directives relating to the construction of machines e.g. the consolidated Machinery Directive 98/37/EC and Directive 2006/42/EC. Additionally, manufacturers will need to take account of any national legislation in the country where they intend to market their equipment.

NOTE 2 Where the flammable gas in the atmosphere is not predominantly methane, reference will need to be made to 4.1 in either EN 60079-0:2004 or EN 13463-1:2001.

NOTE 3 The definition of ‘equipment’ is contained in EN 13463-1. The definition of ‘assembly’ can be found the ATEX guidelines, published by the European Commission.

Equipment complying with the relevant clauses of this European Standard is considered to meet the requirements for equipment of Group I - Category M2.

This European Standard also deals with the prevention of ignitions of explosive atmospheres caused by burning (or smouldering) of combustible material such as fabric fibres, plastic ??O??-rings, rubber seals, lubricating oils or greases used in the construction of the equipment if such items could be an ignition source. For example, the mechanical failure of rotating shaft bearings can result in frictional heating that ignites its plastic cage, plastic seal or lubricating grease. See also 5.2.4 of EN 13463-1:2001.

NOTE 4 The above clause of EN 13463-1 requires the ignition hazard assessment to include those components which, if they failed, could ignite any flammable substance (e.g. lubricating oil) contained within the equipment and which could consequently become, or create, an ignition source. In the case of coal mining equipment and components, the ignition temperature of the mineral oils or greases used is often below that of firedamp, i.e. below 560 °C.