This Standard was prepared by the Joint Standards Australia/Standards New Zealand Committee MS-011, Classification of hazardous areas due to explosive atmospheres, to supersede AS/NZS 60079.10.1:2009, Explosive atmospheres, Part 10.1: Classification of areas — Explosive gas atmospheres (IEC 60079‑10‑1, Ed.1.0 (2008) MOD).

The objective of this document is to specify requirements for the classification of areas where flammable gas or vapour hazards may arise and may then be used as a basis to support the proper design, construction, operation and maintenance of equipment for use in hazardous areas.

It is intended to be applied where there may be an ignition hazard due to the presence of flammable gas or vapour, mixed with air, but it does not apply to —

(a) mines susceptible to firedamp;
(b) the processing and manufacture of explosives;
(c) catastrophic failures or rare malfunctions which are beyond the concept of normality dealt with in this standard;
(d) rooms used for medical purposes;
(e) domestic premises; or
(f) where a hazard may arise due to the presence of combustible dusts or combustible flyings but the principles may be used in assessment of a hybrid mixture.

This document is identical with, and has been reproduced from, IEC 60079‑10‑1:2020 (Ed 3.0) Explosive atmospheres — Part 10-1: Classification of areas — Explosive gas atmospheres.

As this document has been reproduced from an International Standard, the following applies:

(i) In the source text “this part of IEC 60079” should read “this document”.
(ii) A full point substitutes for a comma when referring to a decimal marker.

Australian or Australian/New Zealand Standards that are identical adoptions of international normative references may be used interchangeably. Refer to the online catalogue for information on specific Standards.

The terms “normative” and “informative” are used in Standards to define the application of the appendices or annexes to which they apply. A “normative” appendix or annex is an integral part of a Standard, whereas an “informative” appendix or annex is only for information and guidance.