Applicability Ex op is protection for LEDs
Question: Are LEDs subject to IEC 60079-28 and type of protection “op is”?
Answer: No
According to the second point of "interpretation" of the document IEC 60079-28:2015/ISH:2019 ED2, the IEC 60079-28 and Ex op is, do not apply to:
“divergent light sources or beams where light is not focused (in one single point) within the hazardous area”
Reasons
The first edition of IEC 60079-28, was published in 2006. The standard explains protection of equipment and transmission systems using optical radiation.
In 2015, the second edition was published. In this new edition, LEDs were added to the standard scope, so that the defined scope for IEC 60079-28:2015 was “This standard applies to optical fiber equipment and optical equipment, including LED and laser equipment…”.
During the application of the standard for LED lights, two results were predictable:
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for all LEDs and all cases, the result of the performed ignition hazard assessment according to the annex C of IEC 60079-28:2015, is : “no ignition source due to LED luminaries”; and
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No ignition occurs when the ignition type tests are performed for LED luminaries according to 6.3 of IEC 60079-28:2015.
