Four protection principles can prevent equipment from becoming an ignition source. The types of protection listed as examples in the overview are discussed in a different chapter.

An important precondition for all the protection principles is that parts which are in unhindered contact with the explosive atmosphere must not be able to reach non-permitted temperatures with respect to the ignition temperature of substances present in the site of installation. This means that the ignition temperature is relevant for all protection principles.

The protection principles can be equally applied to electrical and non-electrical devices and for gases and for dusts. The principles allow for a design in various safety categories in accordance with the Directive 94/9/EC or the Equipment Protection Level (EPL) according with EN 60079-0 ff:

Category 1 - with very high level of protection and thus a very high degree of safety
Category 2 - with high level of protection and therefore a high degree of safety
Category 3 - with normal level of protection and therefore a conventional degree of safety

EPL a – with very high level of protection and thus a very high degree of safety
EPL b – with high level of protection and therefore a high degree of safety
EPL c – with normal level of protection and therefore a conventional degree of safety



BARTEC applies these protection principles to its different pieces of equipment according to the application for which they are going to be used.