Oil immersion Ex o
Oil immersion Ex o testing is where electrical equipment (or part of equipment) is immersed in a protective liquid in a such a way that the explosive atmosphere, whether above the liquid or outside of enclosure, cannot be ignited.
Testing technique
Oil immersion testing is where electrical equipment (or part of equipment) is immersed in a protective liquid in a such a way that the explosive atmosphere, whether above the liquid or outside of enclosure, cannot be ignited.
The Ex equipment is constructed to ensure that the necessary amount of protective liquid is present to prevent the explosive atmosphere from making direct contact with potential ignition sources.
Protective liquid monitoring devices, indicators or a level control safety device with an automatic switch off may be used as safety devices in this type of protection.
Some accepted protective liquids include:
synthetic ester liquid Type 1 (conforming to IEC 61099)
mineral oil (conforming to IEC 60296)
silicone liquid (conforming to IEC 60836).
Testing to standards
The design requirements for electrical equipment using oil immersion are set out in the International Standard IEC 60079-6 or Australian/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 60079.6. together with IEC (or AS/NZS) 60079-0 for Explosive atmospheres – General requirements.
The standard provides the detailed specification requirements for alternative types of protective liquid.
Levels of protection
Levels of protection ‘o’ is divided into two levels based on the risk of the electrical equipment becoming an ignition source in an explosive gas atmosphere as follows:
- ‘ob’ for Equipment Protection Level - EPL Gb or Mb, “high” level of protection, where equipment is not a source of ignition in normal operation or during expected malfunctions
- ‘oc’ for Equipment Protection Level - EPL Gc, “enhanced” level of protection, where equipment is not a source of ignition in normal operation.
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Getting the test results
The results of our testing are presented in a test report that is endorsed by our local Australian laboratory accreditation body, NATA (National Association of Testing Authorities, Australia).
When product sample testing, design assessment (Ex test report) and quality assessment (quality assessment report) are successfully completed, an Ex Certificate of Conformity (IECEx or ANZEx) is issued by TestSafe.
Help and support
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Call: +61 (2) 4724 4900
Email: testsafe@safework.nsw.gov.au
Mail us at: PO Box 592, Richmond, NSW 2753 Australia.