An overview of

IEC TS 60079-32-1 Electrostatics

Guidance
Dr. Ulrich von Pidoll
Convenor of IEC TC31/101 JWG29

Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt,
Braunschweig
December 11th, 2013

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 Beginning of Electrostatic Rules

• In the 1880s, about 50 unexplainable fires were reported

in German laundries washing clothes with benzine
• In 1892 it was found out that the fires were caused by
tribocharging and can be prevented by increasing the
conductivity of the benzine.
• In 1906, it was found out that a dozen of powder
explosions had been caused by static electricity on
unearthed conductors.
• Consequently, electrostatics requirements were firstly
published 1906 in German “Rules on Avoiding Accidents”:
“To avoid electrical charging, all parts of metal
vessels and devices, which contain flammable liquids
and powders, must be earthed.”
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 Development of Electrostatic Rules

• In 1941, electrostatic rules were published in Germany

and USA.
• In 1970s, many countries followed USA and Germany
and wrote national rules on electrostatics (GB, CH, NL,
JP etc.).
• In 1995, Peter Tolson and his group started writing
CENELEC R044-001:1999 Guidance and
recommendations for the avoidance of hazards due to
static electricity.
• This document was revised by von Pidoll and his group
and published as CENELEC TR 50404:2003 Code of
practice for the avoidance of hazards due to static
electricity.
3 •
 Start of IEC 60079-32

• In 2005, IEC TC31 decided to develop CENELEC TR50404

requirements on electrostatic hazards into documents of the
IEC 60079 series.
• In 2013, we are pleased to present
- IEC TS 60079-32-1 Electrostatics – Guidance (2013-8-20),
and
-IEC 60079-32-2 Electrostatics –Tests (CDV 2013-10-25).

1906, Germany: One paragraph,

1941, Germany: 4 pages,
1999, Europe: 69 pages,
2013, International: 171 pages.
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 Highlights Part 1

Contains answers on typical questions of users:

• Many proposals how to use insulating materials
• Contains latest knowledge on filling velocities for liquids
• Contains latest knowledge on powder handling
• Chapter on correct use of hoses
• Chapter on correct use of insulating pipework
• Chapters on liners for drums and FIBC
But
• Lower border limits for isolated capacitances and
transferred charges
• There is an Annex in preparation in resetting them to the
old values except Qmax of 25 nC for IIB.
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 Highlights Part 1, page2

• Presents worldwide accepted state of the art in

electrostatics
• Harmonised with all relevant ISO and IEC standards
• Contains Annex with principles on Electrostatics
• Contains „the principles of Part 2“ as informative Annex G
• Contains flowchart with chapter references for systematic
electrostatic evaluation as Annex F

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 .

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 IEC TS 60079-32-1, Annex F

Example 1:
• Lamp hanging on the ceiling in a room zone 1.
• Electrostatic charging processes are not expected

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 .

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 IEC TS 60079-32-1, Annex F

Example 2:
• Conductive socket of 11 pF on an insulating housing
• Electrostatic charging processes by manual rubbing are
expected.

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 .

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 IEC TS 60079-32-1, Annex F

Example 3:
• Filling a bag of isolated powder into a solvent filled vessel.
• Electrostatic charging processes by filling process are
expected.
• Bag shall be handled according to the document.

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 .

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 IEC TS 60079-32-1, Chapter 9.5.4

9.5.4 Filling of bulk material into a container

Filling of bulk material is preferably performed with a closed and / or
automated system, typically under inert gas atmosphere.
NOTE 1 Charge build up during the filling of bulk material from metal or plastic drums or from
plastic bags has caused many fires and explosions in the past.
NOTE 2 Charge build up occurs when bulk material is discharged from a container or bag or if it
flows through a chute, pipe or funnel.
Manual addition to an open vessel should be avoided whenever possible. If
the open addition of powder to a container containing an explosive
atmosphere cannot be avoided, special measures should be provided to
reduce the charge build up:
a) Containers or packages to be emptied should be made from conductive or
dissipative material.
b) During emptying, conductive containers or packages should be earthed
and dissipative containers or packages should be in contact with earth.
Etc. etc.

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 Content 1
6 Static electricity in solid materials
• 6.1 General considerations
• 6.2 The use of conductive or dissipative materials
• 6.3 Precautions required when using insulating solid materials
• 6.4 Conveyor belts and transmission belts
7 Static electricity in liquids
• 7.1 General considerations
• 7.2 Summary of precautions during liquid handling operations
• 7.3 Tanks and Containers
• 7.4 High viscosity liquids
• 7.5 High charging equipment (e.g. filters)
• 7.6 Gauging and sampling in tanks
• 7.7 Pipes and hose assemblies for liquids
• 7.8 Special filling procedures
• 7.9 Plant processes (blending, stirring, mixing, crystallisation etc.)
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• 7.10 Spraying liquids and tank cleaning
 Content 2
• 7.11 Glass systems
8 Static electricity in gases
• 8.1 General
• 8.2 Grit blasting
• 8.3 Fire extinguishers
• 8.4 Inerting
• 8.5 Steam cleaning
• 8.6 Accidental leakage of compressed gas
• 8.7 Spraying of flammable paints and powders
• 8.8 Vacuum cleaners
9 Static electricity in powders
• 9.1 General
• 9.2 Discharges, occurrence and incendivity
• 9.3 Procedural measures
• 9.4 Bulk materials in the absence of flammable gases and vapours
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• 9.5 Bulk material in the presence of flammable gases and vapours
 Content 3
• 9.6 Flexible intermediate bulk containers (FIBC)
10 Static electricity when handling explosives
• 10.1 Explosives manufacture, handling and storage
• 10.2 Handling of electro-explosive devices
11 Static electricity on people
• 11.1 General considerations
• 11.2 Static dissipative floors
• 11.3 Dissipative and conductive footwear
• 11.4 Supplementary devices for earthing of people
• 11.5 Clothing
• 11.6 Gloves
• 11.7 Other Items
12 Electrostatic shock
• 12.1 Introduction
• 12.2 Discharges relevant to electrostatic shocks
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• 12.3 Sources of electrostatic shock
 Content 4
• 12.4 Precautions to avoid electrostatic shocks
• 12.5 Precautions in special cases
13 Earthing and bonding
• 13.1 General
• 13.2 Criteria for the dissipation of static electricity from a conductor
13.3 Earthing requirements in practical systems
• 13.4 The establishment and monitoring of earthing systems

Annex A (informative) Fundamentals of static electricity

Annex B (informative) Electrostatic discharges in specific situations
Annex C (informative) Flammability properties of substances
Annex D (informative) Classification of hazardous areas
Annex E (informative) Classification of equipment protection level
Annex F (informative) Flow chart for a systematic electrostatic evaluation
Annex G (informative) Tests
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