FM IS Standard 3610 PDF
FM IS Standard 3610 PDF
FM IS Standard 3610 PDF
for
Intrinsically Safe
Apparatus
and Associated Apparatus
for Use in Class I, II, and
III, Division 1, Hazardous
(Classified) Locations
January 2010
Products submitted for certification by FM Approvals shall demonstrate that they meet the intent of
the Approval Standard, and that quality control in manufacturing shall ensure a consistently uniform
and reliable product. Approval Standards strive to be performance-oriented. They are intended to
facilitate technological development.
Continuance of Approval and listing depends on compliance with the Approval Agreement,
satisfactory performance in the field, on successful re-examinations of equipment, materials, and
services as appropriate, and on periodic follow-up audits of the manufacturing facility.
FM Approvals LLC reserves the right in its sole judgment to change or revise its standards, criteria,
methods, or procedures.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................................................................... 1
1.1 Purpose .............................................................................................................................................................................. 1
1.2 Scope ................................................................................................................................................................................... 1
1.3 Basis for Approval ............................................................................................................................................................. 1
1.4 Approval Application ......................................................................................................................................................... 1
1.5 Basis for Continued Approval .......................................................................................................................................... 2
1.6 Basis for Requirements ...................................................................................................................................................... 2
1.7 Effective Date .................................................................................................................................................................... 2
1.8 System of Units ................................................................................................................................................................. 2
II. SCOPE ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 3
2.1 Application ........................................................................................................................................................................ 3
2.2* Requirements ................................................................................................................................................................... 3
2.3 Mechanisms of Ignition .................................................................................................................................................... 3
2.4 Applicability of Other Standards ...................................................................................................................................... 3
2.5 Control Drawing ................................................................................................................................................................ 3
2.6 Definitions ......................................................................................................................................................................... 4
III. APPARATUS FOR CLASS II AND CLASS III LOCATIONS ....................................................................................... 4
3.1 Requirements ..................................................................................................................................................................... 4
3.2 Specific Requirements for Intrinsic Safety ...................................................................................................................... 4
3.3* Dust-Tight Enclosures ..................................................................................................................................................... 5
IV. TEST PROCEDURES ............................................................................................................................................................. 5
4.1 Drop Test ........................................................................................................................................................................... 5
4.2 Dust-Tight Enclosure Test ................................................................................................................................................. 5
4.3 Dust Blanketing Temperature Test ................................................................................................................................... 6
V MARKING ................................................................................................................................................................................. 6
5.1 Intrinsically Safe Apparatus .............................................................................................................................................. 6
5.2 Associated Apparatus ........................................................................................................................................................ 7
5.3 Marking Battery-Powered Apparatus ............................................................................................................................... 8
5.4 Marking Abbreviations ...................................................................................................................................................... 8
5.5 Marking Drawings ............................................................................................................................................................. 8
VI. MANUFACTURING REQUIREMENTS ............................................................................................................................ 8
6.1 Demonstrated Quality Control Program ........................................................................................................................... 8
6.2* Facilities and Procedures Audit (F&PA) ........................................................................................................................ 9
APPENDIX A: Additional Information ..................................................................................................................................... 10
APPENDIX B: FM Approvals Certification Marks, Usage Guidelines ............................................................................... 11
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I. INTRODUCTION
1.1 Purpose
This standard serves as the basis for Approval of intrinsically safe apparatus and associated apparatus.
1.2 Scope
This standard provides requirements for the construction and testing of electrical apparatus, or parts of such
apparatus, whose circuits are incapable of causing ignition in:
Classes I, II & III, Division 1 hazardous (classified) locations as defined in Article 500 of the National Electrical
Code®, ANSI/NFPA-70 (NEC®).
This standard is intended to be used in conjunction with FM Approval Standard 3600 which includes the general
requirements that apply to all types of classified location protection methods.
Intrinsically Safe Equipment and/or circuits for use in Class I, Division 1, Groups A, B, C and/or D Hazardous
(Classified) Locations shall comply with all applicable requirements in ANSI/ISA-60079-11 2009 for
Category ‘‘ia’’, Group IIC, IIB and/or IIA as shown in Table 1.2.
Exception: Marking of the equipment shall meet the requirements contained in Clause 5.
A IIC
B IIC
C IIB
D IIA
To apply for an Approval examination the manufacturer, or its authorized representative, should submit a
request to:
Electrical – Director
FM Approvals
1151 Boston-Providence Turnpike
P.O. Box 9102
Norwood, MA 02062, U.S.A.
*AN ASTERISK FOLLOWING A WORD OR A SECTION NUMBER SIGNIFIES THAT EXPLANATORY MATERIAL APPEARS IN THE APPENDIX.
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1.6.1 The requirements of this standard are based on experience, research and testing and/or the standards of
other national and international organizations. The advice of manufacturers, users, trade associations and
loss control specialists was also considered.
1.6.2 The requirements of this standard reflect tests and practices used to examine characteristics of intrinsically
safe apparatus for the purpose of obtaining Approval. These requirements are intended primarily as guides,
and strict conformity is not always mandatory. Devices having characteristics not anticipated by this
standard may be FM Approved if performance equal or superior to that required by this standard is
demonstrated, or if the intent of the standard is met. Alternatively, devices which do meet all the require-
ments identified in this standard may not be FM Approved if other conditions which adversely affect
performance exist or if the intent of this standard is not met.
The effective date of an Approval Standard mandates that all products tested for Approval after the effective date
shall satisfy the requirements of that standard. Products Approved issued under a previous edition shall comply
with the new version by the effective date or Approval will be withdrawn. The effective date shall apply to the
entire Approval Standard, or, where so indicated, to specific paragraphs of the standard.
The effective date of this standard is January 1, 2012 for full compliance with all requirements.
Where units of measurement are expressed in U.S. customary units, they are followed by their arithmetic
equivalents in International System (SI) units, enclosed in parentheses. Conversions are in accordance with
ANSI/IEEE/ASTM SI-10-1997 ‘‘Standard for Use of the International System of Units (SI).’’ Where units of
measurement are expressed in SI units, U.S. customary units may also be provided.
*AN ASTERISK FOLLOWING A WORD OR A SECTION NUMBER SIGNIFIES THAT EXPLANATORY MATERIAL APPEARS IN THE APPENDIX.
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II. SCOPE
2.1 Application
This standard shall apply to the electrical circuits of Intrinsically Safe and Associated Apparatus intended for
use in:
Classes I, II and III, Division 1, Groups A, B, C, D, E, F and G, Hazardous (Classified) Locations.
2.2* Requirements
These requirements are based on consideration of ignition in locations made hazardous by the presence of
flammable or combustible material under normal atmospheric conditions.
2.2.1 For the purposes of this standard, normal atmospheric conditions are considered to be:
a) ambient temperature range of -25°C to +40°C;
b) an oxygen concentration no greater than 21% by volume;
c) a barometric pressure in the range 0.8 atmosphere to 1.1 atmosphere.
2.2.2 Equipment intended and specified for use in conditions other than those in Clause 2.2.1 may be subject
to special investigation.
2.3.1 This standard does not cover mechanisms of ignition from external sources, such as static electricity or
lightning, which are not related to the electrical characteristics of the apparatus. However, the possibility
of static charge on polymeric materials and ungrounded metal parts shall be considered during the
Approval examination.
2.3.2 This standard does not cover apparatus based on high voltage electrostatic principles (i.e., electrostatic
paint spraying).
2.4.1 Except where modified by the requirements of this standard, intrinsically safe and associated apparatus
shall comply with the applicable requirements for ordinary locations, in accordance with Clause 2.3 of
Approval Standard 3600.
2.4.2 Associated apparatus and circuits shall conform to the requirements of the location in which they are
installed.
A control drawing shall be provided for all intrinsically safe apparatus or associated apparatus that requires
interconnection to other circuits or apparatus resulting in an intrinsically safe system.
*AN ASTERISK FOLLOWING A WORD OR A SECTION NUMBER SIGNIFIES THAT EXPLANATORY MATERIAL APPEARS IN THE APPENDIX.
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2.5.1 An intrinsically safe system could consist of the interconnection of intrinsically safe apparatus and
associated apparatus investigated as a system, or the interconnection of such apparatus separately
investigated under the entity evaluation concept.
2.6 Definitions
2.6.1 Control Drawing – A drawing or other document provided by the manufacturer of the intrinsically safe
or associated apparatus that details the allowed interconnections to other circuits or apparatus. If the
intrinsically safe or associated apparatus is investigated under the entity concept, the control drawing shall
include the applicable electrical parameters to permit selection of apparatus for interconnection.
2.6.2 Entity Evaluation Concept – A method used to determine acceptable combinations of intrinsically safe
apparatus and connected associated apparatus that have not been investigated in such combination.
3.1 Requirements
Intrinsically safe and associated apparatus intended for use in Class II or Class III, Division 1 hazardous locations
shall meet all requirements of Clauses I through III.
3.2.1 Apparatus and associated wiring that meet the requirements of Clauses I through III of this standard, as
applicable, also shall be considered to meet the requirements for Class II and Class III locations, if they
comply with Clause 3.2.2 and meet the requirements of either Clause 3.2.3 or 3.2.4.
3.2.2 The temperature of exposed surfaces of apparatus shall be less than the marked temperature class when
tested according to the procedures described in Clause 4.3.
Note: See the latest edition of NFPA 499 ‘‘Recommended Practice for the Classification of Combustible Dusts and of Hazardous
(Classified) Locations for Electrical Installations in Chemical Process Areas’’, for minimum ignition temperatures of specified
dusts.
3.2.3 Circuits of intrinsically safe apparatus shall be enclosed in a dust-tight enclosure meeting the requirements
of Clause 3.3. The apparatus shall also meet spark ignition requirements for Class I, Group C and D
locations.
3.2.4* Circuits of intrinsically safe apparatus not enclosed in a dust-tight enclosure meeting the requirements of
Clause 3.3 shall meet the spark ignition requirements specified in Clause 3.2.3. In this case, it shall be
assumed that all spacings do not meet the creepage and clearance distance requirements and that all
connections between live or grounded parts and conductors are in the most unfavorable condition. The
number of such connections is unlimited.
*AN ASTERISK FOLLOWING A WORD OR A SECTION NUMBER SIGNIFIES THAT EXPLANATORY MATERIAL APPEARS IN THE APPENDIX.
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For the purposes of this standard, an enclosure is considered dust-tight if it meets the requirements of
Clause 3.3.1. or 3.3.2 or if it complies with the requirements of Clause 4.2 or if it is dust-ignitionproof. In
addition, a portable apparatus shall be dust-tight after the drop test described in Clause 4.1.
3.3.1 An enclosure is considered suitable if it conforms to applicable requirements for enclosures for ordinary
locations and if it has no openings and if all joints are either threaded with a 3 full-thread minimum
engagement or sealed by continuous welding, brazing, soldering or fusion of glass.
3.3.2 Parts of apparatus within an enclosure suitable for ordinary locations which are encapsulated to a depth
of at least 1 mm (0.04 in.) shall be considered dust-tight.
Portable apparatus shall be subjected to the following drop test. Intrinsic safety shall not be affected.
a) The apparatus shall be dropped at least six times, but not more than once on one surface, edge or corner, from
a height of 1 meter (39.4 in.) on to a smooth horizontal concrete floor.
b) If appropriate, a nonrestrictive guide may be used to assure a free-fall drop on the surface to be tested.
For the purpose of this standard, an enclosure is considered suitable for Class II and III locations if it meets
the requirements of this clause.
4.2.1 The test is a circulating dust method conducted by using equipment in which talcum powder is main-
tained in suspension in a suitable closed chamber. The talcum powder used shall pass through a
square-meshed sieve whose nominal wire diameter is 50 micrometers and whose nominal width between
wires is 75 micrometers. The amount of talcum powder used is 2 kg per cubic meter of the test chamber
volume and is not to be used for more than 20 tests.
4.2.2 The equipment under test is to be supported inside the test chamber, and the pressure inside the
equipment is to be maintained below atmospheric pressure by a vacuum pump. If the enclosure has a
single drain hole, the suction connection is to be made to a hole specially provided for the purpose of
the test. If there is more than one drain hole, the other drain holes are to be left open for the test. The
object of the test is to draw into the equipment, if possible, a minimum of 80 times the volume of air
in the enclosure without exceeding an extraction rate of 60 volumes per hour with a suitable depression.
In no event shall the depression exceed 200 mm of water. If an extraction rate of 40 to 60 volumes per
hour is obtained, the test is to be stopped after two hours. If, with a maximum depression of 200 mm
of water, the extraction rate is less than 40 volumes per hour, the test is to be continued until 80 volumes
have been drawn through, or a period of eight hours has elapsed.
*AN ASTERISK FOLLOWING A WORD OR A SECTION NUMBER SIGNIFIES THAT EXPLANATORY MATERIAL APPEARS IN THE APPENDIX.
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4.2.3 No visible dust shall be detected inside the enclosure at the end of the test.
4.3.1 The apparatus shall be mounted in its normal position and shall be covered with the dust mixture specified
in this clause until no more will stay on the enclosure or component (see Clause 3.2.2 note) or to a depth
of 12 mm (0.48 in.) whichever is less. The dust shall be fine enough to pass through a 100-mesh screen
and shall be one of the following:
a) Wheat, flour or corn dust (or a mixture of both);
b) Aluminum oxide dust or magnesium dust for Group E only equipment.
4.3.2 The apparatus shall be operated under fault conditions appropriate to the device until all temperatures
become constant (see Clause 3.2).
4.3.3 Excursions of temperatures of small components above the temperature class are permitted as long as there
is no evidence of charring or ignition of the test dust specified in 4.3.1.
V MARKING
The minimum marking of intrinsically safe apparatus shall be readily visible by the user and shall include the
following:
c) Where the manufacturer does not specify live maintenance procedures, a warning label stating to the effect:
‘‘WARNING’’: followed by words stating to the effect ‘‘TO PREVENT IGNITION OF FLAMMABLE
OR COMBUSTIBLE ATMOSPHERES, DISCONNECT POWER BEFORE SERVICING’’.
Where the manufacturer specifies and provides live maintenance procedures, the word ‘‘WARNING’’:
followed by words stating to the effect ‘‘TO PREVENT IGNITION OF FLAMMABLE OR
COMBUSTIBLE ATMOSPHERES, READ, UNDERSTAND AND ADHERE TO THE
MANUFACTURER’S LIVE MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES’’
*AN ASTERISK FOLLOWING A WORD OR A SECTION NUMBER SIGNIFIES THAT EXPLANATORY MATERIAL APPEARS IN THE APPENDIX.
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d) Reference to a control drawing number, except for apparatus not intended to be connected to other apparatus
or circuits.
f) The words Intrinsically Safe and the Class, Division and Group for which the equipment was approved.
Exception: the division marking is not required for equipment evaluated for Division 1.
g) Maximum operating temperature or temperature class as appropriate. Refer to the latest edition of the
Approval Standard 3600.
h) The maximum input power, maximum input voltage, maximum input current, maximum unprotected internal
capacitance and maximum unprotected internal inductance if evaluated under the entity concept, along with their
designations, e.g. Vmax = 24 Vdc. Exception: when included in the control drawing.
The minimum marking of associated apparatus shall be readily visible by the user and include the following:
b) Connections for intrinsically safe circuits (e.g. terminals, plugs, receptacles) shall be identified. The color
blue may be used to identify such connections;
c) Control drawing number, except for apparatus not intended to be connected to other apparatus or circuits;
f) The words ‘‘associated apparatus’’ or ‘‘provides intrinsically safe circuits’’ or equivalent along with the Class,
Division and Group for which the intrinsically safe circuits were approved. Exception: the division marking is
not required for equipment evaluated for Division 1.
Examples:
Associated Apparatus providing Intrinsically Safe Circuits for Class I, Division 1, Groups C and D, Provides
Intrinsically Safe Circuits for Class I, Division 1, Groups C and D.
g) The maximum voltage (Um) and frequency which can be applied to the non-intrinsically safe terminals of the
associated apparatus.
h) The maximum output power, maximum output voltage, maximum output current, maximum allowed
capacitance and maximum allowed inductance if evaluated under the entity concept, along with their
designations, e.g. Vmax = 24 Vdc. Exception: when included in the control drawing.
*AN ASTERISK FOLLOWING A WORD OR A SECTION NUMBER SIGNIFIES THAT EXPLANATORY MATERIAL APPEARS IN THE APPENDIX.
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5.3.1 When the batteries used are not intrinsically safe, the apparatus shall be marked with a warning such as:
‘‘WARNING — BATTERIES MUST BE CHANGED IN AN UNCLASSIFIED LOCATION
ONLY.’’
5.3.1.1 If there are two or more replaceable batteries, where there are two or more replaceable batteries
the warning marking shall also warn against mixing of different manufacturers’ batteries and
mixing of new with used batteries.
5.3.1.2 Apparatus or battery packs provided with external contacts for recharging the batteries shall be
marked with the following or equivalent:
Class: CL
Division – DIV
Group: GP
Hazardous Location: HAZ. LOC.
Intrinsically Safe: INT. SAFE or IS
5.5.1 The manufacturer’s drawing delineating marking shall be reviewed prior to apparatus Approval and all
subsequent revisions shall be reviewed by FM Approvals.
5.5.2 A reference to accompanying literature, that provides special installation, maintenance, or operating
instructions. If this information is not on the apparatus, it shall be included or referenced on the control
drawing.
6.1.1 A Quality Control Program is required to assure that each subsequent device produced by the manufacturer
shall present the same quality and reliability as the specific samples examined. Design quality,
conformance to design, and performance are the areas of primary concern.
Design quality is determined during the examination and tests.
*AN ASTERISK FOLLOWING A WORD OR A SECTION NUMBER SIGNIFIES THAT EXPLANATORY MATERIAL APPEARS IN THE APPENDIX.
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6.1.2 The manufacturer shall establish a system of product configuration control to prevent unauthorized
changes, including, as appropriate:
a) engineering drawings;
b) engineering change requests;
c) engineering orders;
d) change notices.
These shall be executed in conformance with a written policy and detailed procedures. Records of all
revisions to all Approved products shall be kept.
6.1.3 The manufacturer shall assign an appropriate person or group to be responsible to obtain FM Approvals
authorization of all changes applicable to Approved products. FM Approvals Form 797, Approved Product
Revision Report or Address/Contact Change Notice, is provided to notify FM Approvals of pending
changes.
The facilities and procedure audit shall comply with the appropriate facilities and procedure audit Clause
contained in the latest edition of the Approval Standard 3600.
*AN ASTERISK FOLLOWING A WORD OR A SECTION NUMBER SIGNIFIES THAT EXPLANATORY MATERIAL APPEARS IN THE APPENDIX.
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APPENDIX A
Additional Information
Appendix A is not part of this standard, but is included for informational purposes only.
*A2.2 Oxygen enrichment decreases the energy necessary for ignition. The minimum ignition energy of mix-
tures of flammable materials with oxygen may be one hundredth of that required for the same material
mixed with air.
As a general rule, the minimum ignition energy is inversely proportional to pressure squared. When
examining a situation where the gas mixture is not at atmospheric pressure, one must consider whether
a flammable mixture exists at higher pressure conditions. When a gas mixture is at high pressure many
flammable materials will condense.
*A3.2.4 If an enclosure is not dust-tight the possibility of reduction of spacings by conductive dusts must be
considered. Therefore, the most hazardous combination of such reduction of spacings is specified.
Typically, this would necessitate the device being evaluated with all capacitors considered to be
paralleled, all inductors connected in series, and the effective resistive load on circuits supplying the
device to the loads which produce the highest surface temperatures (maximum power transfer) and a
short circuit (maximum ignition current).
Although Group G dusts are usually considered nonconductive, the same requirement is applied. It was
not felt necessary to specify a different requirement and to sort out the possibility of degradation of dust
characteristics over a long period of time in the presence of moisture, other conductive agents, etc. It
is recognized that this requirement is excessive for Group G applications, especially where there is no
possibility of the dust being wet and contaminated with conductive materials.
*A.3.3 The dust-tight enclosures defined by these requirements are intended to prevent potentially hazardous
accumulation of dusts. These requirements are less stringent than requirements for enclosures for
non-intrinsically safe equipment in Class II, Division 1 locations. Those latter enclosures must have more
stringent requirements because the apparatus inside may be ignition capable by arc or temperature in
normal operation. Such is not the case with intrinsically safe apparatus.
*A6.2 An initial inspection of the product manufacturing facility is part of the Approval investigation. Its
purpose is to determine that equipment, procedures, and the manufacturer’s controls are properly main-
tained to produce a product of the same quality as initially tested.
In accordance with the requirements contained in the FM Approvals Master Agreement form executed at
the conclusion of each Approval project, follow-up inspections are required at least on an annual basis.
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APPENDIX B
FM Approvals certifications marks are to be used only in conjunction with products or services
that have been Approved by FM Approvals and in adherence with usage guidelines.
FM APPROVED mark:
Authorized by FM Approvals as a certification mark for any product
that has been FM Approved. There is no minimum size requirement
for the mark, but it must be large enough to be readily identifiable.
The mark should be produced in black on a light background, or in
reverse on a dark background.
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