On September 10, 2021, the public discussion on the draft of the Eurasian Economic Commission “About amendments No. 1 to the technical regulation TR CU 012/2011 “On safety of the equipment for operation in explosive atmospheres”” began in Russia. The Technical Regulation set minimum requirements for the safety of products during the EAC Certification, EAC Declaration or state registration.
The most important changes relate to the inclusion in the regulation area of cables for external circuits, which are intended for use in potentially explosive areas.
In the course of the conformity assessment of the explosion safety of cables for external circuits, compliance with the requirements of the following indicators is checked:
- surface resistance
- impact resistance
- partial longitudinal tightness of cables
- leading shutdown
The parameters are specified in the standards for groups of specific products. Cables for external circuits that are intended for use in potentially explosive areas must be marked with the "Ex" symbol.
In addition, the draft also clarifies which electrical equipment, including Ex components, and non-electrical equipment for operation in potentially explosive areas is subject to TR CU 012/2011. The non-electrical equipment for operation in potentially explosive areas includes means that make up some of the following products:
- personal protective equipment
- seagoing vessels and river vessels as well as deep-sea inland vessels
- mobile offshore platforms
- drilling platforms for work in sea and inland waters and other watercraft
- machines and equipment, public transport vehicles for the transport of people and goods by air, land, rail or water
In addition to changes in the technical regulations themselves, the lists of standards for cables for operation in potentially explosive areas according to TR CU 012/2011 are also being discussed. So far, 2 standards for cables with voltages up to 1000 V and 3 standards for cables with voltages above 1000 V have been specified in the draft requirements list. The draft comprises a total of 33 standards.
The public discussion is expected to end on October 7, 2021.
