Abbreviation

Definition

ABS

American Bureau of Shipping. ABS is a ship classification society involved with establishing

and administering of standards and rules for marine vessels and structures.

AEx

A marking prefix for apparatus complying with one or more types of explosion protection

techniques for installation in accordance with Article 505 of the NEC.

ANSI

American National Standards Institute.

API

American Petroleum Institute.

ATEX

EU Directive 94/9/EC Equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially

explosive atmospheres.

Baseefa

British Approvals Service for Electrical Equipment in Flammable Atmospheres. They provide a

range of testing and certification services primarily related to equipment and systems

intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres. Baseefa is a constituent of EECS - a

branch of the Health & Safety Executive, UK.

CEN

European Committee for Standardisation.

CENELEC

European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization. CENELEC is a European Standards

Organisation that publishes harmonised standards for the European market. CENELEC

comprises the National Committees of the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark,

Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway,

Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

CEPEL

Centro de Pesquisas de Energia Electrica (Brazil). In Brazil, all electrical or electronic

equipment for use in potentially explosive atmospheres should be certified by a Brazilian

certification body recognised by INMETRO. CEPEL is an accredited body that is able to issue

relevant certification.

CFR

Code of Federal Regulations.

CSA

Canadian Standards Association. A service they offer includes testing and certification

services to US and Canadian Standards, as well as international certification through

agreements with other approval authorities.

DNV

Det Norske Veritas.

EECS

Electrical Equipment Certification Service (UK). They provide a range of testing and

certification services primarily related to equipment and systems intended for use in

potentially explosive atmospheres. EECS has two divisions, the Mining Equipment

Certification Services (MECS), and Baseefa. The EECS is a branch of the Health & Safety

Executive, UK.

EEx

A marking prefix for apparatus complying with one or more types of explosion protection

techniques in accordance with CENELEC standards.

Explosionproof

A term used to describe equipment that is capable of withstanding an explosion of a

specified gas or vapour that may occur within it and preventing the ignition of a specified gas

or vapour surrounding it.

Flameproof

A type of protection of electrical apparatus in which the enclosure will withstand an internal

explosion of a flammable mixture which has penetrated into the interior, without suffering

damage and without causing ignition, through any joints or structural openings in the

enclosure, of an external explosive atmosphere consisting of one or more of gases or

vapours for which it is designed.

FM

Factory Mutual Research Corporation (USA). Services they offer include the testing and

approval of electrical equipment in accordance with US and international Standards.

Hazardous Areas

Locations where fire or explosion hazards may exist due to the presence of flammable

gases, vapours, mists, ignitable fibres or dusts.

IADC

International Association of Drilling Contractors.

IEC

International Electrotechnical Commission. Founded in 1906, the IEC is the world

organisation that prepares international standards for all electrical, electronic and related

technologies. The membership consists of more than 50 participating countries.

IECEx

The aim of the IECEx Scheme is to facilitate international trade in electrical equipment

intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres by eliminating the need for multiple

national certificates.

Increased Safety

A type of protection applied to electrical apparatus that does not produce arcs or sparks in

normal service and under specified abnormal conditions, in which additional measures are

applied so as to give increased security against the possibility of excessive temperatures

and of the occurrence of arcs and sparks.

INMETRO

Instituto Nacional de Metrologia, Normalizacão Qualidade Industrial (Brazil).

Intrinsically Safe System

An assembly of interconnected items of apparatus which may comprise intrinsically safe

apparatus, associated apparatus and other apparatus, and interconnecting cables in which

the circuits within those parts of the system that may be exposed to explosive gas

atmospheres are intrinsically safe circuits.

Impervious Sheathed Cable

Cable constructed with an impervious metallic or non-metallic overall covering that prevents

the entrance of gases, moisture or vapours into the insulated conductor or cable.

IP

A system of rating standard levels of Ingress Protection provided by the apparatus.

ISA

The International Society for Measurement and Control (formerly Instrument Society of

America).

ISO

International Organisations for Standardisation. A worldwide federation of national standard

bodies from 130 countries. ISO's mission is to promote the development of standardisation

to facilitate international exchange of goods service.

ITS

Intertek Testing Services.

Maximum Surface Temperature

The highest temperature of a surface accessible to a flammable mixture under conditions of

operation and within the ratings of the equipment.

NEMA

National Electrical Manufacturers Association.

NFPA

National Fire Protection Association.

OSHA

Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor National

Recognised Test Laboratories (NRTL's) recognised by OSHA include CSA, FMRC and UL. The

NRTL determines that the specific products meet the relevant standards of safety as

required by OSHA and that the products are safe for use in the U.S. workplace.

PLTC

Power-limited tray cable as defined by NEC article 725.

Potentially Explosive Atmosphere

A mixture with air, under atmospheric conditions, of flammable substances in the form of

a gas, vapour, mist or dust in which, after ignition, combustion spreads through the un-

consumed mixture.

SCS

SIRA Certification Service (UK). They provide a range of testing and certification services

and have agreements with other international approval authorities.

TC

Power and control cable as defined by NEC Article 340.

USCG

United States Coast Guard.