On January 12, 2024, SAC/TC9 (Electrical Apparatus for Explosive Atmospheres) issued notice to call for comments on a new national voluntary standard GB/T 3836.38 Explosive atmospheres－Part 38：Reciprocating internal combustion engines (hereinafter referred to as “the Standard”). The call-for-comment period will end on March 11. 2024.

This newly drafted standard will replace three current effective standards:

• GB 20800.1-2006 General rules of explosion-protect techniques of reciprocating internal combustion engines for explosive atmospheres - Part 1: Group Ⅱ engines for use in flammable gas and vapor atmospheres （modified adoption of EN 1834.1:2000）

• GB 20800.2-2006 General rules of explosion-protect techniques of reciprocating internal combustion engines for explosive atmospheres - Part 2: Group Ⅱ engines for use in flammable dust atmospheres (modified adoption of EN 1834.3-2000)

• GB 20800.3-2008 General rules of explosion-protect techniques of reciprocating internal combustion engines for explosive atmospheres - Part 3: Group I engines for use in underground workings susceptible to firedamp and/or combustible dust (modified adoption of EN 1834-2:2000)

Previous explosion protection standards in China for reciprocating internal combustion engines are parts of the GB 20800 series, which was drafted based on the EN 1834 series standards (Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engines - Safety Requirements for Design and Construction of Engines for Use in Potentially Explosives Atmospheres) with modifications.

Then in recent years, China’s coordinating its explosion protection standard system into  GB/T 3836 (explosive atmospheres) series, adopting the IEC 60079 series (which are also based on EN 1834). The Standard was considered to adopt the IEC series (whish was under drafting at the time) as well, but now have to be formulated by the Chinese TC as the international standard plan on this topic is cancelled.

In this case, the technical specifications of this newly drafted Standard are based on the GB 20800 standard series, and referring some of the revision contents from the GB/T 3836 series.

The Standard specifies the safety requirements and measures, tests, instructions and marks for reciprocating internal combustion engines used in explosive atmospheres to avoid or reduce the possibility of ignition caused by them. It contains eight chapters and seven annexes, mainly covering: ignition hazard, safety requirements and measures, testing requirements, instructions, hazard assessment, hazard identification, sample of testing report, engine type etc.

The application scope of this Standard is: EPL Mb, Gb, Gc, Db, Dc compression ignition reciprocating internal combustion engines. It does not suitable for hydrogen-fueled (including hybrid) internal combustion engines Internal combustion engines used in the field of explosive processing, manufacturing or storage, nor for spark ignition internal combustion engines.

For foreign manufacturers or users of reciprocating internal combustion engines, the biggest change that will bring by this standard, would be the standards for the explosive protection turning voluntary from mandatory. However, once the newly drafted GB/T 3836.38 is cited by any of the regulations/laws/mandatory certifications for such product, it would be an actual mandatory requirement and must be obeyed.

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