This part of ISO/IEC 80079 provides guidance on classification of gases and vapours. It describes a test method intended for the measurement of the maximum experimental safe gaps (MESG) for gas-air mixtures or vapour-air mixtures under normal conditions of temperature and pressure (20 °C, 101,3 kPa) so as to permit the selection of an appropriate group of equipment. This document also describes a test method intended for use in the determination of the auto-ignition temperature (AIT) of a vapour-air mixture or gas-air mixture at atmospheric pressure, so as to permit the selection of an appropriate temperature class of equipment.

Values of chemical properties of materials are provided to assist in the selection of equipment to be used in hazardous areas. Further data may be added as the results of validated tests become available.

The materials and the characteristics included in a table (see Annex B) have been selected with particular reference to the use of equipment in hazardous areas. The data in this document have been taken from a number of references which are given in the bibliography.

These methods for determining the MESG or the AIT may also be used for gas-air-inert mixtures or vapour-air-inert mixtures. However, data on air-inert mixtures are not tabulated.