This European Standard specifies methods for the identification and assessment of hazardous situations leading to explosion and the design and construction measures appropriate for the required safety. This is achieved by: - risk assessment; - risk reduction. The safety of equipment, protective systems and components can be achieved by eliminating hazards and/or limiting the risk, i.e. by: a) appropriate design (without using safeguarding); b) safeguarding; c) information for use; d) any other preventive measures. Measures in accordance with a) (prevention) and b) (protection) against explosions are dealt with in Clause 6, measures according to c) against explosions are dealt with in Clause 7. Measures in accordance with d) are not specified in this European Standard. They are dealt with in EN ISO 12100:2010, Clause 6. The preventive and protective measures described in this European Standard will not provide the required level of safety unless the equipment, protective systems and components are operated within their intended use and are installed and maintained according to the relevant codes of practice or requirements. This standard specifies general design and construction methods to help designers and manufacturers in achieving explosion safety in the design of equipment, protective systems and components. This European Standard is applicable to any equipment, protective systems and components intended to be used in potentially explosive atmospheres, under atmospheric conditions. These atmospheres can arise from flammable materials processed, used or released by the equipment, protective systems and components or from materials in the vicinity of the equipment, protective systems and components and/or from the materials of construction of the equipment, protective systems and components.