In order to allow a combination of measures for explosion protection, which is optimized with respect to the chemical-physical properties of the flammable gases, vapours or dusts, to be made, and therefore a standardization of the types of protection to be possible for the manufacturer, a system of explosion parameters has been created. These are determined using an application-orientated test-method. Before flammable substances can react with the atmospheric oxygen in an explosion, energy must be provided. This energy may, for example, be exchanged on a surface. A heated surface increases the energy content of the explosive mixture in contact with it. If the surface temperature is sufficiently high, this increased energy content can lead to the explosive reaction. However, the energy may also be supplied through a spark or a hot gas jet flowing out of a gap into the explosive mixture. Both types lead to different explosion parameters being defined.
