This part of IEC/IEEE 62395 provides detailed recommendations for the system design, installation, maintenance and repair of electrical resistance trace heating systems in industrial and commercial applications. This document does not include or provide for any applications in potentially explosive atmospheres.

This document pertains to trace heating systems that can comprise either factory fabricated or field-assembled (work-site) units, and which can be series or parallel trace heaters, or surface heaters (heater pads or heater panels) that have been assembled and/or terminated in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.

The products covered by this document are intended to be installed by persons who are suitably trained in the techniques required and that only trained personnel carry out especially critical work, such as the installation of connections and terminations. Installations are intended to be carried out under the supervision of a qualified person who has undergone supplementary training in electric trace heating systems.

This document does not cover induction, impedance or skin effect heating.

Trace heating systems and surface heating systems can be grouped into different types of installations. These are characterized by different requirements for testing and are usually certified for a specific type of installation or application. Typical applications for the different types of installation are shown in Table 1.