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Electricalequipmentinhazardousareas
FromWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia

Inelectricalengineering,hazardouslocations(sometimesabbreviatedto
HazLoc,pronouncedHazLk)aredefinedasplaceswherefireor
explosionhazardsmayexistduetoflammablegases,flammableliquid
producedvapors,combustibleliquidproducedvapors,combustibledusts,
orignitablefibers/flyingspresentintheairinquantitiessufficientto
produceexplosiveorignitablemixtures.[1]Electricalequipmentthatmust
beinstalledinsuchclassifiedlocationsshouldbespeciallydesignedand
testedtoensureitdoesnotinitiateanexplosion,duetoarcingcontactsor
highsurfacetemperatureofequipment.
Theintroductionofelectricalapparatusforsignalingorlightingincoal
mineswasaccompaniedbyelectricallyinitiatedexplosionsofflammable
gasanddust.Technicalstandardsweredevelopedtoidentifythefeaturesof
electricalapparatusthatwouldpreventelectricalinitiationofexplosions
duetoenergyorthermaleffects.Severalphysicalmethodsofprotectionare
used.Theapparatusmaybedesignedtoprevententryofflammablegasor
dustintotheinterior.Theapparatusmaybestrongenoughtocontainand
coolanycombustiongasesproducedinternally.Or,electricaldevicesmay
bedesignedsothattheycannotproduceasparkstrongenoughor
temperatureshighenoughtoigniteaspecifiedhazardousgas.

Thisinspectionlampisconstructedso
thatitcannotsetoffanexplosion
whensurroundedbyspecified
flammablegasesordust.

Contents
1 Electricalignitionhazard
2 History
3 NationalElectricalCode(NEC)DivisionandZoneclassification
systems
4 CanadianElectricalCode(CEC)DivisionandZone
classificationsystems
5 Explosivegasareaclassifications
6 Explosivedustareaclassifications
7 Gas&Dustgroups
8 Temperatureclassification
8.1 Autoignitiontemperatures
8.2 Autoignitiontemperatures(dust)
9 Typeofprotection
9.1 Multipleprotection
10 Equipmentprotectionlevel
11 Equipmentcategory
12 Labeling
12.1 Europe
12.2 NorthAmerica
13 Seealso
14 References
15 Furtherreading

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Electricalignitionhazard
Ahouseholdlightswitchmayemitasmall,harmlessvisiblesparkwhenswitching.Inanordinaryatmospherethis
arcisofnoconcern,butifaflammablevaporispresent,thearcmightstartanexplosion.Electricalequipment
intendedforuseinachemicalfactoryorrefineryisdesignedeithertocontainanyexplosionwithinthedevice,or
isdesignednottoproducesparkswithsufficientenergytotriggeranexplosion.
Manystrategiesexistforsafetyinelectricalinstallations.Thesimpleststrategyistominimizetheamountof
electricalequipmentinstalledinahazardousarea,eitherbykeepingtheequipmentoutoftheareaaltogetherorby
makingthearealesshazardousbyprocessimprovementsorventilationwithcleanair.Intrinsicsafety,ornon
incendiveequipmentandwiringmethods,isasetofpracticesforapparatusdesignedwithlowpowerlevelsand
lowstoredenergy.Insufficientenergyisavailabletoproduceanarcthatcanignitethesurroundingexplosive
mixture.Equipmentenclosurescanbepressurizedwithcleanairorinertgasanddesignedwithvariouscontrolsto
removepowerorprovidenotificationincaseofsupplyorpressurelossofsuchgases.Arcproducingelementsof
theequipmentcanalsobeisolatedfromthesurroundingatmospherebyencapsulation,immersioninoil,sand,etc.
Heatproducingelementssuchasmotorwinding,electricalheaters,includingheattracingandlightingfixturesare
oftendesignedtolimittheirmaximumtemperaturebelowtheautoignitiontemperatureofthematerialinvolved.
Bothexternalandinternaltemperaturesaretakenintoconsideration.
Asinmostfieldsofelectricalinstallation,differentcountrieshaveapproachedthestandardizationandtestingof
equipmentforhazardousareasindifferentways.Asworldtradebecomesmoreimportantindistributionof
electricalproducts,internationalstandardsareslowlyconvergingsothatawiderrangeofacceptabletechniques
canbeapprovedbynationalregulatoryagencies.
Areaclassificationisrequiredbygovernmentalbodies,forexamplebytheU.S.OccupationalSafetyandHealth
Administrationandcomplianceisenforced.
Documentationrequirementsarevaried.Oftenanareaclassificationplanviewisprovidedtoidentifyequipment
ratingsandinstallationtechniquestobeusedforeachclassifiedplantarea.Theplanmaycontainthelistof
chemicalswiththeirgroupandtemperaturerating,andelevationdetailsshadedtoindicateClass,Division(Zone)
andgroupcombination.Theareaclassificationprocesswouldrequiretheparticipationofoperations,maintenance,
safety,electricalandinstrumentationprofessionals,theuseofprocessdiagramsandmaterialflows,MSDSandany
pertinentdocuments,informationandknowledgetodeterminethehazardsandtheirextentandthe
countermeasurestobeemployed.Areaclassificationdocumentationsarereviewedandupdatedtoreflectprocess
changes.

History
Soonaftertheintroductionofelectricpowerintocoalmines,itwasdiscoveredthatlethalexplosionscouldbe
initiatedbyelectricalequipmentsuchaslighting,signals,ormotors.Thehazardoffiredampormethane
accumulationinmineswaswellknownbythetimeelectricitywasintroduced,alongwiththedangerofsuspended
coaldust.AtleasttwoBritishmineexplosionswereattributedtoanelectricbellsignalsystem.Inthissystem,two
barewireswererunalongthelengthofadrift,andanyminerdesiringtosignalthesurfacewouldmomentarily
touchthewirestoeachotherorbridgethewireswithametaltool.Theinductanceofthesignalbellcoils,
combinedwithbreakingofcontactsbyexposedmetalsurfaces,resultedinsparkswhichcouldignitemethane,
causinganexplosion.[2]
Inanindustrialplantsuchasarefineryorchemicalprocessplant,handlingoflargequantitiesofflammableliquids
andgasescreatesariskofleaks.Insomecasesthegas,ignitablevaporordustispresentallthetimeorforlong
periods.Otherareaswouldhaveadangerousconcentrationofflammablesubstancesonlyduringprocessupsets,
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equipmentdeteriorationbetweenmaintenanceperiods,orduringanincident.Refineriesandchemicalplantsare
thendividedintoareasofriskofreleaseofgas,vaporordustknownasdivisionsorzones.
Theprocessofdeterminingthetypeandsizeofthesehazardousareasiscalledareaclassification.Guidanceon
assessingtheextentofthehazardisgivenintheNFPA497orNFPA499standardspublishedbytheNationalFire
ProtectionAssociationforexplosivegasordustatmospheresrespectively,orRP500andRP505standards
publishedbytheAmericanPetroleumInstituteforexplosivegasordustatmospheresrespectively,andIEC60079
101orIEC60079102standardspublishedbytheInternationalElectrotechnicalCommissionforexplosivegasor
dustatmospheresrespectively.

NationalElectricalCode(NEC)DivisionandZoneclassification
systems
TheNationalElectricCode(NEC),NFPA70,[3]aspublishedbytheNationalFireProtectionAssociation,defines
areaclassificationandinstallationprinciples.TheprinciplesoftheNECDivisionandZoneclassificationsystems
areappliedincountriesaroundtheglobe,suchasintheUnitedStates.
Specifically,Article500describestheNECDivisionclassificationsystem,whileArticles505and506describethe
NECZoneclassificationsystem.TheNECZoneclassificationsystemwascreatedtoprovidemultinational
companieswithasystemthatcouldbeharmonizedwithIECclassificationsystemandthereforereducethe
complexityofmanagement.

CanadianElectricalCode(CEC)DivisionandZoneclassification
systems
CanadahasasimilarsystemwiththeCanadianElectricalCodedefiningareaclassificationandinstallation
principles.TwopossibleclassificationsaredescribedinCanadianStandardsAssociation(CSA)C22.1Canadian
ElectricalCode(CEC)Section18(Zones)andAppendixJ(Divisions).

Explosivegasareaclassifications
Typicalgashazardsarefromhydrocarboncompounds,buthydrogenandammoniaarecommonindustrialgases
thatareflammable.
ClassI,Division1classifiedlocations
Anareawhereignitableconcentrationsofflammablegases,vaporsorliquidscanexistallofthetimeor
someofthetimeundernormaloperatingconditions.AClassI,Division1areaencompassesthe
combinationofZone0andZone1areas.
Zone0classifiedlocations
Anareawhereignitableconcentrationsofflammablegases,vaporsorliquidsarepresentcontinuouslyorfor
longperiodsoftimeundernormaloperatingconditions.Anexampleofthiswouldbethevaporspaceabove
theliquidinthetopofatankordrum.TheANSI/NECclassificationmethodconsiderthisenvironmenta
ClassI,Division1area.AsaguideforZone0,thiscanbedefinedasover1000hours/yearor>10%ofthe
time.[4]
Zone1classifiedlocation
Anareawhereignitableconcentrationsofflammablegases,vaporsorliquidsarelikelytoexistundernormal
operatingconditions.AsaguideforZone1,thiscanbedefinedas101000hours/yearor0.110%ofthe
time.[4]
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ClassI,Division2orZone2classifiedlocations
Anareawhereignitableconcentrationsofflammablegases,vaporsorliquidsarenotlikelytoexistunder
normaloperatingconditions.Inthisareathegas,vapororliquidswouldonlybepresentunderabnormal
conditions(mostoftenleaksunderabnormalconditions).AsageneralguideforZone2,unwanted
substancesshouldonlybepresentunder10hours/yearor00.1%ofthetime.[4]
Unclassifiedlocations
Alsoknownasnonhazardousorordinarylocations,theselocationsaredeterminedtobeneitherClassI,
Division1orDivision2Zone0,Zone1orZone2oranycombinationthereof.Suchareasincludea
residenceorofficewheretheonlyriskofareleaseofexplosiveorflammablegaswouldbesuchthingsas
thepropellantinanaerosolspray.Theonlyexplosiveorflammableliquidwouldbepaintandbrushcleaner.
Thesearedesignatedasverylowriskofcausinganexplosionandaremoreofafirerisk(althoughgas
explosionsinresidentialbuildingsdooccur).Unclassifiedlocationsonchemicalandotherplantarepresent
whereitisabsolutelycertainthatthehazardousgasisdilutedtoaconcentrationbelow25%ofitslower
flammabilitylimit(orlowerexplosivelimit(LEL)).

Explosivedustareaclassifications
Flammabledustswhensuspendedinaircanexplode.Anoldsystemofarea
classificationtoaBritishstandardusedasystemofletterstodesignatethe
zones.ThishasbeenreplacedbyaEuropeannumericalsystem,assetout
indirective1999/92/EUimplementedintheUKastheDangerous
SubstancesandExplosivesAtmospheresRegulations2002
Theboundariesandextentofthesehazardouslocationsshouldbedecided
byacompetentperson.Theremustbeasiteplandrawnupofthefactory
withthedivisionsorzonesmarkedon.
ClassII,Division1classifiedlocations
Anareawhereignitableconcentrationsofcombustibledustcanexist
allofthetimeorsomeofthetimeundernormaloperatingconditions.
ClassII,Division2classifiedlocations
Anareawhereignitableconcentrationsofcombustibledustarenot
likelytoexistundernormaloperatingconditions.
ClassIII,Division1classifiedlocations
Anareawhereeasilyignitablefibersormaterialsproducing
combustibleflyingsarehandled,manufacturedorused.
ClassIII,Division2classifiedlocations
Anareawhereeasilyignitablefibersarestoredorhandled.

Anexplosionofdustatthisgrain
elevatorinKansaskilledfiveworkers
in1998.

Zone20classifiedlocations
Anareawhereignitableconcentrationsofcombustibledustorignitablefibers/flyingsarepresent
continuouslyorforlongperiodsoftimeundernormaloperatingconditions.
Zone21classifiedlocation
Anareawhereignitableconcentrationsofcombustibledustorignitablefibers/flyingsarelikelytoexist
undernormaloperatingconditions.
Zone22classifiedlocations
Anareawhereignitableconcentrationsofcombustibledustorignitablefibers/flyingsarenotlikelytoexist
undernormaloperatingconditions.
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Unclassifiedlocations
Alsoknownasnonhazardousorordinarylocations,theselocationsaredeterminedtobeneitherClassII,
Division1orDivision2ClassIII,Division1orDivision2Zone20,Zone21orZone22orany
combinationthereof.

Gas&Dustgroups
Explosiveatmosphereshavedifferentchemicalpropertiesthataffectthelikelihoodandseverityofanexplosion.
Suchpropertiesincludeflametemperature,minimumignitionenergy,upperandlowerexplosivelimits,and
molecularweight.Empiricaltestingisdonetodetermineparameterssuchasthemaximumexperimentalsafegap
(MESG),minimumignitingcurrent(MIC)ratio,explosionpressureandtimetopeakpressure,spontaneous
ignitiontemperature,andmaximumrateofpressurerise.Everysubstancehasadifferingcombinationofproperties
butitisfoundthattheycanberankedintosimilarranges,simplifyingtheselectionofequipmentforhazardous
areas.[5]
Flammabilityofcombustibleliquidsaredefinedbytheirflashpoint.Theflashpointisthetemperatureatwhich
thematerialwillgeneratesufficientquantityofvaportoformanignitablemixture.Theflashpointdeterminesifan
areaneedstobeclassified.Amaterialmayhavearelativelylowautoignitiontemperatureyetifitsflashpointis
abovetheambienttemperature,thentheareamaynotneedtobeclassified.Converselyifthesamematerialis
heatedandhandledaboveitsflashpoint,theareamustbeclassified.
Eachchemicalgasorvapourusedinindustryisclassifiedintoagasgroup.
NECDivisionSystemGas&DustGroups
Area

ClassI,Division1&2

Group

RepresentativeMaterials

Acetylene

Hydrogen

Ethylene

Propane

E(Division1only) Metaldusts,suchasmagnesium(Division1only)
ClassII,Division1&2 F
G
ClassIII,Division1&2 None

Carbonaceousdusts,suchascarbon&charcoal
Nonconductivedusts,suchasflour,grain,wood&plastic
Ignitiblefibers/flyings,suchascottonlint,flax&rayon

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NEC&IECZoneSystemGas&DustGroups
Area

Group

RepresentativeMaterials
Acetylene&Hydrogen

IIC

(equivalenttoNECClassI,GroupsAandB)
Hydrogen

IIB+H2
Zone0,1&2

(equivalenttoNECClassI,GroupB)
Ethylene

IIB

(equivalenttoNECClassI,GroupC)
Propane

IIA

(equivalenttoNECClassI,GroupD)
Conductivedusts,suchasmagnesium

IIIC

(equivalenttoNECGlassII,GroupE)
Nonconductivedusts,suchasflour,grain,wood&plastic

Zone20,21&22

IIIB

(equivalenttoNECClassII,GroupsFandG)
Ignitiblefibers/flyings,suchascottonlint,flax&rayon

IIIA

(equivalenttoNECClassIII

Minessusceptibletofiredamp I(IEConly) Methane

GroupIICisthemostsevereZonesystemgasgroup.Hazardsinthisgroupgascanbeignitedveryeasilyindeed.
EquipmentmarkedassuitableforGroupIICisalsosuitableforIIBandIIA.EquipmentmarkedassuitableforIIB
isalsosuitableforIIAbutNOTforIIC.Ifequipmentismarked,forexample,ExeIIT4thenitissuitableforall
subgroupsIIA,IIBandIIC
Alistmustbedrawnupofeveryexplosivematerialthatisontherefinery/chemicalcomplexandincludedinthe
siteplanoftheclassifiedareas.Theabovegroupsareformedinorderofhowexplosivethematerialwouldbeifit
wasignited,withIICbeingthemostexplosiveZonesystemgasgroupandIIAbeingtheleast.Thegroupsalso
indicatehowmuchenergyisrequiredtoignitethematerialbyenergyorthermaleffects,withIIArequiringthe
mostenergyandIICtheleastforZonesystemgasgroups.

Temperatureclassification
Anotherimportantconsiderationisthetemperatureclassificationoftheelectricalequipment.Thesurface
temperatureoranypartsoftheelectricalequipmentthatmaybeexposedtothehazardousatmosphereshouldbe
testedthatitdoesnotexceed80%oftheautoignitiontemperatureofthespecificgasorvaporintheareawhere
theequipmentisintendedtobeused.
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Thetemperatureclassificationontheelectricalequipmentlabelwillbeoneofthefollowing(indegreeCelsius):
International
GermanyC
(IEC)C ContinuousShortTime

USAC
T1450

T3A180 T1450

G1:360400

T2300

T3B165 T2300

G2:240270

T2A280 T3C160 T3200

G3:160180

T2B260 T4135

G4:110125

T4135

T2C230 T4A120 T5100

T2D215 T5100

T685

T3200

T685

G5:8090

Theabovetabletellsusthatthesurfacetemperatureofapieceofelectricalequipmentwithatemperature
classificationofT3willnotriseabove200C.

Autoignitiontemperatures
Theautoignitiontemperatureofaliquid,gasorvaporisthetemperatureatwhichthesubstancewillignitewithout
anyexternalheatsource.Theexacttemperaturevaluedetermineddependsonthelaboratorytestconditionsand
apparatus.Suchtemperaturesforcommonsubstancesare:
Gas

Temperature

Methane

580C

Hydrogen

560C

Propane

493C

Ethylene

425C

Acetylene

305C

Naphtha

290C

Carbondisulfide 102C
Thesurfaceofahighpressuresteampipemaybeabovetheautoignitiontemperatureofsomefuel/airmixtures.

Autoignitiontemperatures(dust)
Theautoignitiontemperatureofadustisusuallyhigherthanthatofvapours&gases.Examplesforcommon
materialsare:
Substance Temperature
Sugar

460C

Wood

340C

Flour

340C

Grain

300C

Tea

300C

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Typeofprotection
Toensuresafetyinagivensituation,equipmentisplacedintoprotectionlevelcategoriesaccordingtomanufacture
methodandsuitabilityfordifferentsituations.Category1isthehighestsafetylevelandCategory3thelowest.
Althoughtherearemanytypesofprotection,afewaredetailed

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Ex
Code

Flameproof

Description

Standard

Equipmentconstructionissuch
thatitcanwithstandaninternal
explosionandprovidereliefof
theexternalpressurevia
flamegap(s)suchasthelabyrinth
createdbythreadedfittingsor
machinedflanges.Theescaping
(hot)gasesmustsufficientlycool
downalongtheescapepaththat
bythetimetheyreachtheoutside IEC/EN
oftheenclosurenottobea
600791
sourceofignitionoftheoutside,
potentiallyignitable
surroundings.

Location

Use

Motors,
Zone1ifgas
lighting,
group&temp.
junctionboxes,
classcorrect
electronics

Equipmenthasflameproofgaps
(max0.006"(150um)
propane/ethylene,0.004"
(100um)acetylene/hydrogen)

IncreasedSafety

Equipmentisveryrobustand
componentsaremadetoahigh
quality

IEC/EN
600797

Zone2or
Zone1

Motors,
lighting,
junctionboxes

OilFilled

Equipmentcomponentsare
completelysubmergedinoil

IEC/EN
600796

Zone2or
Zone1

switchgear

Equipmentcomponentsare
completelycoveredwithalayer
ofSand,powderorquartz

IEC/EN
600795

Zone2or
Zone1

Electronics,
telephones,
chokes

Sand/Powder/Quartz
q
Filled
Encapsulated

Pressurised/purged p

Equipmentcomponentsofthe
IEC/EN
equipmentareusuallyencasedin
6007918
aresintypematerial

Zone1(Ex
Electronics(no
mb)orZone0
heat)
(Exma)

Equipmentispressurisedtoa
positivepressurerelativetothe
surroundingatmospherewithair
oraninertgas,thusthe
IEC/EN
surroundingignitableatmosphere
600792
cannotcomeincontactwith
energizedpartsoftheapparatus.
Theoverpressureismonitored,
maintainedandcontrolled.

Analysers,
Zone1(pxor
motors,control
py),orzone2
boxes,
(pz)
computers

Anyarcsorsparksinthis
equipmenthasinsufficientenergy
(heat)toigniteavapour

Intrinsicallysafe

Equipmentcanbeinstalledin
ANYhousingprovidedtoIP54.
A'ZenerBarrier',optoisolatoror
galvanicunitmaybeusedto
assistwithcertification.

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IEC/EN
6007925
IEC/EN
6007911

'ia':Zone0& Instrumentation,
'ib':Zone1
measurement,
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Aspecialstandardfor
instrumentationisIEC/EN
6007927,describing
requirementsforFieldbus
IntrinsicallySafeConcept
(FISCO)(zone0,1or2)

IEC/EN60079 'ic:zone2
27

control

Equipmentisnonincendiveor
nonsparking.

NonIncendive

SpecialProtection

Aspecialstandardfor
instrumentationisIEC/EN
6007927,describing
requirementsforFieldbusNon
IncendiveConcept(FNICO)
(zone2)

IEC/EN
6007915
IEC/EN
6007927

Thismethod,beingbydefinition
special,hasnospecificrules.In
effectitisanymethodwhichcan
beshowntohavetherequired
degreeofsafetyinuse.Much
earlyequipmenthavingExs
protectionwasdesignedwith
encapsulationandthishasnow
beenincorporatedintoIEC
IEC/EN
6007918[Exm].Exsisa
6007933
codingreferencedinIEC60079
0.TheuseofEPLandATEX
Categorydirectlyisanalternative
forsmarking.TheIEC
standardEN6007933ismade
publicandisexpectedtobecome
effectivesoon,sothatthenormal
Excertificationwillalsobe
possibleforExs

Zone2

Motors,
lighting,
junctionboxes,
electronic
equipment

Zone
depending
Asits
upon
certification
Manufacturers states
Certification.

Thetypesofprotectionaresubdividedintoseveralsubclasses,linkedtoEPL:maandmb,px,pyandpz,ia,iband
ic.Theasubdivisionshavethemoststringentsafetyrequirements,takingintoaccountmoretheoneindependent
componentfaultssimultaneously.

Multipleprotection
ManyitemsofEExratedequipmentwillemploymorethanonemethodofprotectionindifferentcomponentsof
theapparatus.Thesewouldbethenlabeledwitheachoftheindividualmethods.Forexample,asocketoutlet
labeledEEx'de'mighthaveacasemadetoEEx'e'andswitchesthataremadetoEEx'd'.

Equipmentprotectionlevel
InrecentyearsalsotheEquipmentProtectionLevel(EPL)isspecifiedforseveralkindsofprotection.Therequired
Protectionlevelislinkedtotheintendeduseinthezonesdescribedbelow:
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Group

Exrisk

I(mines)

energized

II(gas)
II(gas)
II(gas)

explosiveatmosphere>1000hrs/yr

Zone EPL Minimumtypeofprotection

Ma
0

Ga

ia,ma

explosiveatmospherebetween10and1000hrs/yr 1

Gb

ib,mb,px,py,d,e,o,q,s

explosiveatmospherebetween1and10hrs/yr

Gc

n,ic,pz

III(dust)

explosivesurface>1000hrs/yr

20

Da

ia

III(dust)

explosivesurfacebetween10and1000hrs/yr

21

Db

ib

III(dust)

explosivesurfacebetween1and10hrs/yr

22

Dc

ic

Equipmentcategory
Theequipmentcategoryindicatesthelevelofprotectionofferedbytheequipment.
Category1equipmentmaybeusedinzone0,zone1orzone2areas.
Category2equipmentmaybeusedinzone1orzone2areas.
Category3equipmentmayonlybeusedinzone2areas.

Labeling
Allequipmentcertifiedforuseinhazardousareasmustbelabelledtoshowthetypeandlevelofprotection
applied.

Europe
InEuropethelabelmustshowtheCEmarkandthecodenumberofthe
certifyingbody(NotifiedBody).TheCEmarkingiscomplementedwith
theExmark,followedbytheindicationoftheGroup,Categoryand,if
groupIIequipment,theindicationrelatingtogases(G)ordust(D).For
example:ExII1G(Explosionprotected,Group2,Category1,Gas)
Specifictypeortypesofprotectionbeingusedwillbemarked.
ExiaIICT4.(Typeia,Group2Cgases,Temperatureclass4).
ExnAIIT3X(Typen,nonsparking,Group2gases,Temperature
class3,specialconditionsapply).
Industrialelectricalequipmentforhazardousareahastoconformto
MarkforATEXcertifiedelectrical
appropriatepartsofstandardEN60079[6]andinsomecases,certifiedas
equipmentforexplosiveatmospheres.
meetingthatstandard.Independenttesthouses(knownasNotifiedBodies)
areestablishedinmostEuropeancountries,andacertificatefromanyof
thesewillbeacceptedacrosstheEU.IntheUnitedKingdom,theDTIappointandmaintainalistofNotified
BodieswithintheUK(http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file44775.pdf),ofwhichSiraandBaseefaarethemostwell
known.

NorthAmerica
InNorthAmericathesuitabilityofequipmentforthespecifichazardousareamustbetestedbyaNationally
RecognizedTestingLaboratory.SuchinstitutesareUL,MET(http://www.metlabs.com/),FM,CSAorIntertek
(ETL),forexample.
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ThelabelwillalwayslisttheClass(es),Division(s)andmaylisttheGroup(s)andtemperatureCode.Directly
adjacentonthelabelonewillfindthemarkofthelistingagency.
Somemanufacturersclaim"suitability"or"builtto"hazardousareasintheirtechnicalliterature,butineffectlack
thetestingagency'scertificationandthusunacceptablefortheAHJ(AuthorityHavingJurisdiction)topermit
operationoftheelectricalinstallation/system.
AllequipmentinDivision1areasmusthaveanapprovallabel,butcertainmaterials,suchasrigidmetallicconduit,
doesnothaveaspecificlabelindicatingtheCl./Div.1suitabilityandtheirlistingasapprovedmethodof
installationintheNECservesasthepermission.SomeequipmentinDivision2areasdonotrequireaspecific
label,suchasstandard3phaseinductionmotorsthatdonotcontainnormallyarcingcomponents.
Alsoincludedinthemarkingarethemanufacturersnameortrademarkandaddress,theapparatustype,nameand
serialnumber,yearofmanufactureandanyspecialconditionsofuse.TheNEMAenclosureratingorIPcodemay
alsobeindicated,butitisusuallyindependentoftheClassifiedAreasuitability.

Seealso
Electricalconduit
Intrinsicsafety
ATEXdirective
Pressurepiling
Mineralinsulatedcoppercladcable
Groundingkit
CompExCompetencystandard
NotifiedBody

References
1.Article500oftheNationalElectricalCode(NEC),NFPA70
2.Bossert86page17
3."NFPA70,NationalElectricCode".NationalFireProtectionAssociation.
4.http://www.hse.gov.uk/comah/sragtech/techmeasareaclas.htm
5.JohnBossertandRandolphHurst,HazardousLocationsAGuidefortheDesign,ConstructionandInstallationof
ElectricalEquipment,CanadianStandardsAssociation,Toronto1986ISBN0969012454,Chapter9
6.BSEN60079:"Explosiveatmospheres"(manyparts)

Furtherreading
AlanMcMillan,ElectricalInstallationsinHazardousAreas,ButterworthHeineman1998,ISBN07506
37684
PeterSchramElectricalInstallationsinHazardousLocations,JonesandBartlett,1997,ISBN087765423
9
IntrinsicSafetyinCellphones,SmartphonesandPDAs(PDF),AiroWireless
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