Hazardous Area Classification

Department Editor: Rebekkah Marshall

Guidelines by location
Over the years, hazardous area classification requirements for the U.S. have evolved around a single area-classification system known as the Class/ Division system. Today, the system addresses establishment of boundaries of hazardous areas and the equipment and wiring used in them. Meanwhile, European countries, as well as some other countries around the world, have developed their own area classification systems to address hazardous locations safety issues. This independent development has resulted in systems for these countries or groups of countries based on the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) Zone system, with deviations to meet each countrys national codes. While other countries do accept and use the Division system (most notably Canada and Mexico), the majority of the worlds hazardous locations are classified using the concepts of the IEC Zone system. The U.S. National Electrical Code (NEC; NFPA 70) also recognizes the Zone system and allows its use in the U.S. under article 505 of the NEC. ATEX requires the use of IEC-type hazardous area classifications.
Table 1. Hazardous Areas* IEC (Europe) Zones An area in which an explosive atmosphere is Division 1: PresZone 0 (Gas) / continually present or present for long Class I Gas or ent or likely to be Zone 20 (Dust) periods or frequently vapor present in normal operation An area in which an explosive atmosphere is Class II Dust Gas/Vapor Zone 1 (Gas) / Zone 21 (Dust) likely to occur in normal operation Division 2: Not or Dust Class III Fiber present in normal Zone 2 (Gas) / An area in which an explosive atmosphere is or flying (no group operation, could Zone 22 (Dust) not likely to occur in normal operations and, designation) be present in abif it does occur, will exist for only a short time normal operation North America Class Division * This table represents a corrected version from that in the original printing Table 2. Relationship Between Divisions and Zones North America Europe Division Zone method method IEC standard Ignitable mixture present Zone Zone 0 continuously (long periods) Division 0 (Zone 20-Dust) 1 Ignitable mixture present Zone Zone 1 intermittently 1 (Zone 21-Dust) Zone 2 Ignitable mixture is not Division Zone (Zone 22-Dust) normally present 2 2 Table 4. Gas and Dust Groups Hazardous locations are grouped according to their ignition properties Typical IEC gas North AmeriMinimum ignition gas group can group energy Acetylene IIC A 20J Hydrogen IIC + H2 B 20J Ethylene IIB C 60J Propane *Methane Metal dust Coal dust Grain dust IIA I D E F G 100J Table 3. Temperature Codes The Temperature class defines the maximum surface temperature of the device. Ratings are given with reference to 40C ambient T1 450C T3A 180C T2 T2A T2B T2C T2D T3 300C 280C 260C 230C 215C 200C T3B T3C T4 T4A T5 T6 165C 160C 135C 120C 100C 85C

The additional temperature classifications highlighted above are for USA and Canada only Table 6. Types of Protection for Electrical Equipment (IEC/ATEX and NEC) Technique Oil immersion Pressurization Powder filling Flameproof Explosion Proof Increased safety Intrinsic safety Intrinsic safety Encapsulation Special protection Nonincendive Nonsparking Enclosed break Energy limited Simplified pressurization Restricted breathing IEC PermitPermitted Dested DiZone cription vision Ex o 1&2 Ex p 1&2 1&2 Ex q Ex d Ex ia Ex ib Ex m Ex s Ex nA Ex nC Ex nL Ex nP Ex nR 1&2 1&2 0,1 & 2 1&2 1&2 0,1 & 2 2 2 2 2 2 1&2 1&2 2

Defining hazardous areas

A hazardous area is designated as any location in which a combustible material is or may be present in the atmosphere in sufficient concentration to produce an ignitable mixture. The North American method identifies these areas by Class, Division and Group or optionally by Class, Zone and Group, while the IEC and CENELEC designate these areas by Gas/Dust, Zone and Group. The likelihood that the explosive atmospheres are present when the equipment is operating are designated in Tables 1, 2 and 5.

Fibers *Mining application under jurisdiction of U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA)

Table 5. Information Required For Establishing Extent of Hazardous Area Gas/Vapors Dust Flash point A/B classification M  inimum explosible dust Flammability limits Auto-ignition temperature concentration equipment selection  Minimum ignition energy, Minimum ignition energy  inimum ignition temperaMIC or MESG for equipment M For equipment selection purposes, hazselection purposes ture (cloud/layer) ardous area classifications also consider: Gas/Vapor group Electrical resistivity  The maximum surface temperature of Vapor/Gas density Dust group Area ventilation conditions the equipment under normal operat- Area ventilation conditions  Location of gas/vapor release L  ocation of dust release ing conditions (see the Temperature points. Frequency and rate of points. Frequency and rate of Code designations in Table 3) release release

 The ignition-related properties of the explosive atmosphere (see the Group designations in Table 4)  The protection method(s) used by the equipment to prevent ignition of the surrounding atmosphere (see the Protection Method designations in Table 6)

Table 7. Types of Ignition Protection for Mechanical Equipment (ATEX) Method Description To ensure that ignition sources cannot arise Construction safety c, Inherent safety g, To ensure that ignition sources cannot become active Control of ignition sources b To prevent the explosive atmosphere from reaching Inert liquid immersion k, Inert gas pressurizathe ignition source tion p, Flow restricting enclosure fr To contain the explosion and prevent flame propagation
Classification of Flammable Liquids, Gases, or Vapors and of Hazardous (Classified) Locations for Electrical Installations in Chemical Process Areas. 3.  NFPA 499-2004, Recommended Practice for the Classification of Combustible Dusts and of Hazardous (Classified) Locations for Electrical Installations in Chemical Process Areas.

Flame proof enclosures d, Flame arresters

4.  IEC 60079-10-2002 Electrical apparatus for explosive gas atmospheres Part 10: Classification of hazardous areas. 5.  IEC 61241-3-2005 Electrical apparatus for use in the presence of combustible dust Part 3: Classification of areas where combustible dusts are or may be present.

Acknowledgement and references

We would like to thank Vladimir Stetsovsky of Chilworth Technology, Inc. for his contributions to this page 1.  National Electrical Code-2005-NFPA 70, National Fire Protection Association. 2.  NFPA 497-2004, Recommended Practice for the