Hazardous Area Classification Guide | POWER OIL AND GAS

Hazardous Area Classification Guide

Hazadous Area Classification

Hazardous Area Definition

A hazardous area is defined as an area in which an explosive atmosphere is present,
or may be expected to be present, in quantities such as to require special precautions
for the construction, installation and use potential ignition sources.
An explosion will occur when three basic conditions are present and remove any of
these basic conditions and an explosion will not occur :
Explosive material (Gas,Liquid,Dust)
Oxygen / Air
Source of Ignition (Temperature Rise, Spark)
Classification of Hazardous Areas
The purpose of area classification is to provide a basis for the correct selection,
installation and location of electrical and non-electrical equipment in those areas. Areas
must be classified depending on the properties of the flammable vapours, liquids,
gases, mists, combustible dusts or fibres that may be present and the likelihood that a
flammable or combustible concentration or quantity is present.
The aim of area classification is to avoid ignition of flammable release that may be
occur in the operation of facilities. The intent is to reduce to an acceptable minimum
level that probability of a flammable atmosphere and an ignition source occurring at
the same time.
The classification of ZONE is a complex problem but the main factors to consider are :
The probability of the presence of gas.
The quantity and duration of hazardous vapour.
The amount of ventilation.
The nature of gas : either lighter or heavier than air.
Hazardous areas may be sub-divided into three zones, as shown below

http://www.poweroilandgas.com/2011/06/hazardous-area-classification-guide.html[11-Oct-12 12:38:32 PM]

Hazardous Area Classification Guide | POWER OIL AND GAS

(FOR FLAMMABLE GASES AND VAPOURS):

Zone 0 - An area in which an explosive atmosphere is constantly present, or
present for long periods.
Zone 1 - An area in which an explosive atmosphere is likely to occur in
normal operation.(Rough Guide : 10 hours or more per year but less than
1000 hours per year)
Zone 2 - An area in which an explosive atmosphere is not likely to occur in
normal operation and if it occur it will exist only for a short time. (Rough
Guide : Less than 10 hours per year)
(FOR COMBUSTIBLE DUSTS):
Zone 20 - An area in which combustible dust, as a cloud, is present
continuously or frequently during normal operation in sufficient quantity to be
capable of producing an explosive concentration of combustible dust in a
mixture with air.
Zone 21 - An area in which combustible dust, as a cloud, is occasionally
present during normal operation in sufficient quantity to be capable of
producing an explosive concentration of combustible dust in a mixture with
air.
Zone 22 - An area in which combustible dust, as a cloud, may occur
infrequently and persist for only a short period, or in which accumulations of
layers of combustible dust may give rise to an explosive concentration of
combustible dust in a mixture with air.
Hazardous Group Classification
The grouping of gases and vapours are classified into Group I and Group II categories.
Group I is for Mining Applications and Group II is for General Industry. Group I
equipment has a representative gas of Methane and all equipment used in underground
mining applications fall into this categories. Any other equipment will be Group II
classified.
I - Methane
IIA - Propane
IIB - Ethylene
IIC - Hydrogen, Acetylene
Equipment and apparatus certified with Group IIC can be used either in IIA, IIB and
IIC areas. But items certified with IIA only can be used in IIA areas and so on.
Temperature Classification
The temperature classification on the electrical equipment label will be one of the
following (Maximum Surface Temperature in degree Celsius) :
T1 - 450
T2 - 300
T3 - 200
T4 - 135
T5 - 100
T6 - 85
Temperature classes T1 to T6 are used for all protection techniques, and correspond to
the electrical devices maximum operational temperature.The better the equipment, the
lower the rated surface temperature.

http://www.poweroilandgas.com/2011/06/hazardous-area-classification-guide.html[11-Oct-12 12:38:32 PM]

Hazardous Area Classification Guide | POWER OIL AND GAS

Therefore, those items certified as being T6, can be used in T1, T2, T3, T4, T5 and T6
gases. Whereas a T2 certification only allows a piece of equipment to be used in T1
and T2 gases.

References:
1. IEC/EN 60079-0 - General Requirements
2. IEC/EN 60079-10 - Electrical
Classification of hazardous areas.
3. IEC/EN 60079-14 - Explosive
selection and erection.

apparatus

for

atmospheres.

explosive

Electrical

gas atmospheres.

installations design,

4. IEC/EN 61892-7 - Mobile and fixed offshore units. Electrical installations.

Hazardous areas.

http://www.poweroilandgas.com/2011/06/hazardous-area-classification-guide.html[11-Oct-12 12:38:32 PM]