ATEX Reference Guide

Fire Triangle

This Hoffman ATEX Reference Guide

explains European hazardous location
protection methods and markings.

Flammable/
Combustible
Substance

Protection concepts

Air/Oxygen

Protection Concepts
Increased Safety
Non-sparking
Flameproof
Enclosed Break*
Quartz/Sand Filled
Intrinsic Safety
Energy Limitation
Pressurized

Ignition Source

Encapsulation

All three elements of the fire triangle

must be present for ignition to occur.

IEC

Intrinsic Safety
Intrinsic Safety
Intrinsic Safety
Flameproof
Pressurization
Increased Safety
Encapsulation
Oil Immersion
Powder Filling
Non-sparking
General Requirement
Inspection & Maintenance

ia
ib
ic
d
p
e
m
o
q
n

How it Works
No arcs, sparks or hot surfaces
Contain the explosion and
quench flame
Limit energy of sparks;
limit the temperature

Keep the flammable gas away

from any hot surfaces and ignition
capable equipment

Any proven method

Category
2&3
3
2&3
3
2&3
1, 2 & 3
2&3
3
3
1, 2 & 3
2&3
3
1, 2 & 3
2&3
2&3
3
1, 2 & 3

Atex Marking Directive (94/9/EC)

Protection Methods
Protection Methods

Oil Immersion
Restricted Breathing
Special

Symbol
Ex e
Ex nA
Ex d
Ex nC
Ex q
Ex ia
Ex ib
Ex ic
Ex nL
Ex px
Ex py
Ex pz
Ex ma
Ex mb
Ex o
Ex nR
Ex s

60079-11
60079-11
60079-11
60079-1
60079-2
60079-7
60079-18
60079-6
60079-5
60079-15
60079-0
60079-17

II

Dust
Gas
Equipment Category
Equipment Group
European Explosive Atmosphere Symbol
EEx e

II T6

Temperature Class
Gas Group
Protection Method
European Explosive Atmosphere
Protection Concept

ATEX

MODULES [ATEX (94/9/EC)]

[ANNEX I (1)] Classification of Equipment Groups into Categories

Equipment shall be classified into the following categories

Temperature classes
Max. Surface
Temperature

Fahrenheit

T-Class

450 C
300 C
200 C
135 C
100 C
85 C

(842F)
(572F)
(392F)
(275F)
(212F)
(185F)

T1
T2
T3
T4
T5
T6*

Equipment
Group

Equipment
Category

I (Mines)

M1

Methane & Dust

Very High

I (Mines)

M2

Methane & Dust

High

II (Above Ground)
II (Above Ground)
II (Above Ground)

1
2
3

Gas, Vapor, Mist, Dust

Gas, Vapor, Mist, Dust
Gas, Vapor, Mist, Dust

Atmosphere

Protection
Level

Very High
High
Low

Required Protection
Performance & Operation
Two faults, remain energized
and functioning
Severe normal operation,
De-energize in exp. atm.
Two faults
One faults
Normal operation

Highlighted items represent protection provided by Hoffman ZONEX Enclosures, certified to meet
ATEX Directive 94/9/EC and IEC Ex, Exe IIC, Gb/Ex tb IIIC Db IP66
*Applies to component populated Hoffman ZONEX Enclosures only.

Gas Groups
Typical Material
Methane
Propane
Ethylene
Hydrogen
Acetylene
All Gases

I
IIA
IIB
IIC
IIC
II

ATEX Reference Guide

Zones and Divisions
Div 2
Zone 2

Vent

Comparing Divisions, Zones & Categories

Frequency of
Occurrence
Continuous
Intermittent
Periodically
Abnormal
Condition

CEC, NEC Editions

Division System

Zone System
Class I, CEC, NEC

Category System
ATEX

Zone 0, 20

Category 1

Zone 1, 21

Category 2

Zone 2, 22

Category 3

Class I, Division 1
Class II, Division 1
Class I, Division 2
Class II, Division 2

Ingress Protection (IP) Codes

First Number 1

Div 1
Zone 0

Div 1
Zone 1

Flammable
Liquid or Dust

0
1
2
3
4
5
6

No Protection
Objects Greater than 50mm
Objects Greater than 12 mm
Objects Greater than 2.5 mm
Objects Greater than 1 mm
Dust Protected
Dust Tight

Second Number 1
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

No Protection
Vertically Dripping Water
75 to 90 F Dripping Water
Sprayed Water
Splashed Water
Water Jets
Powerful Water Jets
Effects of Immersion
Indefinite Immersion

Enclosure Types
Enclosure Type2,3

Intended Use

1
2
3
3R
3S
4
4X
5
6
6P
7
8
9
10
12
12K
13

Indoor use, limited amounts of falling dirt

Indoor use, limited amounts of falling water and dirt
Outdoor use, rain, sleet, wind blown dust, external formation of ice
Outdoor use, rain, sleet, external formation of ice
Outdoor use, rain, sleet, wind blown dust, external mechanisms operable when ice laden
Indoor or outdoor use, wind blown dust and rain, splashing water, hose directed water, external formation of ice
Indoor or outdoor use, wind blown dust and rain, splashing water, hose directed water, corrosion, external formation of ice
Indoor use, settling airborne dust, falling dirt, non-corrosive liquids
Indoor or outdoor use, hose directed water, temporary submersion, external formation of ice
Indoor or outdoor use, hose directed water, prolonged submersion, external formation of ice
Indoor use, Class I, Division 1, Groups A, B, C, and D hazardous locations, air-break equipment
Indoor use, Class I, Division 1, Groups A, B, C, and D hazardous locations, oil-immersed equipment
Indoor use, Class II, Division 1 Groups E, F, and G hazardous locations, air-break equipment
Mining applications
Indoor use, circulating dust, falling dirt, dripping noncorrosive liquids
Indoor use, circulating dust, falling dirt, dripping noncorrosive liquids, provided with knockouts
Indoor use, lint, dust, spraying of water, oil, and noncorrosive coolant

Regional Headquarters

North America
Pentair Technical Products
2100 Hoffman Way
Anoka, Minnesota 55303-1745
U.S.A.
Tel: +1-763-421-2240

Brazil
Pentair Technical Products
(Taunus Metalurgica LTDA)
Rua Joao Marcon, 165
18550.000 Centro
Boituva SP
Tel: +55 15 3363 9100

Europe
Pentair Technical Products
Langenalber Strae 96-100
75334 Straubenhardt, Germany
Tel: +49 (0) 7082 794-0

Note:

1 Numbers
can be replaced by X when
the characteristic number is not
required

Enclosure Types for US only

2

Enclosure Type can be converted to

IP code rating; however, IP classified
enclosures cannot be converted to
Enclosure Type

3

China
Pentair Technical Products
21st Floor of Cloud Nine Plaza
No. 1118 West Yanan Road
Changning District, Shanghai
P.R. China
Tel: +86 400 820 1133

Singapore
Pentair Technical Products
Hoffman Schroff Pte Ltd.
18 Boon Lay Way
TradeHub 21, #04-110/111
Singapore 609966
Tel: +65 6795 2213

For worldwide locations, see pentairtechnicalproducts.com

2010 Pentair Technical Products

Tech-00057 B