HAZARDOUS AREA CLASSIFICATION General
A Hazardous Area is considered to be an area where an explosive atmosphere is or maybe expected to be present, which requires special precautions to be taken for the construction, installation and use of electrical equipment.
Classifying Hazardous Areas
BS EN 60079-10 is the standard for determining the classification of hazardous areas, giving guidance of determining the area classification and recommendations for detailing the zones on drawings.
Zoning
Hazardous Areas are classified into three "Zones". The Standard EN 60079-10 provides guidance for classification of areas in which an explosive atmosphere may exist. These Zones are defines as follows: Zone 0 Zone 1 Zone 2 An area where an explosive atmosphere is present continuously of for long periods. An area where an explosive atmosphere is likely to to occur in normal operation. An area where an explosive atmosphere is not likely to occur in normal operation.
The areas outside those classified as hazardous are referred to as "safe areas".
Hazardous Area Electrical Equipment
When designing systems where equipment is required for use in a hazardous area environment the equipment must meet the requirements of the classified zone. The following table provides details on the electrical specification for each zone. Hazardous Area Zone 0
Ex ia - Intrinsically Safe 1
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Ex s - Special protection, must be certified for use in Zone
0 Hazardous Area Zone 1
Equipment suitable for Zone 0 EX d - Fame Proof Ex p - Pressurised or Purging Ex q - Powder filled Ex o - Oil Filled/immersion Ex e - Increased Safety Ex ib - Intrinsically Safe Ex m - Encapsulation
Hazardous Area Zone 2 Equipment suitable for Zone 0 or Zone 1 Ex n - Certified that the equipment is not capable under normal operation of igniting a surrounding explosive atmosphere.
Classifications Inside North America Classes Class I Flammable gases or vapors are present in the air in quantities sufficient to produce explosive or ignitable mixtures. Class II Class III Combustible or conductive dusts are present. Ignitable fibers or flyings are present, but not likely to be in suspension in sufficient quantities to produce ignitable mixtures. (Group classifications are not applied to this class.)
Divisions Division 1 Division 2 Groups Group A Group B Group C Group D Group E Group F Group G Acetylene Hydrogen (or gases of equivalent hazard) Ethylene (or gases of equivalent hazard) Gasoline (or gases of equivalent hazard) Metal Dust Coal Dust Grain Dust The substance referred to by class is present during normal conditions. The substance referred to by class is present only in abnormal conditions, such as a container failure or system breakdown.
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Classification Outside North America Zones
Zone 0 Zone 1 Zone 2
Area in which an explosive gas-air mixture is continuously present or present for long periods. Combustible or conductive dusts are [Link] in which an explosive gas-air mixture is likely to occur in normal operation. Area in which an explosive gas-air mixture is not likely to occur, and if it occurs it will only exist for a short time.
Protection Types
Zone d e ia ib o p q m n Flameproof (Explosion proof) Enclosure Increased Safety Intrinsic Safety Intrinsic Safety Oil Immersion Pressurized Apparatus (Purged Apparatus) Powder Filling (Sand Filling) Encapsulation Normally Nonsparking and/or Nonincendive Circuits) 1,2 1,2 0,1,2 1,2 2 1,2 2 1,2 2
Temperature Codes
F T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6
Groups
C 450 300 200 135 100 85
842 572 392 275 212 185
Group I Group IIA Group IIB Group IIC
For application in below ground installations (mines) where methane (firedamp) and coal dust may be present. For application in above ground installation where hazards due to propane may exist. This group most closely matches the North American Group D. For application in above ground installations where hazards due to ethylene may exist. This group most closely matches the North American Group C. For application in above ground installations where hazards due to hydrogen or acetylene may exist. This group most closely matches the North American Groups A and B.
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