Class I: Flammable gases, vapors or liquids
North American Protection Techniques Comparison
Applicable Certification Documents
Area Protection Techniques USA Canada
Div 1 Intrinsic safety UL 913 CSA 157
Explosionproof UL 1203 CSA 30
Purged/pressurized (Type X NFPA 496 NFPA 496
or Y)
Class I, Zone 0 intrinsic UL 60079-11 CSA E60079-11
safety, “ia”
Div 2 Hermetically-sealed ISA 12.12.01 or UL 1604 CSA 213
Nonincendive ISA 12.12.01 or UL 1604 CSA 213
Non-sparking ISA 12.12.01 or UL 1604 CSA 213
Purged/pressurized (Type Z) NFPA 496 NFPA 496
Any Class I, Division 1 See above See above
technique
Any Class I, Zone 0, 1 or 2 See USA Zone 0, 1 or 2 techniques See Canada Zone 0, 1 or 2
technique techniques
Note: Class I, Division 1 intrinsically safe system requirements are contained UL 913 (USA) and CSA 157 (Canada).
Class I, Division 1 Class I, Division 2
Intrinsically Safe Apparatus: Apparatus in which all Hermetically Sealed: Equipment sealed against the
the circuits are intrinsically safe. entrance of an external atmosphere where the seal is
made by fusion, for example, soldering, brazing, welding,
Intrinsically Safe Circuit: A circuit in which any spark or the fusion of glass to metal.
or thermal effect is incapable of causing ignition of a
mixture of flammable or combustible material in air under Nonincendive Circuit: A circuit, other than field wiring, in
prescribed test conditions. which any arc or thermal effect produced under intended
operating conditions of the equipment is not capable,
Intrinsically Safe System: An assembly of under specified test conditions, of igniting the flammable
interconnected intrinsically safe apparatus, associated gas–air, vapor–air, or dust–air mixture.
apparatus, and interconnecting cables, in that those parts
of the system that may be used in hazardous (classified) Nonincendive Component: A component having contacts
locations are intrinsically safe circuits. for making or breaking an incendive circuit and the
contacting mechanism is constructed so that the component
Explosionproof Apparatus: Apparatus enclosed in a is incapable of igniting the specified flammable gas–air or
case that is capable of withstanding an explosion of a vapor–air mixture. The housing of a nonincendive
specified gas or vapor that may occur within it and of component is not intended to exclude the flammable
preventing the ignition of a specified gas or vapor atmosphere or contain an explosion.
surrounding the enclosure by sparks, flashes, or explosion
of the gas or vapor within, and that operates at such an Nonincendive Equipment: Equipment having
external temperature that a surrounding flammable electrical/electronic circuitry that is incapable, under
atmosphere will not be ignited thereby. normal operating conditions, of causing ignition of a
specified flammable gas–air, vapor–air, or dust–air mixture
Purged and Pressurized: The process of (1) purging, due to arcing or thermal means.
supplying an enclosure with a protective gas at a
sufficient flow and positive pressure to reduce the Non-sparking apparatus: Apparatus that has no normally
concentration of any flammable gas or vapor initially arcing parts or thermal effects capable of ignition.
present to an acceptable level; and (2) pressurization,
supplying an enclosure with a protective gas with or Purged and Pressurized: See definition of “Purged
without continuous flow at sufficient pressure to prevent and Pressurized” under Class I, Division 1.
the entrance of a flammable gas or vapor, a combustible
dust, or an ignitible fiber.
International Protection Techniques Comparison
Applicable Certification Documents
Area Protection Techniques USA Canada IECEx Scheme Europe
Zone 0 Intrinsic safety, “ia” UL 60079-11 CSA E60079-11 IEC 60079-11 EN 60079-11
Encapsulation, “ma” UL 60079-18 --- IEC 60079-18 EN 60079-18
Class I, Div 1 intrinsic safety UL 913 CSA 157 --- ---
Zone 1 Flameproof, “d” UL 60079-1 CSA 60079-1 IEC 60079-1 EN 60079-1
Pressurization, “px” or “py” ISA 60079-2 CSA E60079-2 IEC 60079-2 EN 60079-2
Powder filling, “q” UL 60079-5 CSA E60079-5 IEC 60079-5 EN 60079-5
Oil immersion, “o” UL 60079-6 CSA E60079-6 IEC 60079-6 EN 60079-6
Increased safety, “e” UL 60079-7 CSA E60079-7 IEC 60079-7 EN 60079-7
Intrinsic safety, “ib” UL 60079-11 CSA E60079-11 IEC 60079-11 EN 60079-11
Encapsulation, “mb” UL 60079-18 CSA E60079-18 IEC 60079-18 EN 60079-18
Any Zone 0 method See above See above See above See above
Any Class I, Div 1 technique See USA Class I, Div 1 See Canada Class I, --- ---
techniques Div 1 techniques
Zone 2 Pressurization, “pz” ISA 60079-2 CSA E60079-2 IEC 60079-2 EN 60079-2
Intrinsic safety, “ic” --- --- IEC 60079-11 EN 60079-11
Encapsulated, “nC” --- CSA E60079-15 IEC 60079-15 EN 60079-15
Enclosed-break, “nC” UL 60079-15 CSA E60079-15 IEC 60079-15 EN 60079-15
Energy-limited, “nL” (“nC” for UL 60079-15 CSA E60079-15 IEC 60079-15 EN 60079-15
USA)
Hermetically-sealed, “nC” UL 60079-15 CSA E60079-15 IEC 60079-15 EN 60079-15
Nonincendive, “nC” UL 60079-15 CSA E60079-15 IEC 60079-15 EN 60079-15
Non-sparking, “nA” UL 60079-15 CSA E60079-15 IEC 60079-15 EN 60079-15
Restricted breathing, “nR” UL 60079-15 CSA E60079-15 IEC 60079-15 EN 60079-15
Sealed, “nC” UL 60079-15 CSA E60079-15 IEC 60079-15 EN 60079-15
Self-protected Energy-limited, --- CSA E60079-15 IEC 60079-15 EN 60079-15
“nA nL” (“nL” for Canada)
Any Zone 0 or 1 technique See above See above See above See above
Any Class I, Div 1 or 2 See USA Class I, Div 1 See Canada Class I, --- ---
technique or 2 techniques Div 1 or 2 techniques
Note 1: Zone 0, 1 and 2 general requirements are contained in UL 60079-0 (USA), CSA 60079-0 (Canada) and IEC/EN 60079-0 (IECEx Scheme &
Europe).
Note 2: Zone 0 and 1 intrinsically safe system requirements are contained UL 60079-11 (USA & Canada) and IEC/EN 60079-25 (IECEx Scheme &
Europe).
Note 3: Zone 0 and 1 special requirements for equipment installed in Zone 0 areas are contained in ISA 60079-26 (USA) and IEC/EN 60079-26 (IECEx
Scheme & Europe).
Note 4: Zone 0, 1 and 2 FISCO requirements are contained in UL 60079-27 (USA) and IEC/EN 60079-27 (IECEx Scheme & Europe).
Zone 0
Intrinsic Safety “i”: Type of protection where any spark or thermal effect is incapable of causing ignition of a mixture
of flammable or combustible material in air under prescribed test conditions.
Encapsulation “m”: Type of protection where electrical parts that could ignite an explosive atmosphere by either
sparking or heating are enclosed in a compound in such a way that this explosive atmosphere cannot be ignited.
Zone 1
Flameproof “d”: Type of protection where the enclosure will withstand an internal explosion of a flammable mixture
that has penetrated into the interior, without suffering damage and without causing ignition, through any joints or
structural openings in the enclosure, of an external explosive gas atmosphere consisting of one or more of the gases or
vapors for which it is designed.
Pressurization “p”: Type of protection for electrical equipment that uses the technique of guarding against the ingress
of the external atmosphere, which may be explosive, into an enclosure by maintaining a protective gas therein at a
pressure above that of the external atmosphere.
Powder Filling “q”: Type of protection where electrical parts capable of igniting an explosive atmosphere are fixed
in position and completely surrounded by filling material (glass or quartz powder) to prevent the ignition of an external
explosive atmosphere.
Oil Immersion “o”: Type of protection where electrical equipment is immersed in a protective liquid in such a way that
an explosive atmosphere that may be above the liquid or outside the enclosure cannot be ignited.
Increased Safety “e”: Type of protection applied to electrical equipment that does not produce arcs or sparks in normal
service and under specified abnormal conditions, in which additional measures are applied so as to give increased security
against the possibility of excessive temperatures and of the occurrence of arcs and sparks.
Intrinsic Safety “i”: See definition of “Intrinsic Safety” under Zone 0 above.
Encapsulation “m”: See definition of “Encapsulation” under Zone 0 above.
Zone 2
Type of Protection “n”: Type of protection where electrical equipment, in normal operation, is not capable of igniting
a surrounding explosive gas atmosphere and a fault capable of causing ignition is not likely to occur.
Pressurization “p”: See definition of “Pressurization” under Zone 1 above.
Intrinsic Safety “i”: See definition of “Intrinsic Safety” under Zone 0 above.