In Explosion Proof Equipment the manufacturer is ensuring that the equipment you purchase is suitable for the environment you wish to use it in.

Devices that are Intrinsically Safe are also required to carry an intrinsically safe label for use in the desired environment.

For example a household refinery is designed either to contain any explosion within the device, or is designed not to produce sparks with sufficient energy to trigger an explosion. Selecting an explosion proof digital vortex meter is a way engineers ensure the ultimate safety of the use of flow measuring devices in their factories and plants.

Many strategies exist for safety in electrical installations. The simplest strategy is to minimize the amount of electrical equipment installed in a hazardous area, either by keeping the equipment out of the area altogether or by making the area less hazardous by process improvements or ventilation with clean air. non-incendive equipment and wiring methods are practices where apparatus is designed with low power levels and low stored energy, so that an arc produced during normal functioning of the equipment or as the result of equipment failure has insufficient energy to initiate ignition of the explosive mixture. Equipment enclosures can be pressurized with clean air or inert gas and designed with various controls to remove power or provide notification in case of supply or pressure loss of such gases. Arc-producing elements of the equipment can also be isolated from the surrounding atmosphere by encapsulation, immersion in oil, sand, etc. Heat producing elements such as motor winding, electrical heaters, including heat tracing and lighting fixtures are often designed to limit their maximum temperature below the autoignition temperature of the material involved. Both external and internal temperatures are taken into consideration.

As in most fields of electrical installation, different countries have approached the standardization and testing of equipment for hazardous areas in different ways. As world trade becomes more important in distribution of electrical products, international standards are slowly converging so that a wider range of acceptable techniques can be approved by national regulatory agencies.

Area classification is required by governmental bodies, for example the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration and compliance is enforced.

Documentation requirements are varied. Often an area classification plan-view is provided to identify equipment ratings and installation techniques to be used for each classified plant area. The plan may contain the list of chemicals with their group and temperature rating, and elevation details shaded to indicate Class, Division(Zone) and group combination. The area classification process would require the participation of operations, maintenance, safety, electrical and instrumentation professionals, the use of process diagrams and material flows, MSDS and any pertinent documents, information and knowledge to determine the hazards and their extent and the countermeasures to be employed. Area classification documentations are reviewed and updated to reflect process changes.

Contents 1 History. 2 Divisions or zones (gases, vapors and dust.) 3 Zones (dusts) 4 Gas groups 5 Equipment Protection Level (EPL) 6 Temperature classification 6.1 Auto-ignition temperatures (vapors & gases) 6.2 Auto-ignition temperatures (dust) 7 Type of protection 7.1 Multiple protection 8 ANSI/NFPA areas description 9 Equipment category 10 Labeling 10.1 Europe 10.2 North America 11 See also 12 References 13 External links 14 Further reading

[edit] History.

Soon after the introduction of electric power into coal mines, it was discovered that lethal explosions could be initiated by electrical equipment such as lighting, signals, or motors. The hazard of fire damp or methane accumulation in mines was well known by the time electricity was introduced, along with the danger of suspended coal dust. At least two British mine explosions were attributed to an electric bell signal system. In this system, two bare wires were run along the length of a drift, and any miner desiring to signal the surface would momentarily touch the wires to each other or bridge the wires with a metal tool. The inductance of the signal bell coils, combined with breaking of contacts by exposed metal surfaces, resulted in sparks which could ignite methane, causing an explosion.^[1]

[edit] Divisions or zones (gases, vapors and dust.)

In an industrial plant such as a chemical process plant, handling of large quantities of flammable liquids and gases creates a risk of leaks. In some cases the gas, ignitable vapor or dust is present all the time or for long periods. Other areas would have a dangerous concentration of flammable substances only during process upsets, equipment deterioration between maintenance periods, or during an incident. Refineries and chemical plants are then divided into areas of risk of release of gas, vapor or dust known as divisions or zones. The process of determining the type and size of these hazardous areas is called area classification. Guidance on assessing the extent of the hazard is given in the NFPA 497 Standard, or API 500 and according to their adaptation by other areas gas zones is given in the current edition of IEC 60079.10. For hazardous dusts, the guiding standard is IEC 61421.10.

Typical gas hazards are from hydrocarbon compounds, but hydrogen and ammonia are common industrial gases that are flammable.

Safe area

An area such as a residence or office would be classed as safe area, where the only risk of a release of explosive or flammable gas would be such things as the propellant in an flammability limit (or lower explosive limit (LEL)).

Division 2 or Zone 2 area

This is a step up from the safe area. In this zone the gas, vapor or mist would only be present under abnormal conditions (most often leaks under abnormal conditions). As a general guide for Zone 2, unwanted substances should only be present under 10 hours/year or 0–0.1% of the time.^[2]

Division 1 or Zone 1 area

Gas, vapor or mist will be present or expected to be present for long periods of time under normal operating conditions. As a guide for Zone 1, this can be defined as 10–1000 hours/year or 0.1–10% of the time.^[2]

Zone 0 area

Gas or vapor is present all of the time. An example of this would be the vapor space above the liquid in the top of a tank or drum. The ANSI/NEC classification method consider this environment a Division 1 area. As a guide for Zone 0, this can be defined as over 1000 hours/year or >10% of the time.^[2]

[edit] Zones (dusts)

Flammable dusts when suspended in air can explode. An old system of area classification to a British standard used a system of letters to designate the zones. This has been replaced by a European numerical system, as set out in directive 1999/92/EU implemented in the UK as the Dangerous Substances and Explosives Atmospheres Regulations 2002

The boundaries and extent of these three dimensional zones should be decided by a competent person. There must be a site plan drawn up of the factory with the zones marked on.

The zone definitions are:

Zone 20

A place in which an explosive atmosphere in the form of a cloud of combustible dust in air is present continuously, or for long periods or frequently.

Zone 21

A place in which an explosive atmosphere in the form of a cloud of combustible dust in air is likely to occur, occasionally, in normal operation.

Zone 22

A place in which an explosive atmosphere in the form of a cloud of combustible dust in air is not likely to occur in normal operation but, if it does occur, will persist for a short period only

[edit] Gas groups

Explosive gases, vapors and dusts have different chemical properties that affect the likelihood and severity of an explosion. Such properties include flame temperature, minimum ignition energy, upper and lower explosive limits, and molecular weight. Empirical testing is done to determine parameters such as the maximum experimental safe gap, minimum ignition current, explosion pressure and time to peak pressure, spontaneous ignition temperature, and maximum rate of pressure rise. Every substance has a differing combination of properties but it is found that they can be ranked into similar ranges, simplifying the selection of equipment for hazardous areas.^[3]

Flammability of combustible liquids are defined by their flash-point. The flash-point is the temperature at which the material will generate sufficient quantity of vapor to form an ignitable mixture. The flash point determines if an area needs to be classified. A material may have a relatively low autoignition temperature yet if its flash-point is above the ambient temperature, then the area may not need to be classified. Conversely if the same material is heated and handled above its flash-point, the area must be classified.^{[citation needed]}

Each chemical gas or vapour used in industry is classified into a gas group.

Group	Representative Gases
I	All Underground Firedamp (methane)
IIA	Industrial petrol and the majority of industrial
IIB	Ethylene, coke oven gas and other industrial gases
IIC	carbon disulphide

Apparatus marked IIB can also be used for IIA gases. IIC marked equipment can be used for both IIA and IIB. If a piece of equipment has just II and no A, B, or C after then it is suitable for any gas group.

A list must be drawn up of every chemical gas or vapor that is on the refinery/chemical complex and included in the site plan of the classified areas. The above groups are formed in order of how volatile the gas or vapor would be if it was ignited, IIC being the most volatile and IIA being the least. The groups also indicate how much energy is required to ignite the gas by spark ignition, Group IIA requiring the most energy and IIC the least.

[edit] Equipment Protection Level (EPL)

In recent years also the Equipment Protection Level is specified for several kinds of protection. The required Protection level is linked to the intended use in the zones described below:

Group	Ex risk	Zone	EPL	Minimum type of protection
I (mines)	energized		Ma
I (mines)	de-energized in presence of Ex atmosphere		Mb
II (gas)	explosive atmosphere > 1000 hrs/yr	0	Ga	ia, ma
II (gas)	explosive atmosphere between 10 and 1000 hrs/yr	1	Gb	ib, mb, px, py, e, o, q, s
II (gas)	explosive atmosphere between 1 and 10 hrs/yr	2	Gc	n, ic, pz
III (dust)	explosive surface > 1000 hrs/yr	20	Da
III (dust)	explosive surface between 10 and 1000 hrs/yr	21	Db
III (dust)	explosive surface between 10 and 10 hrs/yr	22	Dc

[edit] Temperature classification

Another important consideration is the temperature classification of the electrical equipment. The surface temperature or any parts of the electrical equipment that may be exposed to the hazardous atmosphere should be tested that it does not exceed 80% of the auto-ignition temperature of the specific gas or vapor in the area where the equipment is intended to be used.

The temperature classification on the electrical equipment label will be one of the following (in degree Celsius):

USA°C		UK °C	Germany °CContinuous – Short Time
T1 – 450	T3A – 180	T1 – 450	G1: 360 – 400
T2 – 300	T3B – 165	T2 – 300	G2: 240 – 270
T2A – 280	T3C – 160	T3 – 200	G3: 160 – 180
T2B – 260	T4 – 135	T4 – 135	G4: 110 – 125
T2C – 230	T4A – 120	T5 – 100	G5: 80 – 90
T2D – 215	T5 – 100	T6 – 85
T3 – 200	T6 – 85

The above table tells us that the surface temperature of a piece of electrical equipment with a temperature classification of T3 will not rise above 200 °C.

[edit] Auto-ignition temperatures (vapors & gases)

The auto-ignition temperature of a liquid, gas or vapor is the temperature at which the substance will ignite without any external heat source. The exact temperature value determined depends on the laboratory test conditions and apparatus. Such temperatures for common substances are:

Gas	Temperature
Methane	580 °C
Hydrogen	560 °C
Propane	493 °C
Ethylene	425 °C
Acetylene	305 °C
Naphtha	290 °C
Carbon disulfide	102 °C

The surface of a high pressure steam pipe may be above the autoignition temperature of some fuel/air mixtures.

[edit] Auto-ignition temperatures (dust)

The auto-ignition temperature of a dust is usually higher than that of vapours & gases. Examples for common materials are:

Substance	Temperature
Sugar	460 °C
Wood	340 °C
Flour	340 °C
Grain dust	300 °C
Tea	300 °C

[edit] Type of protection

To ensure safety in a given situation, equipment is placed into protection level categories according to manufacture method and suitability for different situations. Category 1 is the highest safety level and Category 3 the lowest. Although there are many types of protection, a few are detailed

	Ex Code	Description	Standard	Location	Use
Flameproof	d	Equipment construction is such that it can withstand an internal explosion and provide relief of the external pressure via flamegap(s) such as the labyrinth created by threaded fittings or machined flanges. The escaping (hot) gases must sufficiently cool down along the escape path that by the time they reach the outside of the enclosure not to be a source of ignition of the outside, potentially ignitable surroundings.Equipment has flameproof gaps (max 0.006″ hydrogen)	IEC/EN 60079-1	Zone 1 if gas group & temp. class correct	Motors, lighting, junction boxes, electronics
Increased Safety	e	Equipment is very robust and components are made to a high quality	IEC/EN 60079-7	Zone 2 or Zone 1	Motors, lighting, junction boxes
Oil Filled	o	Equipment components are completely submerged in oil	IEC/EN 60079-6	Zone 2 or Zone 1	Heavy current equipment
Sand/Powder/Quartz Filled	q	Equipment components are completely covered with a layer of Sand, powder or quartz	IEC/EN 60079-5	Zone 2 or Zone 1	Electronics, telephones, chokes
Encapsulated	m	Equipment components of the equipment are usually encased in a resin type material	IEC/EN 60079-18	Zone 1 (Ex mb) or Zone 0 (Ex ma)	Electronics (no heat)
Pressurised/purged	p	Equipment is pressurised to a positive pressure relative to the surrounding atmosphere with air or an inert gas, thus the surrounding ignitable atmosphere can not come in contact with energized parts of the apparatus. The overpressure is monitored, maintained and controlled.	IEC/EN 60079-2	Zone 1 (px or py), or zone 2 (pz)	Analysers, motors, control boxes, computers
Intrinsically safe	i	Any arcs or sparks in this equipment has insufficient energy (heat) to ignite a vapourEquipment can be installed in ANY housing provided to IP54.A ‘Zener Barrier’ or ‘opto isol’ or ‘galvanic’ unit may be used to assist with certification.A special standard for instrumentation is IEC/EN 60079-27, describing requirements for Fieldbus Intrinsically Safe Concept (FISCO) (zone 0, 1 or 2)	IEC/EN 60079-25IEC/EN 60079-11IEC/EN60079-27	‘ia’: Zone 0 &’ib’: Zone 1’ic: zone 2	Instrumentation, measurement, control
Non Incendive	n	Equipment is non-incendive or non-sparking.A special standard for instrumentation is IEC/EN 60079-27, describing requirements for Fieldbus Non-Incendive Concept (FNICO) (zone 2)	IEC/EN 60079-15IEC/EN 60079-27	Zone 2	Motors, lighting, junction boxes, electronic equipment
Special Protection	s	This method, being by definition special, has no specific rules. In effect it is any method which can be shown to have the required degree of safety in use. Much early equipment having Ex s protection was designed with encapsulation and this has now been incorporated into IEC 60079-18 [Ex m]. Ex s is a coding referenced in IEC 60079-0. The use of EPL and ATEX Category directly is an alternative for “s” marking. The IEC standard EN 60079-33 is made public and is expected to become effective soon, so that the normal Ex certification will also be possible for Ex-s	IEC/EN 60079-33	Zone depending upon Manufacturers Certification.	As its certification states

The types of protection are subdivided into several sub classes, linked to EPL: ma and mb, px, py and pz, ia, ib and ic. The a subdivisions have the most stringent safety requirements, taking into account more the one independent component faults simultaneously.

[edit] Multiple protection

Many items of EEx rated equipment will employ more than one method of protection in different components of the apparatus. These would be then labeled with each of the individual methods. For example a socket outlet labeled EEx’de’ might have a case made to EEx ‘e’ and switches that are made to EEx ‘d’.

[edit] ANSI/NFPA areas description

Class I, Div. 1 – Where ignitable concentrations of flammable gases, vapors or liquids are present continuously or frequently within the atmosphere under normal operation conditions.

Class I, Div. 2 – Where ignitable concentrations of flammable gases, vapors, or liquids are present within the atmosphere under abnormal operating conditions.

Class II, Div. 1 – Where ignitable concentrations of combustible dusts are present within the atmosphere under normal operation conditions.

Class II, Div. 2 – Where ignitable concentrations of combustible dust are present within the atmosphere under abnormal operating conditions.

Class III, Div. 1 – Where easily ignitable fibers or materials producing combustible flyings are present within the atmosphere under normal operation conditions.

Class III, Div. 2 – Where easily ignitable fibers or materials producing combustible flyings are present within the atmosphere under abnormal operating conditions.

Common Materials within Associated Class & Group Ratings, such as “Class I, Division 1, Group A”:

Class I Areas: Group A: Acetylene / Group B: Hydrogen / Group C: Propane and Ethylene / Group D: Benzene, Butane, Methane & Propane

Class II Areas: Group E: Metal Dust / Group F: Carbon & Charcoal / Group G: Flour, Starch, Wood & Plastic

Class III Areas: NO GROUP: Cotton & Sawdust

For more information see Article 500 of NFPA 70 – The National Electric Code, as published by the National Fire Protection Association.

[edit] Equipment category

The equipment category indicates the level of protection offered by the equipment.

Category 1 equipment may be used in zone 0, zone 1 or zone 2 areas.

Category 2 equipment may be used in zone 1 or zone 2 areas.

Category 3 equipment may only be used in zone 2 areas.

[edit] Labeling

All equipment certified for use in hazardous areas must be labelled to show the type and level of protection applied.

[edit] Europe

In Europe the label must show the CE mark and the code number of the certifying body. The CE marking is complemented with the Ex mark, followed by the indication of the Group, Category and, if group II equipment, the indication relating to gases (G) or dust (D). For example: Ex II 1 G (Explosion protected, Group 2, Category 1, Gas) Specific type or types of protection being used will be marked.

• EEx ia IIC T4. (Type ia, Group 2C gases, Temperature category 4).
• EEx nA II T3 X (Type n, non-sparking, Group 2 gases, Temperature category 3, special conditions apply).

In the United Kingdom, industrial electrical equipment for hazardous area has to conform to standard BS 60079 and in some cases, certified as meeting that standard. Independent test houses (known as Notified Bodies)are established in most European countries, and a certificate from any of these will be accepted across the EU. The DTI appoint and maintain a list of Notified Bodies within the UK, of which Baseefa are the most well known.

[edit] North America

In North America the suitability of equipment for the specific hazardous area must be tested by a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory. Such institutes are UL, MET, FM, CSA or Intertek (ETL), for example.

The label will always list the Class(es), Division(s) and may list the Group(s) and temperature Code. Directly adjacent on the label one will find the mark of the listing agency.

Some manufacturers claim “suitability” or “built-to” hazardous areas in their technical literature, but in effect lack the testing agency’s certification and thus unacceptable for the AHJ (Authority Having Jurisdiction) to permit operation of the electrical installation/system.

All equipment in Division 1 areas must have an approval label, but certain materials, such as rigid metallic conduit, does not have a specific label indicating the Cl./Div.1 suitability and their listing as approved method of installation in the NEC serves as the permission. Some equipment in Division 2 areas do not require a specific label, such as standard 3 phase induction motors that do not contain normally arcing components.

Also included in the marking are the manufacturers name or trademark and address, the apparatus type, name and serial number, year of manufacture and any special conditions of use. The IP code may also be indicated, but it is usually independent of the Classified Area suitability.

[edit] See also

• Electrical conduit
• Intrinsic safety
• ATEX directive
• Pressure piling
• Mineral-insulated copper-clad cable
• Grounding kit

[edit] References

1. ^ Bossert 86 page 17
2. ^ http://www.hse.gov.uk/comah/sragtech/techmeasareaclas.htm
3. ^ John Bossert and Randolph Hurst, Hazardous Locations A Guide for the Design, Construction and Installation of Electrical Equipment, Canadian Standards Association, Toronto 1986 ISBN 0-9690124-5-4, Chapter 9

[edit] External links

• ATEX Explained
• ATEX “Use” Directive
• ATEX Directive in Detail
• Hazardous area basics
• Hazardous area information
• (PDF) Cable Gland Adaptors & Reducers ATEX Certification Chart, http://www.etscc.co.uk/sites/default/files/new-techspecs/ETSCC%20Adaptor%20%26%20Reducer%20Selection%20Guide.pdf.

[edit] Further reading

• Alan McMillan, Electrical Installations in Hazardous Areas, Butterworth-Heineman 1998, ISBN 0-7506-3768-4, preview available at Google Books at http://books.google.ca/books?id=Ojke07cRCzQC&printsec=frontcover&dq=electrical+installations+in+hazardous+areas+mcmillan#v=onepage&q=&f=false
• Peter Schram Electrical Installations in Hazardous Locations, Jones and Bartlett, 1997, ISBN 0-87765-423-9, preview available at Google Books at http://books.google.ca/books?id=WbKRE9FfhOQC&printsec=frontcover&dq=electrical+installations+in+hazardous+areas&lr=&source=gbs_book_other_versions_r&cad=5#v=onepage&q=electrical%20installations%20in%20hazardous%20areas&f=false
• (PDF) Intrinsic Safety in Cellphones, Smartphones and PDA’s, Airo Wireless, http://www.airowireless.com/docs/IntrinsicallySafe.pdf.

Source: Wikipedia

Explosion Proof Standards Comparison Guide