Hazardous areas are defined by three main criteria:

The type of hazard The likelihood of the hazard being present in flammable concentrations The (auto) ignition temperature of the hazardous material

The type of hazard (Groups)

The hazard will be in the form of a gas, vapour, dust or fibre.

Gases and Vapours

Gases and vapours are categorized in terms of their ignition energy or the maximum experimental safe gap (in respect of flameproof protection). This categorization leads to the Gas Groups:

Mining Group I Methane IIA Propane

Surface Industry Group II IIB Ethylene IIC Hydrogen

(The gases noted in the table are typical gases for each group.) Group IIC is the most severe group. Hazards in this group can be ignited very easily indeed.

Dusts and Fibres (Group III)

Dusts and fibres are also defined in terms of their ignition properties including dust cloud ignition properties.

The likelihood of the hazard being present in flammable concentrations (Zones)

The likelihood of the hazard being present in flammable concentrations will vary from place to place. A location very close to an open source of

hazard will have a high likelihood of a flammable atmosphere. On the other hand, outside a flanged pipe containing a flammable liquid, the likelihood of a flammable atmosphere being present is much lower since it will only occur if the flange leaks. Rather than work with an infinite range of possibilities, three zones are defined.

Gases and Vapours

There are three zones for gases and vapours:

Zone 0 Zone 1 Zone 2

Flammable atmosphere highly likely to be present may be present for long periods or even continuously Flammable atmosphere possible but unlikely to be present for long periods Flammable atmosphere unlikely to be present except for short periods of time - typically as a result of a process fault condition.

Zone zero is the most severe zone (the highest probability of flammable atmosphere presence). Equipment for this zone needs to be very well protected against providing a source of ignition.

Dusts
There are three zones for dusts:

Zone 20 Zone 21 Zone 22

Dust cloud likely to be present continuously or for long periods Dust cloud likely to be present occasionally in normal operation Dust cloud unlikely to occur in normal operation, but if it does, will only exist for a short period

(The presence of dust layers does not automatically lead to the dust zone. The likelihood of the dust layer being disturbed to create a cloud needs to be considered. Dust layers also need careful consideration in terms of ignition temperature. Because the dust layer can make the equipment under it hotter then normal, a factor of safety is applied to the layer ignition temperature.)

The (auto) ignition temperature of the hazardous material (Temperature Classes)

As well as considering the protection against electrical arcs and sparks igniting a flammable atmosphere, consideration needs to be given to the surface temperature of equipment. (Most electrical apparatus dissipates some heat!) Flammable materials are categorized according to their ignition temperature. Again, rather than work with an infinite range, six temperature classes are defined as follows:

T-Class T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6

Hazards which will not ignite at temperatures below: 450C 300C 200C 135C 100C 85C

The bigger the T-number the lower is the temperature. The Temperature classification will be marked on items of equipment. If the hazardous area in which you are installing equipment has gases or vapours with a low autoignition temperature then you will need equipment with a bigger T-Number so as to ensure that any hot surfaces on the equipment will not ignite the hazard.

For example, if a hazard has an autoignition temperature of 180C, then it would be safe to use equipment which is marked T6 or T5 or T4. It would not be safe to use equipment marked T3 or T2 or T1as this equipment could exhibit surface temperatures which are hot enough to ignite the hazardous atmosphere. Don't forget that, unless the certification documents state otherwise (in which case there will be an addition to the T-Classification code on the equipment label such as T4 (60C Amb)) the equipment is only certified in ambient temperatures up to 40C. If exposed to higher temperatures there are two possible dangers. First the stated T-Class temperature may be exceeded and secondly safety components within the equipment could fail to an unsafe condition. If you expect equipment to be subjected to temperatures above 40C (such as in direct sunshine or in a roof space) you should install equipment which is certified for a higher ambient temperature.

Protecting Electrical Apparatus to make it suitable

for use in hazardous areas
Electrical apparatus for use in hazardous areas needs to be designed and constructed in such a way that it will not provide a source of ignition. There are ten recognized types of protection for hazardous area electrical apparatus. Each type of protection achieves its safety from ignition in different ways and not all are equally safe. In addition to the equipment being suitable for the Gas Group and the Temperature Class required, the type of protection must be suitable for the zone in which it is to be installed. The different types of protection and the zones for which they are suitable are as follows: For information on equipment marking, click here to open a new page

Type of Protection for Gas / Vapour Hazards

Equipment Code

Description

Suitable for zones...

Ex ia Ex ib Ex ic Ex d Ex p Ex px Ex py Ex pz Ex e Ex m Ex ma Ex mb Ex o Ex q Ex n Ex s

Intrinsic safety 'ia' Intrinsic safety 'ib' Intrinsic Safety 'ic' Flameproof protection Purge/pressurized protection Purge/pressurized protection 'px' Purge/pressurized protection 'py' Purge/pressurized protection 'pz' Increased safety Encapsulation Encapsulation Encapsulation Oil immersion Sand / powder (quartz) filling Type - n protection Special protection

0, 1, 2 1,2 2 1,2 1,2 1,2 1,2 2 1,2 1,2 0,1,2 1.2 1,2 1,2 2 Normally 1 and 2

Equipment complying with European (CENELEC) standards will frequently bear the code EEx (as opposed to Ex) But note that the use of EEx is being phased out for equipment designed and certified to the latest editions of the European Standards.

Types of Protection for Equipment for Dust Hazard Locations

Equipment Code tDA20 tDB20 iaD maD tDA21 tDB21

Description Protection by enclosure Protection by enclosure Intrinsic Safety Encapsulation Protection by enclosure Protection by enclosure

Suitable for Zones... 20, 21, 22 20,21,22 20,21,22 20,21,22 21,22 21,22

ibD mbD pD tDA22 tDB22 icD

Intrinsic Safety Encapsulation Pressurization Protection by enclosure Protection by enclosure Intrinsic Safety

21,22 21,22 21,22 22 22 22

Equipment Protection Levels - EPL

From 2007 onwards, the IEC Technical Standards in the series IEC 60079, and in particular IEC 60079 Part 14, have recognised that there may be occasions where it is necessary to increase, above the normal levels, the protection against ignition sources. This concept allows for consideration of risk (ie consequences of an explosion) as opposed to just the probability of a flammable atmosphere existing - the conventional selection criteria between the types of protection and the zone of use. Three Equipment Protection Levels are specified as shown in the table below. In normal circumstances the effect of these EPLs will be to retain the normal zone/equipment protection relationship. If, however, the risk is considered especially severe, then the required EPL for the zone may be increased. Similarly, if the risk is deemed to be especially small or negligible, the EPL may be reduced from the norm. The following two tables show the normal relationship between EPL and zone, and the EPL awarded to each type of protection.

Equipment Protection Level (EPL) Ga Gb Gc

Normal Applicable Zone(s) 0 (and 1 and 2) 1 (and 2) 2

Equipment Code Ex ia Ex ib Ex ic Ex d Ex p Ex px Ex py Ex pz Ex e Ex m Ex ma Ex mb Ex o Ex q Ex n Ex s

Description Intrinsic safety 'ia' Intrinsic safety 'ib' Intrinsic Safety 'ic' Flameproof protection Purge/pressurized protection Purge/pressurized protection 'px' Purge/pressurized protection 'py' Purge/pressurized protection 'pz' Increased safety Encapsulation Encapsulation Encapsulation Oil immersion Sand / powder (quartz) filling Type - n protection Special protection

EPL Ga Gb Gc Gb Gb Gb Gb Gc Gb Gb Ga Gb Gb Gb Gc Refer to equipment marking and documentation

For dust hazards, the EPLs are as follows:

Equipment Protection Level (EPL) Da Db Dc

Normal Applicable Zone(s) 20 (and 21 and 22) 21 (and 22) 22

Standards

There are various standards which give details of hazardous area requirements. In the main, the IEC standards are now parallel voted by CENELEC (Europe). New standards are being introduced at a bewildering rate and it is always worth checking against, for example, the BSI website. (See Useful Links Page) It is important for equipment designers to design to the latest edition of ATEX harmonised standards - the up to date list can be found on the EC ATEX website. (See Useful Links Page) Gradually, the technical standards for the technology for gas/vapour hazards and those for dust hazards are being incorporated into the same series. For example IEC 60079-10 covers area classification IEC 6007910-1 deals with gas/vapour hazards and IEC 60079-10-2 deals with dust hazards. Similar numbering will apply for other aspects such as installation.

Top level standard

EN1127-1 Explosive atmospheres: Explosion prevention and protection. Part 1: Basic concepts and methodology

Standards for Equipment

IEC 60079-

ELECTRICAL APPARATUS FOR EXPLOSIVE GAS ATMOSPHERES

Part 0 Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 11 Part 15

General requirements Construction and test of flameproof enclosures of electrical apparatus Electrical apparatus - type of protection p Spark test apparatus for intrinsically safe circuits Method of test for ignition temperature Powder filling q Oil-immersion o Increased safety e' Construction and test of intrinsically safe and associated apparatus Electrical apparatus for explosive gas atmospheres, type of protection n

Part 18 Part 25 Part 26 Part 27

Encapsulation m Intrinsically safe systems Special requirements for construction test and marking of zone 0 electrical apparatus Fieldbus intrinsically safe concept (FISCO)

Standards for Installation etc. (gases and vapours)

IEC 60079-

ELECTRICAL APPARATUS FOR EXPLOSIVE GAS ATMOSPHERES

Part 10 Part 14 Part 17

Classification of hazardous areas Installation (and selection) of equipment in hazardous areas Inspection and maintenance of equipment

Note that the 60079 series of standards will gradually address dust hazards as well as gas/vapour hazards. The standard number will have an additional suffix 1 or 2. Thus, for example, 61241-14 (see below) will be replaced by 60079-14-2 [installation for equipment in dust hazards], with 60079-14-1 dealing with installations in gas/vapour hazards.

Standards for Dust Hazard Equipment and Installation

IEC 61241 Part 0 Part 1 Part 2-1 Part 2-2 Part 2-3 Part 4 Part 10 Part 11 ELECTRICAL APPARATUS FOR USE IN THE PRESENCE OF COMBUSTIBLE DUST

General Requirements Protection by enclosure tD Methods for determining the minimum ignition temperature of dusts Method for determining the resistivity of dust in layers Method for determining minimum ignition energy of dust air mixtures Type of protection pD Classification of areas where combustible dusts are or may be present Protection by intrinsic safety iD

Part 14 Part 17 Part 18

Selection and installation Inspection and maintenance Protection by encapsulation mD

ATEX Directives