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Group Hazardous Material in Surrounding Atmosphere

The document discusses hazardous locations which are divided into three classes - Class I for flammable gases/vapors, Class II for combustible dusts, and Class III for ignitable fibers. Each class has groups which further define the specific hazards. Proper classification is important to determine the necessary safety precautions without overspending. Examples of locations for each class and group are provided.

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40 views3 pages

Group Hazardous Material in Surrounding Atmosphere

The document discusses hazardous locations which are divided into three classes - Class I for flammable gases/vapors, Class II for combustible dusts, and Class III for ignitable fibers. Each class has groups which further define the specific hazards. Proper classification is important to determine the necessary safety precautions without overspending. Examples of locations for each class and group are provided.

Uploaded by

sqamar68
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Hazardous Installations

The NEC divides hazardous locations into three ‘‘classes’’ according to the nature of the
hazard: Class I, Class II, and Class III. The locations in each of these classes are further
classified by ‘‘divisions’’ (or ‘‘zones’’ for Class I locations only) according to the degree of
hazard. It is sometimes possible to avoid the use of special hazardous location electrical
equipment and wiring by locating the equipment and wiring outside the hazardous location.
For example, lights may be located outside a room, illuminating the inside through
transparent panels. Motors may be located outside hazardous locations with properly
sealed shafts extending into the hazardous location to drive mechanical equipment.

Power equipment and control instruments may be located in remote, nonhazardous


locations or in pressurized rooms that are suitable for general purpose equipment.

Considerable judgment is required to properly classify an area as a hazardous location.


Unnecessarily expensive installations can be avoided by not over-classifying an area or by
using expensive, explosion proof equipment that is sometimes rated for a higher
classification.

Class I Locations:

A Class I Hazardous Location is one in which flammable gases or vapors may be present in
the air in sufficient quantities to be explosive or ignitable. There are four Groups in Class I
(Groups A, B, C, and D.) Some typical Class I locations are as follows:

 Petroleum refineries, and gasoline storage and dispensing areas


 Dry cleaning plants
 Spray finishing areas
 Utility gas plants

Class II Locations: A Class II Hazardous Location is one in which combustible dust is present.
There are three Groups in Class II (Groups E, F, and G.) Some typical Class II locations are as
follows:

 Grain elevators
 Flour and feed mills
 Producers of plastics, medicines, starch, candies, and fireworks
 Coal preparation plants

Class III Locations: A Class III Hazardous Location is one in which ignitable fibers are present
in the atmosphere. Some typical Class III locations are as follows:

 Textile mills or cotton gins


 Cotton gins or seed mills, flax processing plants
 Plants that shape, pulverize, or cut wood and create sawdust

Explosive Materials in each Hazardous Group:


Group Hazardous Material in Surrounding Atmosphere

Page 1
Hazardous Installations

Group A Acetylene

Hydrogen, fuel and combustible process gases containing more than 30% hydrogen by volume
Group B
or gases of equivalent hazard such as butadiene, ethylene, oxide, and propylene oxide.

Carbon monoxide, ether, hydrogen sulfide, morphline, cyclopropane, ethyl and ethylene or
Group C
gases of equivalent hazard.

Gasoline, acetone, ammonia, benzene, butane, cyclopropane, ethanol, hexane, methanol,


Group D
methane, vinyl chloride, natural gas, naphtha, propane or gases of equivalent hazard.

Combustible metal dusts, including aluminum, magnesium and their commercial alloys or other
Group E combustible dusts whose particle size, abrasiveness and conductivity present similar hazards in
connection with electrical equipment.

Carbonaceous dusts, carbon black, coal black, charcoal, coal or coke dusts that have more than
Group F 8% total entrapped volatiles or dusts that have been sensitized by other material so they
present an explosion hazard.

Group G Flour dust, grain dust, flour, starch, sugar, wood, plastic and chemicals.

Summary of Class I, II, III Hazardous Locations

Page 2
Hazardous Installations

Classes Groups Divisions

1 2

Not normally
A: Acetylene
present in an
Normally explosive
I. - Gases, vapors, B: Hydrogen, etc.
explosive and concentration
and liquids C: Ether, etc. hazardous (but may
accidentally
D: Hydrocarbons, fuels, solvents, etc.
exist)

Dust not normally


Ignitable
E: Metal dusts (conductive and explosive) suspended in an
quantities of dust
ignitable
F: Carbon dusts (some are conductive, and all normally are or
concentration
II. - Dusts are explosive) may be in
(but may
suspension, or
G: Flour, starch, grain, combustible plastic or accidentally
conductive dust
chemical dust (explosive) exist). Dust layers
may be present
are present.

Stored or handled
III. - Fibers and Textiles, wood-working, etc. (easily ignitable, Handled or used in storage
flyings but not likely to be explosive.) in manufacturing (exclusive of
manufacturing)

Page 3

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