HAZARDOUS AREA CLASSIFICATION

basic definitions

Hazard
Something with the potential to cause harm such as FIRE
Hazard

Risk

The probability of that harm to occur and its consequences.

FIRE &EXPLOSION FUNDAMENTALS

Fire
A combustion reaction in which fuel is converted to
combustion products in the presence of oxygen rapidly
producing heat and light.
 Explosion

A sudden release of energy causing a pressure blast wave.

Usually it is the result, not the cause, of a sudden release of

gas under high pressure.

EXAMPLE
Ignition sources
 Open flames – matches, welding, etc.
 Electrical sparking.

 Spontaneous ignition.

 Static electricity.

 Hot surfaces.

 Smoking.

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The stages of combustion

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 Flash Point
The lowest temperature of a liquid at which sufficient
vapor is given off to ignite momentarily (flash), when
an external source of ignition is applied.

Note the difference between Diesel & Petrol

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Some common solvents and their flash
points

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 Fire Point
The lowest temperature of a liquid at which sufficient vapor
is given off at the surface that the application of an external
ignition source will lead to continuing burning.

The fire point temp. is usually just above the flash point.

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 Auto-Ignition temperature (AIT)
The lowest temperature at which the substance will
ignite without the application of an external ignition
source.

No requirement of external ignition source to achieve

combustion as Methane gas has an auto-ignition temp.
of 580 °C

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Limits of Flammability

The extremes of fuel (vapor or gas) to air rations

between which the mixture is combustible

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Examples of Flammable Limits

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 How to prevent and mitigate
Explosions?

 Ventilation
 Ignition
sources
 Containment VICES
 Exchange
 Separation

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 1. VENTILATION
Ensure that any vapors
given off from a spill,
leak, or release from any
process will be rapidly
dispersed, preventing
the formation of a
vapor/air mixture above
the LEL.

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 2. IGNITION SOURCE
Ignition sources must be
removed from storage and
process areas of flammable
materials.
If the ignition source
generates energy above the
Minimum Ignition Energy
(MIE) for the flammable
vapor or gas an explosion
will occur.

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3. CONTAINMENT

Prevents the escape

of flammable
materials into the
workplace which can
release vapors and
generate explosive
mixture.

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 4. EXCHANGE
Exchange of a flammable substance for a less
flammable one will reduce the risk of
formation of an explosive atmosphere under
normal working conditions.

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 5. SEPARATION

Separation of flammable substances from other

processes and general storage areas by physical
barriers, walls or partitions will contribute to a safer
workplace by controlling the zone in which flammable
atmosphere may be present.

Source of Release
A point from which a flammable gas, vapors or liquids
may be released into atmosphere

Such as : flanges, vents, instrument

connections…etc.

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Ignition source

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We have now source of release and
source of ignition.
What is missing for a fire to occur ??

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 AIM OF AREA
CLASSFICATION
To avoid ignition of releases that may occur from time to
time

The approach is to reduce (to an acceptable level) the

probability of coincidence of a flammable atmosphere and
an electrical or other source of ignition.

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 HAZARD AREA
A three dimensional space in which a flammable
atmosphere may be expected to be present at such
frequencies as to require special precaution for the
design and construction of equipment, and the control
of potential ignition sources.

Leak
source

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Subdivisions of Hazardous Area
 The European classification
Zone 0 – Zone 1 – Zone 2

The American classification

Division 1 – Division 2
 Zone 0: flammable atmosphere is continuously
present or present for long periods.
 Zone 1: flammable atmosphere is likely to occur in
normal operation.
 Zone 2: flammable atmosphere is unlikely to occur in
normal operation and, if it occurs, will exist only for short
period.

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Grade of Release

 Continuous: A release that is continuous or nearly

so.

 Primary: A release that is likely to occur

periodically or occasionally in normal
operation. (Vents, Sample points, etc)

 Secondary: A release that is unlikely to occur in normal

operation and, in any event, will do so only
infrequently and for short periods. (Flanges,
Instrument connections, etc)

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Zones and Divisions

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Class i
An area where Flammable Gases or Vapors are or
can be present in the air in quantities sufficient
to produce explosive or ignitable mixtures.

Examples : Petroleum Refineries, Gasoline

storage and dispensing areas, Dry cleaning
plants, Spray Finishing areas, utility gas plants
and distillery (Ethanol production) area.

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 Class ii
An area where presence of Combustible Dust present
a fire or explosion hazard.

For example:
Grain elevators, flour and feed mills, Use or store of
magnesium or aluminum powders, producers of
plastics, fireworks.

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 Class iii
An area made hazardous due to the presence of easily Ignitable
Fibers or flings.

For example:
Textile mills, cotton gins, cotton seed mills, plants that shape
or cut wood and create sawdust or flings.

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In addition to the types of hazardous locations, the
kind of conditions under which these hazards are
present are very important :

Normal Conditions & Abnormal Conditions

Division 1: Normal Conditions

Division 2 : Abnormal Conditions

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 Class I, division i
 Where ignitable concentration of flammable
gases, vapors or liquids can exist all the time or some of
the time under normal operating conditions.
 Where ignitable concentrations of such gases or vapors may
exist frequently because of repair or maintenance
operations or because of leakage
 Faulty operations of equipment or processes might
release ignitable concentrations of flammable gases or
vapors and might cause simultaneous failure of
electrical equipment in such a way as to directly cause
the electrical equipment to become a source of ignition
 Class I, division 2
Is a location in which volatile flammable liquids or
flammable gases are handled, processed, or used, but
in which the liquids, vapors, or gases will normally be
confined within closed containers or closed systems
from which they can escape only in case of accidental
rupture or breakdown of such containers or systems
or in case of abnormal operation of equipment.

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 Gas grouping
The gases and vapors of class I locations are broken into
four groups : A, B, C, and D.

These materials are grouped according to the ignition

temperature of the substance, its explosion pressure, and
other flammable characteristics.

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 Group A
An atmosphere containing Acetylene.

Group B
Atmosphere containing a flammable gas, a flammable
liquid produced vapor, or a combustible liquid produced
vapor mixed with air that may burn or explode, such as
Hydrogen or fuel and combustible process gases
containing more than 30% hydrogen by volume - or gases
of equivalent hazard such as butadiene, ethylene oxide.

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 Group C
Atmosphere containing a flammable gas, a flammable
liquid produced vapor or a combustible liquid such as
carbon monoxide, ether, hydrogen sulfide, Morphline,
cyclopropane, ethyl, isoprene, Acetaldhyde and ethylene
or gases of equivalent hazard.
Group D
Atmosphere containing flammable gas, flammable liquid
produced vapor, or combustible liquid produced vapor
mixed with air that may burn or explode, such as gasoline,
acetone, ammonia, benzene, butane, ethanol, hexane,
methanol, methane, vinyl chloride, natural gas, naphtha,
propane or gases of equivalent hazard

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 Temperature class
 It is important to know how hot equipment gets, so that
hot surfaces cannot be ignition sources.
 Six temperature classes are used T1 – T6

 The lower the number the higher the maximum

allowable surface temperature
 Temperature classification is based on fault conditions.

 T-class must be below Auto-ignition Temperature

of the gas.

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 Auto –ignition Temperature
(ait)
Temperature Class is assigned to flammable material
based on its auto-ignition temperature.

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 Thanks
Ibrahim mdee
[email protected]