April 2022 Zone 1 . It is good to be aware of the fact that the mixture of flammable gas with oxygen has an optimum point where the combustion is most severe and leads to the highest explosion pressure. This temperature is used for classification for industry and technology applications.[6]. December 2022 When equipment must be placed in a hazardous location, it can be designed to reduce the risk of fire or explosion. Electronic equipment, including lighting, needs to be purpose designed for use in hazardous areas to prevent a spark occurring and igniting any flammable substances. Class II, Div 2 Class III, Div 1 nR 3G Zone 2 Gc Class III, Div 2 Pressurised Room px 60079-13 2G Zone 1 Gb Zone 21 Db 2D Pressurised Room FM3611 NFPA 496 Class I, Div 1 Class I, Div 2 Class II, Div 1 Class II, Div 2 py 2G Zone 1 Gb pz 3G Zone 2 Gc Zone 22 Dc 3D pv Non-hazardous Gb/GC Optical Radiation op sh 60079-28 1G Zone 0 Ga Zone 20 Da 1D . Upon detection, appropriate action is automatically taken, such as removing power, or providing notification. Class I: hazardous because flammable gases or vapors are present in the air in quantities sufficient to produce explosive or ignitable mixtures: . A hazardous area can be defined as any location where there is risk of an explosion. Zones 1 or 2. Powder Filling "q" -- This protection technique is permitted for equipment in the Class I, Zone 1 locations for which it is approved. Since this fuel can only combust in the presence of oxygen, enough oxygen must be available for the rapid combustion to take place. Hazardous Areas - North America Classification, international method of area classification, Protection Techniques for Hazardous Areas - North America, Hazardous because combustible or conductive, Atmosphere containing combustible metal dusts, including. Zone 0, 1 2 . The inductance of the signal bell coils, combined with breaking of contacts by exposed metal surfaces, resulted in sparks, causing an explosion. A: When comparing Divisions and Zones, Division 2 is equivalent to Zone 2, but Division 1 is equivalent to either Zone 0 or 1. Zone defines the general nature - if it is a gas or dust - and the probability of hazardous material being present in an ignitable concentration in the surrounding atmosphere. Not only are hazardous areas classified by Class (nature of the hazardous material,) and Division . Equipment that is listed for a Zone 0 location may be installed in a Zone 1 or Zone 2 location of the same gas or vapor. National Electric Code 2020 edition National Fire Protection Association. 2: For Group IIIC combustible dusts or metal combustible fibers/flyings, there shall only be Zone 20 or 21 locations. This level of risk is represented by classifying the hazardous area as Zone 0, Zone 1 or Zone 2 (for gas, vapour and mist atmospheres) or Zone 21 or Zone 22 for dust atmospheres. In recent years also the EPL is specified for several kinds of protection. Hazardous locations can also be described as those locations where electrical equipment BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMBESS) Ignitable concentrations of flammable gases or vapors which are not likely to occur under normal operating conditions and do so only for a short period of time. SIGN UP FOR EMAILGet more great content in your inbox. >> NEC: Class I, Division 2, Group D. | IEC: Zone 2, Group II. Then, the level of risk of an explosion is based on the frequency and duration of the occurrence of an explosive atmosphere. Class I Zone 2 Hazardous Areas. The minimum concentration of oxygen, necessary for the combustion to take place, is called the Limiting Oxygen Concentration. There are several ways of how to perform hazardous area classification, all described in several standards or codes of practise. >> For Gas/Vapor this would be Zone 0. Motors, lighting, junction boxes, electronic equipment, This method, being by definition special, has no specific rules. 7: For further information on application of electrical, Informational Note No. The prevention of explosions in working environments is in most countries regulated in national laws and directives. Groups A, B, C, and D are for gases (Class I only). Division 1 and 2 Zone 0, 1 and 2 A (acetylene) IIC (acetylene & hydrogen) B (hydrogen) C (ethylene) IIB (ethylene) The American Petroleum Institute publishes analogous standards in RP500 andRP505. Zone 1 - A place in which an explosive atmosphere is likely to occur in normal operation occasionally Equipment is placed into protection level categories according to manufacture method and suitability for different situations. The last condition for an explosion is the presence of an effective ignition source in the direct contact with the fuel/air mixture. Australia and New Zealand use the same IEC-60079 standards (adopted as AS/NZS60079), however the CE mark is not required. Many items of EEx rated equipment will employ more than one method of protection in different components of the apparatus. In effect it is any method which can be shown to have the required degree of safety in use. In general, all types of equipment installed within the hazardous area shall be . Group defines the type of the hazardous material in the surrounding atmosphere. 3: Text that is followed by a reference in brackets has been extracted from NFPA 497-2017, All other applicable rules contained in this, Where the term "Class I" is used with respect to, Informational Note: The term "Class I" was originally included as a prefix to, All areas in industrial occupancies designated as hazardous (classified). Dust or other small particles suspended in air can explode. Comparison of Zone 2 and Division 2 TABLE 1 - AREA CLASSIFICATIONS Division 1: Where ignitable concentrations can exist all of the time or some . All areas in the facility that are not Zone 0, Zone 1, or Zone 2 are considered unclassified. Hazardous area classification is a rigorous method of determining where an explosive environment may be present. Equipment should be tested to ensure that it does not exceed 80%[according to whom?] The following Equipment Groups and Categories are applicable: Equipment in this category is only intended for use in the underground areas of mines, as well as those areas of surface installations of such mines endangered by firedamp and/or combustible dusts. Have a think about it next time youre filling up! The key difference between Divisions and Zones relate to terminations. This leads to a lot of the confusion in the global marketplace because certifying equipment to these different systems can be time consuming and expensive, so many companies may only certify to one or the other. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has adopted these hazardous classifications and all except Groups are defined in 29 Code of Federal Register (CFR) 1910.399. Some other standards have more quantitative methods which require more knowledge of the plant, an example is the IEC standard 60079-10-1. NEC 2 Divisions (Div 1 2) Division I Comprising of Area Same as Zone 0 1. For gases, vapours and mists the zone classifications are recognised as Zone 0, Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas. Zone type (0/1/2/ 20/21/ 22) Zone extent. It may exist because of repair, maintenance operations, or leakage. Equipment approved for Class I, Division 1 or Class 1, Division 2 shall, in addition to being marked in accordance with (c)(2)(ii), be marked with the following: Class I, Zone 1 or Class I, Zone 2 (as applicable); Applicable gas classification groups; and. . The design of the equipment must ensure protection, even in the event of rare incidents relating to the equipment. The part codes for each SPARTAN variant also differ depending on the level of protection required. Hazardous Area Classification, Gas Vapours and Dust Groups, Temperature Class | Simple Science Simple Science 8.81K subscribers Join Subscribe 28K views 2 years ago This video explains. A room with a propane gas installation will typically be classified with the. September 2022 The hazardous area classification system determines required protection techniques and methods for electrical installations in the location. And there are three corresponding zones for dust: Zone 20, Zone 21 and Zone 22. Conversely if the same material is heated and handled above its flash-point, the area must be classified for proper electrical system design, as it will then form an ignitable mixture.[5]. As world trade becomes more globalized, international standards are slowly converging, so that a wider range of acceptable techniques can be approved by national regulatory agencies. October 2021 In Europe and the rest of the world - but also more and more in North America - the Zone system is used. Sources of The following content is only related to flammable substances and not to pyrotechnic substances or other instable substances, among those who can decompose. September 2020 A Zone 0 location is a location in which one of the following . the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 70, National Electric Code(NEC). Zone 2 is a place in which an explosive atmosphere is not likely to occur in normal operation but, if it does occur, will persist for a short period only. Within the European Union, these are defined by IEC/EN standards (IEC/EN 60079-10-1 or 2) as directed by ATEX. September 2018 December 2021 Where there is potential for an explosive atmosphere, special precautions are needed to prevent fires and explosions. National Electrical Code (NEC) and the 1998 Canadian Electrical Code (CEC) now recognize the use of the Zone system for classification of hazardous areas. FREEZER Hazardous Area Classifications D103222X012 Product Bulletin 9.2:001 September 2019. For explosion hazards caused by flammable liquids or gases, the following zones are defined: So a zone 0 is the most hazardous zone and a zone 2 is a less hazardous zone. August 2018 Equipment can be designed or modified for safe operation in hazardous locations. Several protection strategies exist. The basis for the classification into zones is the duration of the presence of the potentially explosive atmosphere: The longer it is present, the more critical the zone. Unlike ATEX which uses numbers to define the safety "Category" of equipment, namely (1,2 3), the IEC continued to utilise the method used for defining the safe levels of intrinsic safety namely "a" for zone 0, "b" for zone 1 and "c" for zone 2 and apply this Equipment Level of Protection to all equipment for use in hazardous areas since 2009. Hazardous area classification. POSITIVE PRESSURE Determined to be none of the above. These applications will - due to browser restrictions - send data between your browser and our server. It is obvious to use those standards within these industries. RP 505 is referred to as the zone system. Examples are: In another blog we, will explain how to perform Hazardous Area Classification according to the Standard EN-IEC 60079-10-1. No long-term contract. In many industrial, commercial, and scientific settings, the presence of such an atmosphere is a common, or at least commonly possible, occurrence. 286 natural gas explosions per year in the U.S. causing substantial damage, severe injury or loss of lives. SPARTANs Zone 1 part code begins SPX, Zone 2 SPZ and industrial products having a SPI prefix. The a subdivisions have the most stringent safety requirements, taking into account more than one independent component faults simultaneously. In other cases, the atmosphere is normally non-hazardous, but a dangerous concentration can be reasonably foreseensuch as operator error or equipment failure. area in which an explosive gas atmosphere is likely to occur occasionally in normal operation. For equipment provided with threaded entries for NPT threaded conduit or fittings, listed conduit, conduit fittings, or cable fittings shall be used. Informational Note No. Zone 0 is an area in which an explosive atmosphere is present continuously for long periods of time or will frequently occur. A major safety concern in all workplaces is the occurrence of fires and explosions. 1) MESG (Maximum Experimental Safe Gap) - The maximum clearance between two parallel metal surfaces that has been found under specified test conditions to prevent an explosion in a test chamber from being propagated to a secondary chamber containing the same gas or vapor at the same concentration. . Table 1. Zone 22 Zone 21 Zone20 A hazardous atmosphere formed by dust cloud in air is not likely to occur in . Drop Test Therefore, it is very important to make sure that you are using a suitable luminaire for your application by choosing your fitting based on its suitability for the Zone in which it will be located. In an industrial plant, such as a refinery or chemical plant, handling of large quantities of flammable liquids and gases creates a risk of exposure. When the concentration of methane is beneath the LEL, an explosion cannot occur, even when an ignition source is present. Area which are not devided into Atex zones, are called non-hazardous area's. Class / Division System In Northerm America, instead of the zone classification system, the Class/Division system is used. Zone 2 Explosive Mixtures not likely to occur /occur short duration in normal operation (lt10 Hrs/ Yr). Equipment approved for use in Class I hazardous locations cannot be used in Class II hazardous locations. In North America the suitability of equipment for the specific hazardous area must be tested by a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory, such as UL, FM Global, CSA Group, or Intertek (ETL). Two possible classifications are described, in Section 18 (Zones), and Appendix J (Divisions). For specific industries, the specific codes for that industry are important to use. 0,1 or 2: II B: I: 1 or 2: C: Acetone Benzene Butane Hexane . For non-ambient conditions, like process reactors or other enclosed systems, the Limiting Oxygen Concentration is often used for the prevention of explosive atmospheres within those enclosed areas. 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, Zone depending upon manufacturer's certification, explosive atmosphere between 10 and 1000 hrs/yr, explosive atmosphere between 1 and 10 hrs/yr, explosive surface between 10 and 1000 hrs/yr, explosive surface between 1 and 10 hrs/yr, Certified and labeled for use in indoor locations rated NEC Class I, Groups A, B, C, and D, Certified and labeled for use in locations rated NEC Class I, Groups A, B, C, and D; both indoors and outdoors, Certified and labeled for use in locations rated NEC Class II, Groups E, F, or G, Explosion protected, Group 2, Category 1, Gas, Type ia, Group 2C gases, Temperature class 4, Type n, non-sparking, Group 2 gases, Temperature class 3, special conditions apply. Get more great content like this sent to your inbox. Therefor Hazardous Area Classification (HAC) is the first important step in achieving an explosion safe installation or work environment. Intrinsic safety -- This protection technique is permitted for equipment in the Class I, Zone 0 or Zone 1 locations for which it is approved. This concentration is substance specific and lies normally somewhere between the LEL and UEL. Classification of locations, testing and listing of equipment, and inspection of installation, is typically overseen by governmental bodies. We will go deeper into ignition assessments in another blog. 1.1.2 This recommended practice provides information on specific flammable gases and vapors, flammable liquids . 1.1.1 This recommended practice applies to those locations where flammable gases or vapors, flammable liquids, or combustible liquids are processed or handled; and where their release into the atmosphere could result in their ignition by electrical systems or equipment. There are two systems in place, including the traditional North American Division system as well as the alternative Zone system. Different countries have approached the standardization and testing of equipment for hazardous areas in different ways. So it is quite obvious that explosions should be prevented as much as possible and still work has to be done to achieve this. November 2020 Examples are: production facilities in the food industry, chemical plants, oil & gas, and the pharmaceutical industry etc. Methane has a LEL of 4,4 vol%. Standards and regulations exist to identify such locations, classify the hazards, and design equipment for safe use in such locations. Employers may use the zone classification system as an alternative to the division classification system for electric and electronic equipment and wiring for all voltage in Class I, Zone 0, Zone 1, and Zone 2 hazardous (classified) locations where fire or explosion hazards may exist due to flammable gases, vapors, or liquids. Magnesium, Aluminum, Titanium etc. 2: This classification includes, Informational Note No. A60 The label will always list the class, division and may list the group and temperature code. No other aspect of safety receives more attention in the form of codes and standards. A hazardous area classification drawing (also known as an area classification drawing) outlines the classifications of areas where flammable liquids, gasses or vapors are handed, processed or stored. October 2019 This level of risk is represented by classifying the hazardous area as Zone 0, Zone 1 or Zone 2 (for gas, vapour and mist atmospheres) or Zone 21 or Zone 22 for dust atmospheres. Flameproof "d" - This protection technique is permitted for equipment in the Class I, Zone 1 locations for which it is approved. January 2023 These areas are classified solely for the purpose of ensuring the safe and proper specification and installation of electrical/electronic equipment. The temperature classification on the electrical equipment label will be one of the following (in degree Celsius): The above table shows that the surface temperature of a piece of electrical equipment with a temperature classification of T3 will not rise above 200C. Group is divided in three groups where Group I is reserved for mining locations. * Zone 1 a location in which explosive gas atmospheres are likely to occur during normal operation, or which is adjacent to a Zone 0 location. This can be achieved by blanketing with nitrogen or carbondioxide. The surface of a high pressure steam pipe may be above the autoignition temperature of some fuel-air mixtures. When working in or specifying equipment for use in hazardous environments, we see a lot of confusion in the industry regarding the different certifications and requirements. These ways of protection are specified in detail within several IEC standards (IEC 60079 series) for electrical equipment. March 2022 Gas a. As a guide for Zone 0, this can be defined as over 1000 hours/year or >10% of the time. Often an area classification plan view is provided to identify equipment ratings and installation techniques to be used for each classified area. Ex Zone. less than 0.45 mm or MIC ratio is less than 0.40. An oversimplification of this example is shown in Table 1. Class defines the general nature (or properties) of the hazardous material in the surrounding atmosphere. The conduit shall be made wrench tight to prevent sparking when fault current flows through the conduit system and to ensure the explosionproof or flameproof integrity of the conduit system where applicable. NFPA 70 NEC establishes area classifications based on Classes, Divisions and Groups that when combined delineate the hazardous conditions of a specific area. . Electric equipment depending on the protection techniques described by paragraph (g)(3)(i) of this section may not be suitable for use at temperatures lower than -20 C (-4 F) unless they are approved for use at lower temperatures. Locations shall be classified depending on the properties of the flammable vapors, liquids, or gases that may be present and the likelihood that a flammable or combustible concentration or quantity is present. The choice of which standard to use for the hazardous area classification is something which is very important. This is an important factor in the classification of hazardous areas. The CE mark is complemented with the Ex mark: A yellow-filled hexagon with the Greek letters (epsilon chi), followed by the Group, Category, and, if Group II, G or D (gas or dust). For liquids, gases and vapours: Zone 0, Zone 1 and Zone 2. For equipment with metric threaded entries, such entries shall be identified as being metric, or listed adaptors to permit connection to conduit of NPT-threaded fittings shall be provided with the equipment. Area Classification - Hazardous Locations are classified by the likelihood of an ignitable concentration of combustible material being present. Refrigerated Container The disadvantage of standards with example installations, is that a huge safety factor is incorporated and thus relative large hazardous area are defined. d : HA - ha ea OA - oa Area classification - Divisions vs. zones Continuous hazard Intermittent hazard Hazard under abnormal conditions Zone 0 Zone 1 Zone 2 Division 1 Division 1 Division 2 Hazardous locations - CEC classifications Class I Both external and internal temperatures are taken into consideration. we will look at what defines Zone 0, Zone 1 and Zone 2 hazardous area classifications and the considerations for specifying lighting into each area. Directly adjacent on the label one will find the mark of the listing agency. Area (mm2) CFD BS EN 60079-10-1:2009 1 5.0 5.0 0.0936 12.3 - 61.7 2 5.0 2.5 0.0326 6.17 - 30.8 Subscribe 6.9K views 2 years ago Oil and Gas Zone Classifications: A) Hazardous Area Classification It's cable reimagined No DVR space limits. These areas are in North America (United States and Canada) historically classified with the Class/Division system. Electrical equipment can and does cause fires and/or explosions in certain atmospheres. Arcing electrical equipment in unclassified . 10/1/20 Electrical equipment installed in such locations can provide an ignition source, due to electrical arcing, or high temperatures. A spark or high heat must also be present. In the United Kingdom, Sira and Baseefa are the most well known such bodies. [10][11] Some of these are specifically for hazardous locations: All equipment certified for use in hazardous areas must be labelled to show the type and level of protection applied. The overpressure is monitored, maintained and controlled. Equipment marked as suitable for IIB is also suitable for IIA but NOT for IIC. Zone 0 is reserved for those areas continuously hazardous (e.g., inside a vented fuel tank), so other Division 1 areas would be classified as Zone 1. the inside of tank truck or the interior of a dust filter). Q: Can I use a piece of equipment approved for use in a Division 1 hazardous location in a Division 2 hazardous location? Photo 2. Zone 1: An area in which an explosive atmosphere is likely to occur in normal operation. February 2022 NFPA 70 NEC Classes, Divisions and Groups. (1) Zone 0. Equipment that is listed for a Zone 1 location may be installed in a Zone 2 location of the same gas or vapor. To prevent explosions from happening in harsh environments whereby flammable gases or combustible dusts are present directives and guidelines are put in place to protect both the public, workforce, and environment. That is why the use of mobile phones on petrol forecourts are banned. Quick Tips #124.1.