WHITE PAPER

A GUIDE TO HAZARDOUS
LOCATION EQUIPMENT MARKING

intertek.com/hazardous-locations
A GUIDE TO HAZARDOUS LOCATION
EQUIPMENT MARKING

CONTENTS

Introduction 3

Why is equipment marked? 4

General marking requirements 5
Hazardous locations specific markings 7
Examples of equipment markings 12

Conclusion 14

intertek.com/hazardous-locations 2
A GUIDE TO HAZARDOUS LOCATION
EQUIPMENT MARKING

INTRODUCTION
Despite their common appearance on almost everything purchased for industrial, commercial or personal use, equipment markings are one
of the least understood and most error filled aspects when going through the compliance and certification process.

The markings and nameplate of a particular device or piece of equipment are meant to be a short description of the equipment enabling the
end user to procure the correct equipment for the application and install it correctly.

However, when markings are incorrect or confusing it can lead to wasted time being spent interpreting and clarifying what the original
manufacturer intended to tell the end user about the equipment, including where and how it may be installed. Unclear markings may also
lead to the incorrect piece of equipment being purchased for the application.

The level of markings is largely based on the standard being applied during the certification of the equipment being manufactured. The
importance of markings is often downplayed and is quite often an after-thought during the certification process. In reality, they should be one
of the first things considered when developing a product as they can often lead to differing evaluation criteria and design considerations for
the equipment.

If equipment is manufactured with confusing or incorrect markings, it may lead to the manufacturer having a product which may not meet the
criteria of what they originally intended to produce and may result in missing the target client or consumers of the equipment.

This white paper will seek to inform equipment manufacturers and end users about what the various markings typically placed on equipment
mean and why certification bodies require certain markings to be shown. We will focus on hazardous locations markings for International
markets (via the IECEx), Europe (ATEX) and North America and will include explanations on what and why certain markings are required.

intertek.com/hazardous-locations 3
A GUIDE TO HAZARDOUS LOCATION
EQUIPMENT MARKING

WHY IS EQUIPMENT MARKED?

Equipment is marked to identify it and answer the following questions:
• Who made it?
• What is it?
• Where can it be installed?
• How should it be installed?
• What restrictions or safety concerns are related to the equipment?

Problems with incorrect or incomplete markings

Incomplete or inaccurate markings may not detail the complete information,
leading to incorrect application or installation and installation preparation. For
example, incorrect ratings of information can lead to the incorrect specification of
cable sizes.
The equipment may miss the target audience – those searching for specific
criteria may dismiss the manufacturer’s equipment because it is not marked to
meet their specifications, or may be marked to meet, but actually will not.

How are equipment markings specified?

From a compliance and certification perspective, the preference is that markings
are at the manufacturer’s request.
• The manufacturer originally specifies markings to meet what they target
the equipment to be and the specific needs they want to fulfil
• The product standards that are applicable to the equipment contain
minimum marking requirements
• These standards include the basic marking requirements as well as
optional warnings and information

intertek.com/hazardous-locations 4
A GUIDE TO HAZARDOUS LOCATION
EQUIPMENT MARKING

GENERAL MARKING REQUIREMENTS

The following markings are typically required to be placed on all equipment regardless of the standards being used to evaluate the
equipment

Manufacturer name:
• Who made the equipment and is responsible for the placing of the equipment on the market?
• Who does the end user go to when they are looking for support with the equipment?

Model Number
• What is the equipment?
• This allows the manufacturer and the end user to determine that they are talking about the correct piece of equipment when
building it, ordering it or providing support

Serial Number or date code

• When was the equipment made/manufactured?
• There may be known problems with equipment manufactured on a specific date or as part of a specific batch.
• Product recalls may be specific to only certain pieces, not all of the equipment manufactured

Electrical ratings and specifications

• How much power is needed for electrical equipment (KW/KVA)?
• What type of Power Supply is required (3-Phase AC, Single Phase AC, etc.)?
• What overcurrent protection requirements are there?
• What size and type fuses are installed in the equipment?
• What size of cable is required for the application?
• What range of external influences is the equipment likely to encounter?

Ambient temperature range

• Is the equipment able to be run properly in the environment where it is to be installed?
• May not always seem important, but have you ever tried to install a compact florescent light bulb outdoors in Canada in the winter

Enclosure environmental rating

Commonly referred to as External Influences within standards and codes of practice
• Is equipment suitable for use indoors or outdoors?
• Is the equipment able to withstand harsh environments, such as where the equipment could be subjected to impact, vibration,
humidity, etc.

intertek.com/hazardous-locations 5
A GUIDE TO HAZARDOUS LOCATION
EQUIPMENT MARKING

Warnings
Is there anything in particular that the end user needs to be made aware of from a safety perspective
• Multiple power sources
• High internal voltages
• Dangers when opening enclosures

Certification information
• Specific safety mark or certificate number
• Who carried out the third-party evaluation on the equipment *
• Whether there are specific conditions of use (indicated by “X” in the certificate number for ATEX and IECEx certifications)
• Whether a piece of equipment requires additional certification before use (indicated by “U” in the certificate number for Ex
Components under ATEX and IECEx Certifications)

*While this may not appear immediately important it informs the user and the local authorities who
holds the evidence that the equipment was evaluated to a specific standard and that the equipment
meets the defined minimum safety requirements of the standard utilized.

intertek.com/hazardous-locations 6
A GUIDE TO HAZARDOUS LOCATION
EQUIPMENT MARKING

HAZARDOUS LOCATIONS SPECIFIC MARKINGS

Hazardous area equipment has specific markings required by the applied standards/directive to allow the installers and end users to
ensure they are installed suitably for the applicable area.
The intent of the marking is to inform the reader the ratings of the equipment and the types of hazardous area it has been investigated
and tested for use in.
Similar to when installing equipment in wet areas such as bathrooms suitable IP ratings are looked for, in hazardous areas the
appropriate hazardous area rating is looked for on a product.

Area classification and protection

method information
• Informs the end user what sort of area
the equipment can be installed
• Applicable to all equipment being
installed into a potentially explosive
atmosphere
• These markings can allow or disallow
certain equipment from being installed
into the intended area

Temperature rating
• How hot does the equipment get on the
surfaces exposed to the explosive
atmosphere
• Combined with the area classification
information, these markings tell the user
how hot the equipment can get under
normal or abnormal operating
conditions
• This can qualify or disqualify certain equipment from being installed depending on the materials present in the area and the auto
ignition temperature of those materials.

intertek.com/hazardous-locations 7
A GUIDE TO HAZARDOUS LOCATION
EQUIPMENT MARKING

ATEX specific markings

CE mark
• Indicates the manufacturer declares the equipment meets the applicable Directives
• For ATEX certified equipment, the number following the CE mark is the number for the Notified Body which
performs the surveillance activity for the ATEX Directive.
• The number after the CE mark indicates that a Notified Body is responsible for surveillance of
manufacturing.
• When the CE mark does not have a Notified Body number after it, this means that the manufacturer is
responsible for the design and manufacture of the equipment and that there is no Ex specific Notified Body
audit of manufacturing in place for this product

Epsilon Ex Mark
• Indicates that the equipment meets the requirements of the ATEX directive

Equipment group
• Indicates what sort of area the equipment may be installed
• I – Mines susceptible to firedamp
• II – Gas or dust atmospheres

Equipment category
• 1 – Suitable for Zone 0, 1, 2, 20,21 or 22
• 2 – Suitable for Zone 1, 2, 21 or 22
• 3 – Suitable for Zone 2 or 22
• M1 - Very high level of protection for mines
• M2 - High level of protection for mines

Environment
• G – Gas
• D – Dust
• * Not used for M1 or M2

ATEX and IECEx specific markings

• Indicates the equipment is for use in an explosive atmosphere

• Protection Method - There are ten recognized electrical and four mechanical concepts of protection. These
are detailed in the European & IEC 60079 and 80079 series of Standards
• There are four basic methods utilized in order to avoid uncontrolled ignition:
• Exclusion of the flammable substance.
• Prevention of component sparks or hot surfaces.
• Contain the explosion and extinguish the flame.
• Energy limitation

intertek.com/hazardous-locations 8
A GUIDE TO HAZARDOUS LOCATION
EQUIPMENT MARKING

Atmosphere Groups
Indicates the specific gas or dust environment the equipment has been evaluated for
• I - mining
• IIA - atmospheres containing propane or gases of an equivalent hazard
• IIB - atmospheres containing ethylene or gases of an equivalent hazard
• IIB+H2 - atmospheres containing Ethylene and hydrogen
• IIC - atmospheres containing hydrogen or gases of an equivalent hazard (acetylene)
• IIIA - atmospheres containing flyings (fibres)
• IIIB - atmospheres containing combustible non-conductive dusts.
• IIIC - atmospheres containing combustible conductive dusts

Temperature Codes
• IEC and North American temperature codes use the same standard values for T1, T2, T3, T4, T5 and T6 to
indicate their corresponding maximum temperatures of equipment.
• North American Standard goes further and subdivides T2, T3 and T4 into subdivisions.
• IEC utilises 6 temperature divisions, whereas the North American standard utilises a total of 14 divisions.
• For Group III equipment, the actual temperature is marked, for example T135°C

Max. Surface Temperature ATEX / IEC*

450°C T1
300°C T2
200°C T3
135°C T4
100°C T5
85°C T6

Note: For Group I applications (ATEX and IECEx only), electrical apparatus has fixed temperature limits of 150°C (where layers of coal dust
can form) and 450°C (where coal dust is not expected to form a layer.)

For Group II applications, the T Class may be replaced by a temperature in degrees Celsius, and if a specific gas is marked, rather than
sub-group, a temperature class or maximum surface temperature need not be marked.

Equipment protection level (EPL)

Indicates which locations the equipment is suitable for installation within;
• Ga – Zone 0, 1 and 2
• Gb – Zone 1 and 2
• Gc – Zone 2
• Da – Zone 20, 21 and 22
• Db – Zone 21 and 22
• Dc – Zone 22
• Ma – Very high level of protection for mines
• Mb – High level of protection for mines
Note: The correlation between the EPL and Zone is only a guide

intertek.com/hazardous-locations 9
A GUIDE TO HAZARDOUS LOCATION
EQUIPMENT MARKING

North American specific markings - Division Scheme

• Hazard Classification
o Class I - Combustible Gases
o Class II - Combustible Dusts
o Class III - Fibers and Flyings

• Area Classification – How often the explosive

atmosphere is present
o Division 1 – Atmosphere is always present
o Division 2 – Atmosphere is only present in abnormal conditions

Atmosphere (Gas or Dust) Group

• A - atmospheres containing acetylene or gases of an equivalent hazard
• B - atmospheres containing hydrogen or gases of an equivalent hazard
• C - atmospheres containing ethylene or gases of an equivalent hazard
• D - atmospheres containing propane or gases of an equivalent hazard
• E - atmospheres containing combustible metal dusts
• F - atmospheres containing combustible carbonaceous dusts.
• G - atmospheres containing combustible dusts not in Group E or F

Temperature Codes
• IEC and North American temperature codes use the same standard values for T1,
T2, T3, T4, T5 and T6 to indicate their corresponding maximum temperatures of
equipment.
• North American Standard goes further and subdivides T2, T3 and T4 into
subdivisions.
• IEC utilises 6 temperature divisions, whereas the North American standard utilises
a total of 14 divisions.

intertek.com/hazardous-locations 10
A GUIDE TO HAZARDOUS LOCATION
EQUIPMENT MARKING

Max. Surface Temperature NEC* 500 / CEC* NEC* 505

450°C (842°F) T1 T1
300°C (572°F) T2
280°C (536°F) T2A
260°C (500°F) T2B T2
230°C (446°F) T2C
215°C (419°F) T2D
200°C (392°F) T3
180°C (356°F) T3A
T3
165°C (329°F) T3B
160°C (320°F) T3C
135°C (275°F) T4
T4
120°C (248°F) T4A
100°C (212°F) T5 T5
85°C (185°F) T6 T6

North American specific markings - Zone Scheme

In Canada, markings match the IECEx markings. In the USA, the following items are added:

• Hazard Class – Matching Division Scheme

• Area Classification
• Similar to the Division Scheme, indicating the Zone the equipment is able to be installed within;
• Zone 0/20 – Gas or dust is always present
• Zone 1/21 – Gas or dust is normally present
• Zone 2/22 – Gas or dust is abnormally present

The remaining string matches the IECEx specific markings, see page 8.

intertek.com/hazardous-locations 11
A GUIDE TO HAZARDOUS LOCATION
EQUIPMENT MARKING

EXAMPLES OF EQUIPMENT MARKINGS

Single protection method device:
This device is manufactured by Gecko Enterprises, is a Gecko Exterminator and is powered by 240Vac supply, rated at 15A
It is IECEx, ATEX and North American certified and can be used in a Class I, Division 1, Groups ABCD or Zone 1 hazardous area.

TN12 3AB, United Kingdom

Multiple protection method device:

The same device as previous device, however this one has multiple protection methods. It can be installed in either a gas or a dust
explosive atmosphere.

TN12
TN123AB,
3AB,United
UnitedKingdom
Kingdom

intertek.com/hazardous-locations 12
A GUIDE TO HAZARDOUS LOCATION
EQUIPMENT MARKING

Multiple optional protection method device:

The same device as previous however this one has multiple protection methods.
It is up to the end user and installer to choose and indicate which installation method they wish to use for the installation by marking the
box as indicated.

TN12
TN123AB,
3AB,United
UnitedKingdom
Kingdom

intertek.com/hazardous-locations 13
A GUIDE TO HAZARDOUS LOCATION
EQUIPMENT MARKING

CONCLUSION
INTERTEK
Although many manufacturers face a plethora of complications and challenges when HAZARDOUS
selecting the markings for their electrical products, it’s clear to see the importance of selecting
the correct global markings at the initial design phase. This is crucial to ensuring that your end LOCATION SERVICES
customers understand the product they’re purchasing, and also so that it bears the correct
markings to be sold in the relevant countries you intend to sell your hazardous location • Training (hazardous locations, DSEAR
electrical product into. & CompEx)
• Design reviews
Hazardous area markings can be complicated, but they are vital in ensuring the safety of all • Testing & evaluation
personnel exposed to potentially explosive atmospheres. With training and understanding, • Certification (ATEX, IECEx & ETL)
even the most complicated of markings can become simple to understand. • Quality audits (ATEX QAN & IECEx
QAR)
Intertek offers the full hazardous area solution from risk assessments and area classification • Technical file lodging
generation, to training, certification of equipment or quality systems right through to the • Site services (IEC 60079-14 and -17
inspection of final site after the install of the equipment and routinely their after to ensure inspections and HAC services)
continued conformance. Whether your site be in America, the UK, Europe, China or • Consultancy / assurance services
anywhere else in the world Intertek can provide global solutions to your hazardous locations
needs.

intertek.com/hazardous-locations 14
Intertek is a leading Total Quality Assurance provider to industries worldwide. Our
network of more than 1,000 laboratories and offices and over 44,000 people in
more than 100 countries, delivers innovative and bespoke Assurance, Testing,
Inspection and Certification solutions for our customers’ operations and supply
chains. Intertek Total Quality Assurance expertise, delivered consistently with
precision, pace and passion, enabling our customers to power ahead safely.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Europe
+44 1372 370900

Americas
+1 800 WORLDLAB (967 5352)
+1 251 459 6173
Asia
+852 2173 8888

icenter@intertek.com

intertek.com/hazardous-locations

This publication is copyrighted by Intertek and may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form in whole or in part
without the prior written permission of Intertek. While due care has been taken during the preparation of this document,
Intertek cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of the information herein or for any consequence arising from it.
Clients are encouraged to seek Intertek’s current advice before acting upon any of the content.

intertek.com/hazardous-locations 15