Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Electrical Equipment in Hazardous Areas
Electrical Equipment in Hazardous Areas
Electrical Equipment in Hazardous Areas
In electrical and safety engineering, hazardous locations (HazLoc, pronounced haz·lōk) are places where fire or explosion hazards may exist. Sources of such hazards include gases, vapors, dust, fibers, and flyings, which are combustible or flammable.
Electrical equipment installed in such locations could provide an ignition source, due to electrical arcing, or high temperature. Standards and regulations exist to identify such locations, classify the hazards, and design equipment for safe use in such
locations.
Contents
Overview
Standards
North America
International Electrotechnical Commission
Hazards
Explosive gas
Explosive dust
NEC This inspection lamp is constructed
United Kingdom so that it cannot set off an explosion
Gas and dust groups when surrounded by specified
flammable gases or dust.
Temperature
Equipment
General types and methods
IEC 60079
Types of protection
Equipment Protection Level (EPL)
Equipment category
NEMA enclosure types
Labeling
Europe
North America
History
See also
References
Further reading
Overview
A light switch may cause a small, harmless spark when switched on or off. In an ordinary household this is of no concern, but if a flammable atmosphere is present, the arc might start an explosion. In many industrial, commercial, and scientific settings, the presence of such an atmosphere is
a common, or at least commonly possible, occurrence. Protecting against fire/explosion is of interest for both personnel safety as well as reliability reasons.
Several protection strategies exist. The simplest is to minimize the amount of electrical equipment installed in a hazardous location, either by keeping the equipment out of the area altogether, or by making the area less hazardous (for example, by process changes, or ventilation with clean
air).
When equipment must be placed in a hazardous location, it can be designed to reduce the risk of fire or explosion. Intrinsic safety designs equipment to operate using minimal energy, insufficient to cause ignition. Explosion-proofing designs equipment to contain ignition hazards, prevent
entry of hazardous substances, and/or, contain any fire/explosion that could occur.
Different countries have approached the standardization and testing of equipment for hazardous areas in different ways. Terminology for both hazards and protective measures can vary. Documentation requirements likewise vary. 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.
The process of determining the type and size of hazardous locations is called classification. Classification of locations, testing and listing of equipment, and inspection of installation, is typically overseen by governmental bodies. For example, in the US by the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration.
Standards
North America
In the US, the independent National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) publishes several relevant standards, and they are often adopted by government agencies. Guidance on assessment of hazards is given in NFPA 497 (explosive gas) and NFPA 499 (dust). The American Petroleum
Institute publishes analogous standards in RP 500 and RP505.
NFPA 70, the National Electrical Code (NEC), defines area classification and installation principles.[1] NEC article 500 describes the NEC Division classification system, while articles 505 and 506 describe the NEC Zone classification system. The NEC Zone system was created to harmonize
with IEC classification system, and therefore reduce the complexity of management.
Canada has a similar system with CSA Group standard C22.1, the Canadian Electrical Code, which defines area classification and installation principles. Two possible classifications are described, in Section 18 (Zones), and Appendix J (Divisions).
The International Electrotechnical Commission publishes the 60079 series of standards[2] defines a system for classification of locations, as well as categorizing and testing of equipment designed for use in hazardous locations, known as "Ex equipment". IEC 60079-10-1 covers classification
of explosive gas atmospheres, and IEC 60079-10-2 explosive dust. Equipment is placed into protection level categories according to manufacture method and suitability for different situations. Category 1 is the highest safety level and Category 3 the lowest.
Hazards
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. Coal mines, grain mills, elevators, and similar facilities likewise present the risk of a clouds of dust. In some cases, the hazardous atmosphere is
present all the time, or for long periods. In other cases, the atmosphere is normally non-hazardous, but a dangerous concentration can be reasonably foreseen -- such as operator error or equipment failure. Locations are thus classified by type and risk of release of gas, vapor, or dust. Various
regulations use terms such as Class, Division, Zone, and Group to differentiate the various hazards.
Often an area classification plan view is provided to identify equipment ratings and installation techniques to be used for each classified area. The plan may contain the list of chemicals with their group and temperature rating. The classification process requires the participation of
operations, maintenance, safety, electrical and instrumentation professionals; and the use of process diagrams, material flows, safety data sheets, and other pertinent documents. Area classification documentations are reviewed and updated to reflect process changes.
Explosive gas
Typical gas hazards are from hydrocarbon compounds, but hydrogen and ammonia are also common industrial gases that are flammable.
Unclassified locations
Also known as non-hazardous or ordinary locations, these locations are determined to be neither Class I, Division 1 or Division 2; Zone 0, Zone 1 or Zone 2; or any combination thereof. Such areas include a residence or office where the only risk of a release of explosive or flammable
gas would be such things as the propellant in an aerosol spray. The only explosive or flammable liquid would be paint and brush cleaner. These are designated as very low risk of causing an explosion and are more of a fire risk (although gas explosions in residential buildings do
occur). Unclassified locations on chemical and other plant are present where it is absolutely certain that the hazardous gas is diluted to a concentration below 25% of its lower flammability limit (or lower explosive limit (LEL)).
Explosive dust
NEC
Division 1 ignitable concentrations of combustible dust can exist, under normal conditions
Class II
Division 2 ignitable concentrations of combustible dust are unlikely to exist normally
Division 1 ignitable fibers, or materials producing combustible flyings, are handled, manufactured or used
Class III
Division 2 easily ignitable fibers are stored or handled
United Kingdom
An old British standard used letters to designate zones. This has been replaced by a European numerical system, as set out in directive 1999/92/EU implemented in the UK as the Dangerous Substances and Explosives Atmospheres Regulations 2002. [3]
An explosion of dust at this grain
elevator in Kansas killed five
Zone Description
workers in 1998.
Zone 20 ignitable concentrations of dust/fibers/flyings are present for long periods of time
Zone 21 ignitable concentrations of dust/fibers/flyings are likely to exist under normal conditions
Different explosive atmospheres have chemical properties that affect the likelihood and severity of an explosion. Such properties include flame temperature, minimum ignition energy, upper and lower explosive limits, and molecular weight. Empirical testing is done to determine parameters
such as the maximum experimental safe gap (MESG), minimum igniting current (MIC) ratio, explosion pressure and time to peak pressure, spontaneous ignition temperature, and maximum rate of pressure rise. Every substance has a differing combination of properties but it is found that
they can be ranked into similar ranges, simplifying the selection of equipment for hazardous areas. [4]
Flammability of combustible liquids are defined by their flash-point. The flash-point is the temperature at which the material will generate sufficient quantity of vapor to form an ignitable mixture. The flash point determines if an area needs to be classified. A material may have a relatively
low autoignition temperature yet if its flash-point is above the ambient temperature, then the area may not need to be classified. 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]
Each chemical gas or vapour used in industry is classified into a gas group.
A Acetylene
B Hydrogen
Class I, Division 1 & 2
C Ethylene
D Propane, Methane
Class II, Division 1 & 2 F Carbonaceous dusts, such as carbon & charcoal
Class III, Division 1 & 2 None Ignitible fibers/flyings, such as cotton lint, flax & rayon
Hydrogen
IIB+H2
(equivalent to NEC Class I, Group B)
Zone 0, 1 & 2
Ethylene
IIB
(equivalent to NEC Class I, Group C)
Propane
IIA
(equivalent to NEC Class I, Group D)
Group IIC is the most severe Zone system gas group. Hazards in this group gas can be ignited very easily indeed. Equipment marked as suitable for Group IIC is also suitable for IIB and IIA. Equipment marked as suitable for IIB is also suitable for IIA but NOT for IIC. If equipment is marked,
for example, Ex e II T4 then it is suitable for all subgroups IIA, IIB and IIC
A list must be drawn up of every explosive material that is on the refinery/chemical complex and included in the site plan of the classified areas. The above groups are formed in order of how explosive the material would be if it was ignited, with IIC being the most explosive Zone system gas
group and IIA being the least. The groups also indicate how much energy is required to ignite the material by energy or thermal effects, with IIA requiring the most energy and IIC the least for Zone system gas groups.
Temperature
Equipment should be tested to ensure that it does not exceed 80% of the autoignition temperature of the hazardous atmosphere. Both external and internal temperatures are taken into consideration. The autoignition temperature is the lowest temperature at which the substance will ignite
without an additional heat or ignition source (at atmospheric pressure). This temperature is used for classification for industry and technology applications. [6]
The temperature classification on the electrical equipment label will be one of the following (in degree Celsius):
International Germany °C
USA °C
(IEC) °C Continuous - Short Time
T3 - 200 T6 - 85
The above table tells us that the surface temperature of a piece of electrical equipment with a temperature classification of T3 will not rise above 200 °C. The surface of a high pressure steam pipe may be above the autoignition temperature of some fuel/air mixtures.
Equipment
Equipment can be designed or modified for safe operation in hazardous locations. The two general approaches are:
Intrinsic safety
Intrinsic safety, also called non-incendive, limits the energy present in a system, such that it is insufficient to ignite a hazardous atmosphere under any conditions. This includes low both power levels, and low stored energy. Common with instrumentation.
Explosion proof
Explosion-proof or flame-proof equipment is sealed and rugged, such that it will not ignite a hazardous atmosphere, despite any sparks or explosion within. [7][8]
Several techniques of flame-proofing exist, and they are often used in combination:
The equipment housing may be sealed to prevent entry of flammable gas or dust into the interior.
The housing may be strong enough to contain and cool any combustion gases produced internally.
Enclosures can be pressurized with clean air or inert gas, displacing any hazardous substance.
Arc-producing elements can be isolated from the atmosphere, by encapsulation in resin, immersion in oil, or similar.
Heat-producing elements can be designed to limit their maximum temperature below the autoignition temperature of the material involved.
Controls can be fitted to detect dangerous concentrations of hazardous gas, or failure of countermeasures. Upon detection, appropriate action is automatically taken, such as removing power, or providing notification.
IEC 60079
Types of protection
Ex
Description Standard Location Use
Code
Equipment construction is such that it can withstand an internal explosion and provide relief of the external pressure via flamegap(s) such as the labyrinth created by threaded fittings or machined flanges. The escaping (hot)
gases must sufficiently cool down along the escape path that by the time they reach the outside of the enclosure not to be a source of ignition of the outside, potentially ignitable surroundings.
Zone 1 if gas group & Motors, lighting, junction
Flame proof d IEC/EN 60079-1
temp. class correct boxes, electronics
Equipment has flameproof gaps (max 0.006" (150 μm) propane/ethylene, 0.004" (100 μm) acetylene/hydrogen)
Oil Filled o Equipment components are completely submerged in oil IEC/EN 60079-6 Zone 2 or Zone 1 switchgear
Equipment is pressurised to a positive pressure relative to the surrounding atmosphere with air or an inert gas, thus the surrounding ignitable atmosphere can not come in contact with energized parts of the apparatus. The Zone 1 (px or py), or zone Analysers, motors, control
Pressurised/purged p IEC/EN 60079-2
overpressure is monitored, maintained and controlled. 2 (pz) boxes, computers
Any arcs or sparks in this equipment has insufficient energy (heat) to ignite a vapour
IEC/EN
Equipment can be installed in ANY housing provided to IP54. 60079-25 'ia': Zone 0 &
Instrumentation,
Intrinsically safe i IEC/EN 'ib': Zone 1
A 'Zener Barrier', opto-isolator or galvanic unit may be used to assist with certification. 60079-11 'ic: zone 2
measurement, control
A special standard for instrumentation is IEC/EN 60079-27, describing requirements for Fieldbus Intrinsically Safe Concept (FISCO) (zone 0, 1 or 2) IEC/EN60079-27
This method, being by definition special, has no specific rules. In effect it is any method which can be shown to have the required degree of safety in use. Much early equipment having Ex s protection was designed with Zone depending upon
IEC/EN
Special Protection s encapsulation and this has now been incorporated into IEC 60079-18 [Ex m]. Ex s is a coding referenced in IEC 60079-0. The use of EPL and ATEX Category directly is an alternative for "s" marking. The IEC standard EN Manufacturers As its certification states
60079-33
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 Certification.
The types of protection are subdivided into several sub classes, linked to EPL: ma and mb, px, py and pz, ia, ib and ic. The a subdivisions have the most stringent safety requirements, taking into account more the one independent component faults simultaneously.
Many items of EEx rated equipment will employ more than one method of protection in different components of the apparatus. These would be then labeled with each of the individual methods. For example, a socket outlet labeled EEx'de' might have a case made to EEx 'e' and switches that
are made to EEx 'd'.
In recent years also the Equipment Protection Level (EPL) is specified for several kinds of protection. The required Protection level is linked to the intended use in the zones described below:
I (mines) energized Ma
II (gas) explosive atmosphere between 10 and 1000 hrs/yr 1 Gb ib, mb, px, py, d, e, o, q, s
Equipment category
The equipment category indicates the level of protection offered by the equipment.
In the US, the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) defines standards for enclosure types for a variety of applications.[9][10] Some of these are specifically for hazardous locations:
NEMA Type Definition
7 Certified and labeled for use in indoor locations rated NEC Class I, Groups A, B, C, and D
8 Certified and labeled for use in locations rated NEC Class I, Groups A, B, C, and D; both indoors and outdoors
9 Certified and labeled for use in locations rated NEC Class II, Groups E, F, or G
10 Meets the requirements of the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), 30 CFR Part 18 (1978)
Labeling
All equipment certified for use in hazardous areas must be labelled to show the type and level of protection applied.
Europe
In Europe the label must show the CE mark and the code number of the certifying/notified body). The CE mark is complemented with the Ex mark: A yellow-filled hexagon with the Greek letters εχ (epsilon chi), followed by the Group, Category, and, if Group II, G or D
(gas or dust). Specific types of protection being used will also be marked.
Example markings
Mark Meaning
Mark for ATEX
Ex II 1 G Explosion protected, Group 2, Category 1, Gas certified
Ex ia IIC T4 Type ia, Group 2C gases, Temperature class 4 equipment for
explosive
Ex nA II T3 X Type n, non-sparking, Group 2 gases, Temperature class 3, special conditions apply atmospheres
Industrial electrical equipment for hazardous area has to conform to appropriate parts of standard: IEC-60079 for gas hazards, and IEC-61241 for dust hazards. In some cases, it must be certified as meeting that standard. Independent test houses -- Notified Bodies -- are
established in most European countries, and a certificate from any of these will be accepted across the EU. In the United Kingdom, Sira and Baseefa are the most well known such bodies.
Australia and New Zealand use the same IEC-60079 standards (adopted as AS/NZS 60079), however the CE mark is not required.
North America
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).
The label will always list the class, division and may list the group and temperature code. Directly adjacent on the label one will find the mark of the listing agency.
Some manufacturers claim "suitability" or "built-to" hazardous areas in their technical literature, but in effect lack the testing agency's certification and thus unacceptable for the AHJ (Authority Having Jurisdiction) to permit operation of the electrical installation/system.
All equipment in Division 1 areas must have an approval label, but certain materials, such as rigid metallic conduit, does not have a specific label indicating the Cl./Div.1 suitability and their listing as approved method of installation in the NEC serves as the permission. Some equipment in
Division 2 areas do not require a specific label, such as standard 3 phase induction motors that do not contain normally arcing components.
Also included in the marking are the manufacturers name or trademark and address, the apparatus type, name and serial number, year of manufacture and any special conditions of use. The NEMA enclosure rating or IP code may also be indicated, but it is usually independent of the
Classified Area suitability.
History
With the advent of electric power, electricity was introduced into coal mines for signaling, illumination, and motors. This was accompanied by electrically-initiated explosions of flammable gas such as fire damp (methane) and suspended coal dust.
At least two British mine explosions were attributed to an electric bell signal system. In this system, two bare wires were run along the length of a drift, and any miner desiring to signal the surface would momentarily touch the wires to each other or bridge the wires with a metal tool. The
inductance of the signal bell coils, combined with breaking of contacts by exposed metal surfaces, resulted in sparks, causing an explosion. [11]
See also
Arc flash
ATEX directive
CompEx competency standard
Electrical conduit
Grounding kit
Intrinsic safety
Mineral-insulated copper-clad cable
Notified Body
Pressure piling
References
"Hazardous Location Motors" (https://www.dietzelectric.com/hazard-loc/). Dietz Electric. Retrieved 2018-04-04.
1. "NFPA 70, National Electric Code" (https://www.nfpa.org/codes-an etail?code=70). National Fire Protection Association. Retrieved 2. IEC 60079:2020 SER Series - Explosive atmospheres - ALL Electrotechnical Commission, 2020-06-26, retrieved 2020-07-31
d-standards/all-codes-and-standards/list-of-codes-and-standards/d 2020-07-31. PARTS (https://webstore.iec.ch/publication/62417), International
3. "Hazardous Area Classification and Control of Ignition Sources" (ht 5. Keith Lofland (2014-11-10), "Hazardous (Classified) Locations — 7. Explosion Proof & Flame Proof (https://www.intertek.com/hazardou 9. NEMA Enclosure Types (https://www.nema.org/docs/default-sourc
tps://www.hse.gov.uk/comah/sragtech/techmeasareaclas.htm). UK NEC Articles 500 through 517" (https://web.archive.org/web/20170 s-locations/protection-methods/flame-explosion-proof/), Intertek e/products-document-library/nema-enclosure-types.pdf) (PDF),
Health and Safety Executive. 22 September 2004. Retrieved 705001128/https://iaeimagazine.org/magazine/2014/11/10/hazardo Group, retrieved 2020-07-31 National Electrical Manufacturers Association, November 2005,
2020-08-01. us-classified-locations-nec-articles-500-through-517/), IAEI 8. "Explosionproof Equipment" (https://www.nfpa.org/codes-and-stan retrieved 2020-07-31
4. Bossert, John; Hurst, Randolph (1986). Hazardous Locations: A Magazine, International Association of Electrical Inspectors, dards/all-codes-and-standards/list-of-codes-and-standards/detail?c 10. NEMA/IEC Enclosure Ratings (https://www.coleparmer.com/tech-a
Guide for the Design, Construction and Installation of Electrical archived from the original (https://iaeimagazine.org/magazine/2014 ode=70), National Electrical Code (2020 ed.), National Fire rticle/nema-iec-enclosure-ratings), Cole-Parmer, 2018-10-15,
Equipment. Toronto: Canadian Standards Association. Chapter 9. /11/10/hazardous-classified-locations-nec-articles-500-through-517 Protection Association, chapter 1, article 100, part III, page 70-43, retrieved 2020-07-31
ISBN 0-9690124-5-4. /) on 2017-07-05, retrieved 2018-04-04 2019-08-05, retrieved 2020-07-31 11. Bossert 86 page 17
6. Autoignition temperature of liquid (http://www.ozm.cz/en/autoignitio
n-temperature-of-liquid-ait-551/), OZM Research, retrieved
2018-04-04
Further reading
Alan McMillan, Electrical Installations in Hazardous Areas, Butterworth-Heineman 1998, ISBN 0-7506-3768-4
Peter Schram Electrical Installations in Hazardous Locations, Jones and Bartlett, 1997, ISBN 0-87765-423-9
EEMUA, A Practitioner's Handbook for potentially explosive atmospheres, The Engineering Equipment and Materials Users Association, 2017, ISBN 978-0-85931-222-6
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.