Area Classification

Potentially Explosive Atmospheres exist where there is a risk of explosion due to mixtures of
gas/air, vapour/air, dust/air or other flammable combinations.
In such areas there is a necessity to eliminate sources of ignition such as sparks, hot surfaces
or static electricity which may ignite these mixtures.
Where electrical equipment has to be used in these areas it must be so designed and
constructed as to not create sources of ignition capable of igniting these mixtures.
Process plants are divided into Zones (European and IEC method) or Divisions (North American
method) according to the likelihood of a potentially explosive atmosphere being present.
European & IEC Definition of zone or division North American
Classification Classification
An area in which an explosive mixture is Class I Division 1
Zone 0 (gases)"G"
continuously present or present for long (gases)
periods Class II Division 1
Zone 20 (dusts)"D"
(dusts)
An area in which an explosive mixture is Class I Division 1
Zone 1 (gases)"G"
likely to occur in normal operation (gases)
Class II Division 1
Zone 21 (dusts)"D"
(dusts)
An area in which an explosive mixture is Class I Division 2
Zone 2 (gases)"G"
not likely to occur in normal operation and (gases)
if it occurs it will exist only for a short Class II Division 2
Zone 22 (dusts)"D"
time (dusts)
Class III Division 1
(fibres)
Class III Division 2
(fibres)

Gas Groups (plus dusts and fibres)

There are two main gas groups, Group I – Mining only and Group II – Surface Industries
These categories are used in European and I.E.C. groupings.
Group I is concerned only with underground mining where methane and coal dust are
present.
Group II gases occurring in surface industries, are sub-grouped according to their volatility.
This enables electrical equipment to be designed to less onerous tolerances if it is to be used
with the least volatile gases.
Typical European/I.E.C. Gas North American Gas
gas/material Group Group
Methane I -
Acetylene IIC A
Hydrogen IIC B
Ethylene IIB C
Propane IIA D
Metal dust - E
Coal dust - F
Grain dust - G

Note : North American legislation now allows Zones to be used to classify areas, where this
practice is used it follows the IEC Zone method.

Temperature
Hot surfaces can ignite explosive atmospheres. To guard against this all Electrical Equipment
intended for use in a potentially explosive atmosphere is classified according to the maximum
surface temperature it will reach in service. This temperature is normally based on a
surrounding ambient temperature of 40 degrees Centigrade (102 degrees Fahrenheit). This
temperature can then be compared to the ignition temperature of the gas(es) which may come
into contact with the equipment and a judgement reached as to the suitability of the
equipment to be used in that area.

Temperature
Maximum Surface Temperature
Classification
European/I.E.C. North American
T1 T1 450° C
T2 T2 300° C
T2A 280° C
. T2B 260° C
T2C 230° C
. T2D 215° C
T3 T3 200° C
. T3A 180° C
T3B 165° C
. T3C 160° C
T4 T4 135° C
. T4A 120° C
T5 T5 100° C
T6 T6 85° C

Types of Electrical Equipment Suitable for

use in Potentially Explosive Atmospheres
Different techniques are used to prevent electrical equipment from igniting explosive
atmospheres. There are restrictions on where these different types of equipment can be used
as follows :
European - IEC - Area USA - Area of use
.
Area of use of use Designation
Designation Designation Standard
Standard Standard
Flameproof Enclosure – An Zones 1 & 2 Zones 1 & 2 Class 1 Divisions 1
enclosure used to house EExd Exd &2
electrical equipment, which EN50018 IEC60079-1 UL1203
when subjected to an internal
explosion will not ignite a
surrounding explosive
atmosphere.
Intrinsic Safety – A technique Zones 0, 1 & 2 Zones 1 & 2 Class 1
whereby electrical energy is EExi Exi Divisions 1 & 2
limited such that any sparks or EN50020 IEC60079-11 UL913
heat generated by electrical
equipment is sufficiently low as
to not ignite an explosive
atmosphere.
Increased Safety – This Zones 1 & 2 Zones 1 & 2
equipment is so designed as to EExe Exe
eliminate sparks and hot EN50019 IEC60079-7
surfaces capable of igniting an
explosive atmosphere.
Purged and Pressurised – Zones 1 & 2 Zones 1 & 2 Class 1
Electrical equipment is housed EExp Exp Divisions 1 & 2
in an enclosure which is initially EN50016 IEC60079-2 NFPA496
purged to remove any explosive
mixture, then pressurised to
prevent ingress of the
 surrounding atmosphere prior
to energisation.
Encapsulation – A method of Zones 1 & 2 Zones 1 & 2
exclusion of the explosive EExm Exm
atmosphere by fully EN50028 IEC60079-18
encapsulating the electrical
components in an approved
material.
Oil Immersion – The electrical Zones 1 & 2 Zones 1 & 2 Class 1
components are immersed in EExo Exo Division 2
oil, thus excluding the explosive EN50015 IEC60079-6 UL698
atmosphere from any sparks or
hot surfaces.
Powder Filling – Equipment is Zones 1 & 2 Zones 1 & 2
surrounded with a fine powder, EExq Exq
such as quartz, which does not EN50017 IEC60079-5
allow the surrounding
atmosphere to come into
contact with any sparks or hot
surfaces.
Non-sparking – Sparking Zone 2 Zone 2 .
contacts are sealed against EExn Exn
ingress of the surrounding EN50021 IEC60079-15
atmosphere, hot surfaces are
eliminated.
Special Protection – Zones 0, 1 & 2 Zones 0, 1 &
Equipment is certified for use in *Exs 2
a Potentially Explosive Exs
Atmosphere but does not
conform to a type of protection
listed above.

* This type of protection is only recognised by National Authorities, not as a

European-wide type of protection.
Selection, Installation and Maintenance of Electrical Equipment
Intended for use in Potentially Explosive Atmospheres
International and national standards are published giving details of requirements for the safe
use of Electrical Equipment in Potentially Explosive Atmospheres as follows :

. International U.K. U.S.A.

General Recommendations BS5345:Part N.E.C. Chapter
EC60079-14
1 5
Classification of Hazardous Areas N.E.C. Chapter
IEC60079-10 .
5
Inspection and Maintenance of
IEC60079-1
Electrical Equipment
Requirements for Flameproof BS5345:Part N.E.C. Chapter
IEC60079-14
Enclosures 3 5
Requirements for Intrinsically BS5345:Part N.E.C. Chapter
IEC60079-14
Safe Equipment 4 5
Requirements for Increased BS5345:Part N.E.C. Chapter
IEC60079-14
Safety Equipment 6 5
Requirements for Purged and BS5345:Part N.E.C. Chapter
IEC60079-14
Pressurised Equipment 5 5
Requirements for Non-Sparking IEC60079-14 BS5345:Part .
Equipment 7
Requirements for Equipment with BS5345:Part
IEC60079-14
Special Protection 8