Appendix 1 – INTRINSIC SAFETY BASIC PRINCIPLES

INTRINSIC
SAFETY
BASIC
PRINCIPLES

IGNITION TRIANGLE
Ignition
Energy

In many industrial processes, the presence of

flammable materials (gases, vapours, liquids,
dusts, fibres and flyings) requires the adoption of
safety practices to protect both, plant and
personnel, from the risk of fires and explosions.

An explosion or fire can occur when, in certain

Oxidizer Fuel
areas at certain times, an explosive or flammable
mixture and a means of ignition, thermal or
electrical, are present.
Flammable materials are grouped according to
the ignition energy (Gas Groups) and classified for
their minimum ignition temperature (Temperature Ignition Triangle

Class), while Area classification (“Zone” in Europe, From a chemical point of view, oxidation,

“Division” in the USA) takes into account the combustion and explosion are all exothermic

probability of the presence of an explosive reactions with different reaction speeds. For such

mixture. reactions to take place, it is essential that the

following three components be present
Electrical equipment, in Hazardous Areas
simultaneously in due proportions:
(“Locations” in the USA), constitute potential
• Fuel: flammable vapors, liquids or gases, or
sources of danger because they may generate
combustible dusts or fibers;
arcs or sparks or hot surfaces which could ignite
• Oxidizer: generally, air or oxygen;
the explosive atmosphere.
• Ignition Energy: electrical or thermal.

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 Appendix 1 – INTRINSIC SAFETY BASIC PRINCIPLES

INTRINSIC
SAFETY
BASIC
PRINCIPLES
Protection methods
Basic safety concept is to avoid the simultaneous
existence of a dangerous atmosphere and a
source of ignition by:
Containing the explosion within a well-defined
space where it will not cause any harm.

Physically segregating the sources of energy from

the explosive
mixtures. Simple and Control Room Equipment Associated Apparatus
Intrinsically Safe Apparatus
Preventing the
release of
sufficient energy
to ignite any
explosive mixture.
H

za
a

According to the rd
safety concept
o u s A re a S a f e A re a
and the way to
apply it, there are different explosion protection
methods suitable to enable electrical equipment
to be used in Hazardous Area.

All these techniques are ruled by national and

international standards, as well as codes of
practice, that define how to design and install the
equipment, while recognized authorities issue the
conformity certificate of the apparatus or
systems. Among the protection methods, the
simplest and most effective, applied to electrical
and electronic instrumentation, is Intrinsic Safety.

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 Appendix 1 – INTRINSIC SAFETY BASIC PRINCIPLES

INTRINSIC
SAFETY
BASIC
PRINCIPLES
The basic principle of intrinsic safety is to limit, Resistive Circuits
under normal and foreseeable fault conditions, the A circuit is considered as resistive when the
amount of electrical energy in Hazardous Area reactive part, inductance and capacitance, is zero
circuits such that any sparks or arcs or high or negligible (figure A)
surface temperatures will not ignite the explosive
The energy released by this type of circuit
atmosphere.
depends essentially on the power supply source V
Electrical equipment, in Hazardous Area, as well
and the current limitation due to the presence of
as the interconnected instrumentation in Safe
resistor R.
Area, must
be designed In this case,
HAZARDOUS HAZARDOUS
L ATMOSPHERE R ATMOSPHERE
to reduce R Isc it is difficult
the open Isc to correlate
V C V Voc

circuit Voc the minimum

voltage (Voc) ignition
and short Intrinsic Safety works on the principle energy (MIE)
figure A
circuit of preventing the possibility of explosion with a
by limiting the electrical energy and the Schematic of a resistive circuit.
current (Isc) circuital
surface temperature.
to values situation
that cannot that generates the spark.
cause ignition by opening, closing or earthing the
The experimental tests on this type of circuit have
circuit or by heating of any parts belonging to the
demonstrated that the capacity for igniting a
circuit.
dangerous mixture depends on the open- circuit
voltage (Voc = V) and the short-circuit current (Isc
= V/R).

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 Appendix 1 – INTRINSIC SAFETY BASIC PRINCIPLES

INTRINSIC
SAFETY
BASIC
PRINCIPLES
The ignition curve for resistive circuits is shown in circumstances, gives some advantages that can
Figure B. not be obtained with other techniques:

This graph shows the ignition curve relative to the  Intrinsic safety is the only method accepted for
group of gases that are considered by the the most Hazardous Areas (Zone 0; DIV. 1).
standards.
 Maintenance and calibration of field equipment
The trend curve shows that the lower the open- can be carried out while the plant is in
circuit voltage, the greater the amount of power operation and the circuit “live”.
that can be used safely. Low voltages are also safe for personnel.

This characteristic allows process  No special mechanical protection of field wiring

instrumentation that works with voltages on the is required but ordinary instrument cabling is
order of 20-30 V to acceptable.
be used efficiently in
In Intrinsic Safety
intrinsic safety mA
applications.
I applications three
2000 Minimum igniting currents basic parts have to
applicable to electrical
For a more detailed apparatus with cadmium, be considered:
1000 zinc, magnesium or
ignition curve, refer to aluminum.
 Hazardous Area
Appendix 5.
500 devices (Simple
The inherent low Class I Apparatus), or
Group D
power involved, even equipment
200
in unfavourable (Intrinsically Safe
Apparatus).
100
Class I
Group C
 Safety interfaces
50 (Associated
Apparatus).
Class I
20 Groups
A&B  Interconnecting
cables.
10 V
10 20 50 100 200
figure B

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 Appendix 1 – INTRINSIC SAFETY BASIC PRINCIPLES

INTRINSIC
SAFETY
BASIC
PRINCIPLES
Simple Apparatus
HAZARDOUS ATMOSPHERE
Passive components (switches, resistive sensors,
potentiometers), simple semiconductor (LEDs, INTERSTICE

Length of
photo-transistors) and simple generating devices Junction

(thermocouples, photocells) are regarded as

Simple Apparatus if they do not generate or store
more than: 1.5 V, 100 mA, 25 mW (see
Other techniques work on the
IEC 60079-11 and EN 50020 standards).
principles of keeping the hazardous
Simple Apparatus can be used in Hazardous Area material away from the circuit,
without certification; they have to be assessed for containment of the explosion, or
preventing arcs, sparks or hot
the temperature classification on the basis of the surfaces.
matched output power of the interface device.
room equipment, is diverted to prevent it from
Intrinsically Safe Apparatus passing through to the Hazardous Area circuits.
Transmitters, I/P converters, solenoid valves and Barriers must be designed and certified as
any other “energy-storing” device must be Associated Apparatus suitable for connection to
certified as Intrinsically Safe Apparatus suitable intrinsically safe or simple apparatus in
for use in Hazardous Area, according to the zone, Hazardous Area. Associated apparatus are the
or division, classification and gas characteristics key to any intrinsically safe system because they
(group and temperature class). define maximum allowable safety parameters of
For more details refer to Appendix 6. the circuits connected to the Hazardous Area
terminals of the barriers.
Associated Apparatus
Interfaces between field and control room Interconnecting Cables
equipment, usually called “Barriers or Isolators”, Low voltage and current, in intrinsically safe
protect the Hazardous Area circuits by limiting circuits, allow the use of ordinary instrumentation
the voltage and current in normal and in fault cables provided that capacitance and inductance
conditions. Two types of intrinsically safe are taken into account in assessing the safety of
interfaces exist: “Zener Barriers” and “Galvanic the system; cable parameters seldom are a
Isolator Barriers”; they basically differ for the way problem and long distances can be easily
the potentially dangerous energy, from control achieved.

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 Appendix 1 – INTRINSIC SAFETY BASIC PRINCIPLES

EXPLOSIVE
MIXTURE
CHARACTERISTICS

The risk of an ignition of an air/gas mixture

depends on the probability of the simultaneous
presence of the following two conditions:

 Formation of flammable or explosive vapors,

liquids or gases, or combustible dusts or fibers
with atmosphere or accumulation of explosive
or flammable material;

 Presence of an energy source “electrical spark,

arc or surface
temperature”
that is capable
of igniting the PROPANE
10
dangerous
IGNITION
mixture ENERGY
(mJ)
present.

It is possible to 0.1
draw an ignition
HYDROGEN
characteristic for
each type of fuel. MIE

The characteristic 0.01

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
curves of
VOLUME CONCENTRATION (%)
hydrogen and
propane are LEL UEL

illustrated in this
page. Ignition energy in relation to
hydrogen and propane air/gas
concentration

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 Appendix 1 – INTRINSIC SAFETY BASIC PRINCIPLES

EXPLOSIVE
MIXTURE
CHARACTERISTICS

A minimum ignition energy (MIE) exists for every

fuel that represents the ideal ratio of fuel to air.
At this ratio, the mixture is most easily ignited.
Below the MIE, ignition is impossible for any
concentration.
For a concentration lower than the one
corresponding to the MIE, the quantity of energy
required to ignite the mixture increases until a
concentration value is reached below which the
mixture cannot be ignited due to the low quantity
of fuel. This value is called the lower explosive limit
(LEL).

In the same way, when increasing the

concentration the energy requirement increases,
and a concentration value is identified above
which ignition cannot occur due to the low
quantity of an oxidizer. This value is called the
upper explosive limit (UEL).

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 Appendix 1 – INTRINSIC SAFETY BASIC PRINCIPLES

THE CHOICE BETWEEN

“ZENER BARRIERS”
AND
“ G A LVA N I C A L LY
I S O L AT E D B A R R I E R S ”
Safety barriers are protection devices placed between, zener diodes. The fuse is rated to blow very quickly in
Hazardous and non Hazardous Area interconnected order to prevent the failure of zener diodes and to iso-
apparatus with the purpose of limiting the energy, in late, when blown, Hazardous from Safe Area circuits.
the Hazardous Area, to a level lower than the mini- Standards require that the fuse must not be accessi-
mum required to ignite the explosive atmosphere. ble for substitution to avoid errors that could impair
The intrusion of excessive electrical energy into safety; thus once the fuse is blown it is necessary to
Hazardous Area circuits, due to fault conditions in the replace the whole barrier.
Safe Area, can be prevented by:

 diverting the fault energy to earth (“ground” in the

USA). HAZARDOUS SAFE 250V
AREA AREA max.

 Or by blocking the fault energy with isolating Isc Rlim Fuse

elements.
During fault conditions, voltage and current levels, Voc

which can appear in Hazardous Area, are limited to

safe values.
Fault current
path
Zener barriers
Since their introduction, long ago, “Zener Barriers” Fig. 1
have been widely used as safety interfaces to meet
the majority of applications in Hazardous Areas. During fault transient, the open circuit voltage (Voc) at
Based on energy-diversion concept, this type of barrier the Hazardous Area terminals of the barrier is
is a very simple network of components arranged as clamped to zener voltage, while the short circuit cur-
shown in Figure 1. rent (Isc), in Hazardous Area, is limited by the output
In normal operating conditions, the barrier passes elec- resistor (Rlim).
trical signals, in both directions, without shunting them. These values, Voc and Isc, are relevant to assess max-
When a fault voltage (250 Vrms max.) appears at the imum allowable capacitance and inductance, at the
non Safe Area terminals of the barrier, the resulting Hazardous Area terminals, for the gas groups that
high current flows to ground through the fuse and cannot be ignited by those values.

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 Appendix 1 – INTRINSIC SAFETY BASIC PRINCIPLES

The efficiency of a barrier depends on a good ground  Improper connection or voltage surges could blow
connection which must provide a return path for the the fuse.
fault current, back to the Safe Area, preventing any  Very poor common mode rejection (Common mode
substantial increase in the voltage and current at the regection is the immunity of a device to interfering
Hazardous Area terminals. voltages applied at both input terminals with
respect to ground).
HAZARDOUS SAFE
AREA AREA Power
System
Galvanically Isolated Barriers
Barrier
Problems that arise with “Zener Barriers” can be over-
I.S.
App. come by using safety interfaces based on the concept
Safe area of isolation rather than energy diversion.
Apparatus
The basic difference consists in providing isolation,
Barrier ground <1Ω
between Hazardous and Safe Area circuits, by using
Structural ground
components, such as transformers, relays, and opto-
couplers, that must comply with requirements of safety
Fig. 2
standards to guarantee safety (see Figure 3).

This is accomplished by using a dedicated conductor When properly designed, “Galvanic Isolator Barriers” do

which must be run, separately from any other struc- not permit the fault voltage (250 Vrms Max) to reach

tural ground, to the reference ground point (see the energy limitation circuit that must be able to with-

Figure 2). stand only the maximum voltage at the secondary side.

The resistance from the furthest barrier to the ground Galvanic isolation allows the energy limitation circuit to

point must be maintained at less than 1Ω and stan- be floating from ground; thus a ground connection, as

dard requirements are for a minimum size of 4 mm2 well as a protective fuse, for this circuit are not needed.

(12 AWG in the USA). Safety parameters, Voc and Isc, are determined in a

“Zener Barriers” are simple, reliable and low cost similar way to that used for “Zener Barriers”.

devices, however they present some drawbacks that

The main features of “Galvanic Isolator Barriers” are:
must be considered when choosing them for intrinsic
 A dedicated ground connection is not required and
safety applications.
field devices can be connected to ground.
Main disadvantages are:
 Full voltage is available to field devices.
 A good ground connection must be provided and
 Signal conditioning and circuit protection are
maintained.
combined in a single unit.
 Field devices must be isolated from ground (and
maintained as such).  Simple installation and commissioning with
elimination of ground loops.
 Voltage drop across the barriers can make some
applications difficult.  High common mode voltage can be tolerated.

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 Appendix 1 – INTRINSIC SAFETY BASIC PRINCIPLES

Intrinsic Safety Interfaces

All I.S. interfaces use zener diode techniques to limit
the flow of power into the hazardous area.
In simple form, they can employ shunt diode circuits in
which excess current is routed to ground through a
direct earth connection.
These products are commonly known as Zener
Barriers.
Alternatively, the instrument signal can be passed
through transformers and associated modulation and
demodulation circuits to simplify earth grounding and
installation, by galvanically isolating the hazardous cir-
cuit from the safe area circuit and power source.
These products are commonly known as Galvanic
Isolators.

Fig. 3

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 Appendix 1 – INTRINSIC SAFETY BASIC PRINCIPLES

I N S TA L L AT I O N O F
INTRINSICALLY SAFE
A N D A S S O C I AT E D
A P PA R AT U S
North American cable standard C22.2, No. 174, are permitted for direct
Installation entry to explosion-proof equipment.
Electrical apparatus in hazardous (classified) locations
may be installed using one of the following three basic  Cable Systems with Indirect

installation systems: Entry: Indirect entry cable systems offer a

decided advantage in that it can be connected
 Conduit Systems: The electrical wiring
without opening the explosion-proof equipment.
is installed inside closed, threaded metal pipes
The connection is to terminals made in an
(rigid steel or intermediate metal conduit)
“increased safety” terminal chamber.
approved for the purpose.
The pipes are screwed into entrances in the
European Practice EN50.039
enclosures which contain electrical equipment.
Below are the European requirements for cable instal-
The entire conduit system is required to be
lation in intrinsically safe systems according to the
explosion-proof and frequently requires a seal
EN 50.039 standard, Intrinsically Safe System “i.”
between the connected enclosure and the pipe.
In Class I, Division 2 locations, the conduit system
1.0 Connecting
need to be explosion-proof only between any
Conductors of an Intrincally Safe electrical
explosion-proof enclosure and the required sealing
system.
fittings. In Class I, Division 1 locations in Canada,
one difference is that threaded steel intermediate
1.1 General
conduit is not acceptable.
The electrical parameters and all characteris-
 Cable Systems with Direct tics of specific connecting conductors of an
Entry: In the U.S. the NEC will not allow cables intrinsically safe electrical system must be
(except for mineral-insulated [MI] cable and cables specified in the system’s descriptive document
used in intrinsically safe systems) to be installed in because Intrinsic Safety relies on them.
Class I, Division 1 locations. In Class I, Division 2 1.2 The multi-conductor
locations certain cable constructions are allowed cables can contain one or more intrinsically
(refer to API RP14F). safe circuits; however, they can not contain any
In Canada for Class I, Division 1 locations, armored non-intrinsically safe circuits, apart from
and metal-sheathed cables with matching cable particular applications as specified in the
glands, tested to the requirements of CSA European standard EN 50.020.

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 Appendix 1 – INTRINSIC SAFETY BASIC PRINCIPLES

2.0 Multi-Conductor 2.4 Tests

Cables Containing Different Intrinsically Safe All the tests required to prove the conformity
Circuits. with points 2.1, 2.2, and 2.3 must be per-
formed by the cable manufacturer.
2.1 Conductors All the applied voltage tests must be per-
The radial thickness of the isolation material formed conforming to a method specified in an
must be appropriate for the diameter of the appropriate cable standard.
conductor and the nature of the isolation If such a method does not exist, the tests
material. must be performed as follows:
For the normally used isolation material, for - The voltage must be alternate and with sinu-
example polyethylene, the minimum must be soidal wave form, and a frequency within 48
such to tolerate an applied test voltage with an and 62 Hz.
alternate voltage with intrinsically safe circuit - A voltage must be obtained from a power
with a minimum of 500 V. transformer with an output at least equal to
500 VA.
2.2 Conductor Shields - The voltage must be gradually increased up
When conductor shields guarantee the to the specified value in a time frame of at
individual protection of intrinsically safe least 10 seconds and maintained at such
circuits in a way that avoid the circuits to value for at least 60 seconds.
come in contact with each other, the rate of
isolation of those shields must be at least 3.0 Types of Multi-Conductor
equal to 60% in surface. Cables
The different points to be considered for multi-
2.3 Cables conductor cables used in intrinsically safe elec-
The multi-conductor cables must be able to tol- trical systems depend on the type of cable
erate an applied test voltage with an alternate used.
voltage with an rms value equal to:
3.1 Type A Cables
- 500 V applied between any shield and/or
Cables conforming to the requirements per
armor connected together and all of the con-
points 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2, and 2.3. Do not con-
ductors of the cables connected together.
sider any fault between the circuits if each cir-
- 1000 V, applied between a bundle of half the
cuit has an individual conductive shield.
cable conductors connected together and a
Note: For any shield connection, for example
bundle including the other half of the cable
grounding, refer to the installation rules.
conductors connected together.

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 Appendix 1 – INTRINSIC SAFETY BASIC PRINCIPLES

3.2 Type B Cables When installing, or laying, cable in specific

Fixed cables efficiently protected against dam- environments, the cable must be suitable for that
ages and conforming to the requirements per environment unless adequate protective measures,
points 1.1, 1.2, and 2.3. such as pipes, special installation methods, thermal
Do not consider any fault between the circuits isolation, etc, are used.
if a peak voltage greater than 60 V is not Intrinsically safe circuit conductors must not be
present in any of the cable circuits. contained in a tray or pipe that includes
conductors of non intrinsically safe electrical
3.3 Type C Cables circuits unless certain precautions are taken, such
Cables conforming to the requirements per as the containment of the intrinsically safe
points 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, and 2.3. conductor or the non intrinsically safe conductor
It is necessary to consider up to two connec- within a grounded shield.
tions between conductors and simultaneously When designing and installing intrinsically safe
up to four interruptions of the conductors. systems, keep in mind that capacitance and
inductance parameters of the connecting cables
3.4 Type D Cables are important factors, even if they are not always
Cables conforming to the requirements per determining factors.
points 1.1 and 1.2. The capacitance and inductance values of the cable
There is no limit to the number of connections (generally, given in pF/m and μH/m) should be
between conductors and simultaneously the easily available from the cable manufacturer.
number of interruptions of the conductors that However, if there are difficulties in obtaining this
must be considered. data, the following values can be hypothesized (but
only in an extreme situation).
European Cable Installation
In Europe the installation, or laying, of the cable can be
Capacitance: 200 pF/m
performed in the following ways:
Inductance: l μH/m
 Pipe laying:
The cable must be furnished with isolation of an As an alternative to the inductance, another char-
anti-abrasive function, if the laying condition does acteristic of the cable, the inductance/resistance
not exclude damaging during insertion. ratio (L/R), can be used and is normally given in
μH/Ω.
 Direct-ground laying:
This parameter permits more flexibility in the cable
The cable must be specified for this particular type
installation process.
of installation.

 Suspended pipe laying:

The cable must be incapable of propagating fire
and must be protected against mechanical and
chemical damage with continuous isolation,
incorporated or external.

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