Electrical Equipment in

Hazardous Locations
______________

Presented by: Edward M. Briesch

UL HazLoc operations
Presented at: Explosion Protection Seminar
Chicago Chapter,
Society of Fire Protection Engineers
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 AREA CLASSIFICATIONS

n Class I
– Flammable, gases, vapors or liquids
n Class II
– Combustible dusts
n Class III
– Ignitable fibers and flyings

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 CLASS I, DIVISION 1

A Class I, Division 1 location is a location

where ignitable concentrations of
flammable gases, vapors or liquids:
– can exist under normal operating
conditions;
– may exist frequently because of repair or
maintenance operations or leakage; or
– may exist because of equipment
breakdown that simultaneously causes the
equipment to become a source of release3
 CLASS I, DIVISION 2

A Class I, Division 2 location is a location

where:
– volatile flammable liquids or flammable gases or
vapors exist, but are normally confined within
closed containers;
– ignitable concentrations of gases, vapors or liquids
are normally prevented by positive mechanical
ventilation; or
– adjacent to a Class I, Division 1 location where
ignitable concentrations might be occasionally
communicated 4
 CLASS I, ZONE 0

A Class I, Zone 0 location is a location

where ignitable concentrations of
flammable gases, vapors or liquids:
– are present continuously; or
– are present for long periods or time

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 CLASS I, ZONE 1
A Class I, Zone 1 location is a location where
ignitable concentrations of flammable gases,
vapors or liquids:
– are likely to exist under normal operating
conditions;
– may exist frequently because of repair or
maintenance operations or leakage;
– may exist because of equipment breakdown that
simultaneously causes the equipment to become a
source of ignition; or
– adjacent to a Class I, Zone 0 location from which
ignitable concentrations could be communicated6
 CLASS I, ZONE 2
A Class I, Zone 2 location is a location
where:
– ignitable concentrations of flammable gases,
vapors or liquids are not likely to occur in normal
operation or, if they do occur, will exist only for a
short period;
– volatile flammable liquids or flammable gases or
vapors exist, but are normally confined within
closed containers;
– ignitable concentrations of gases, vapors or liquids
are normally prevented by positive mechanical
ventilation; or
– adjacent to a Class I, Zone 1 location from which
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ignitable concentrations could be communicated
 Definition: MESG

n 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.
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 Definition: MIC Ratio

n MIC (Minimum Igniting Current) Ratio:

The ratio of the minimum current required
from an inductive spark discharge to ignite
the most easily ignitable mixture of a gas or
vapor, divided by the minimum current
required from an inductive spark discharge to
ignite methane under the same test
conditions.

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 CLASS I, DIVISION 1 & 2
GROUPS
n Group A
– Acetylene
n Group B
– Gases or vapors having:
n MESG < 0.45 mm or

n MIC Ratio < 0.40

– Examples are: hydrogen, fuel and combustible

process gases containing more than 30 percent
hydrogen by volume, butadiene, ethylene oxide,
propylene oxide, and acrolein.

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 CLASS I, DIVISION 1 & 2
GROUPS (cont.)

n Group C
– Gases or vapors having:
n 0.45 mm < MESG < 0.75 mm or

n 0.40 < MIC Ratio < 0.80

– Examples are: ethyl ether and ethylene.

n Group D
– Gases or vapors having:
n 0.75 mm < MESG

n 0.80 < MIC Ratio

– Examples are: acetone, ammonia, benzene, butane,

cyclopropane, ethanol, gasoline, hexane, methanol,
methane, naphtha, and propane. 11
CLASS I, ZONE 0, 1 AND 2
GROUPS
n Group IIC
– Atmospheres containing acetylene, hydrogen, or
gases or vapors having:
n MESG < 0.50 mm

n MIC Ratio < 0.45

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 CLASS I, ZONE 0, 1 AND 2
GROUPS (cont.)
n Group IIB
– Atmospheres containing ethylene or acetaldehyde, or
gases or vapors having:
n 0.50 mm < MESG < 0.90 mm
n 0.45 < MIC Ratio < 0.80

n Group IIA
– Atmospheres containing acetone, ammonia, ethyl,
alcohol, gasoline, methane, propane, or gases or
vapors having:
n 0.90 mm < MESG
n 0.80 < MIC Ratio 13
 The Westerberg Explosion Test
Vessel
n Used to determine certain explosion
characteristics of gases and vapors.
The chamber is equipped with two
blocks of metal that can be adjusted to
obtain air gaps between them, by
igniting the gas in the first chamber it
may ignite the gas in the second
chamber after passing through the
metal to metal gapped joint.
n The largest clearance that will not
allow the passage of flame is called
the MESG.

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The Westerberg Explosion Test
Vessel

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n The spark-test
apparatus is used to
determine if the
energy created from
the equipment under
test will ignite an
explosive gas-air
mixture that is
introduced into the
test chamber.

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Spark-Test Apparatus
n Shown here is the brass
and cadmium discs of the
spark apparatus that are
used to create arcs from
simulated power loads.
n The brass disc on the left
has four tungsten wires
inserted which come in
contact with the smaller
cadmium disc as the discs
rotate. Each time the
tungsten wires make and
break contact with the
cadmium disc, an arc is
created.
n If the arc created has
sufficient energy, the
explosive gas-air mixture
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in the chamber will ignite.
 CLASS II, DIVISION 1
A Class II, Division 1 location is a location
where:
– Ignitable concentrations of combustible
dust can exist in the air under normal
operating conditions;
– Ignitable concentrations of combustible
dust may exist because of equipment
breakdown that simultaneously causes the
equipment to become a source of ignition;
or
– Electrically conductive combustible dusts
may be present in hazardous quantities 18
 CLASS II, DIVISION 2
A Class II, Division 2 location is a location
where:
n combustible dust is not normally in the air in ignitable
concentrations;
n dust accumulations are normally insufficient to
interfere with normal operation of electrical
equipment;
n Dust may be in suspension in the air as the result of
infrequent malfunction of equipment; or
n Dust accumulation may be sufficient to interfere with
safe dissipation of heat or may be ignitable by
abnormal operation
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CLASS II, DIVISION 1 ONLY
GROUP
n Group E
– Atmospheres containing combustible metal
dusts including aluminum, magnesium and
their commercial alloys, or other
combustible dusts whose particle size,
abrasiveness, and conductivity present
similar hazards in the use of electrical
equipment

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CLASS II, DIVISION 1 AND 2
GROUPS
n Group F
– Atmospheres containing combustible
carbonaceous dusts, including carbon
black, charcoal, coal or dusts that have
been sensitized by other materials so that
they present an explosion hazard
n Group G
– Atmospheres containing combustible dusts
not included in Group E or F, including
flour, grain, wood, plastic, and chemicals
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CLASS I, DIVISION 1 AND 2 and CLASS II
TEMPERATURE CLASSES
T1 (<450º C)
T2 (< 300º C)
T2A, B, C, D
(< 280º C, < 260ºC, < 230ºC, < 215º C)
T3 (< 200º C)
T3A, B, C,
(< 180º C, < 165º C, < 160º C)
T4 (< 135º C)
T4A (< 120º C)
T5 (< 100º C)
T6 (< 85º C) 22
CLASS I, ZONE 0, 1 AND 2
TEMPERATURE CLASSES
T1 (< 450 C)
T2 (< 300 C)
T3 (< 200 C)

T4 (< 135 C)

T5 (< 100 C)

T6 (< 85 C)

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 CLASS III, DIVISION 1

A location in which easily ignitable fibers

or materials producing combustible
flyings are handled, manufactured or
used

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 CLASS III, DIVISION 2

A location in which easily ignitable fibers

are stored or handled

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 CLASS III,
DIVISION 1 AND 2 GROUPS

n Not divided into groups

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 CLASS III, DIVISION 1 AND 2
TEMPERATURE LIMITS

n Article 503 of the NEC limits maximum

temperatures for Class III equipment
n 165°C for equipment not subject to
overloading
n 120°C for equipment that may be
overloaded

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 CLASS I DIVISION /ZONE AREA
CLASSIFICATION COMPARISON
Division 1: Where ignitable
concentrations of flammable gases,
vapors or liquids can exist all of the
time or some of the time under
normal operating conditions
Division 2: Where ignitable
concentrations of flammable gases,
vapors or liquids are not likely to
exist under normal operating
conditions
Zone 0: Where ignitable
concentrations of flammable gases,
vapors or liquids can exist all of the
time or for long periods of time
under normal operating conditions
Zone 1: Where ignitable
concentrations of flammable gases,
vapors or liquids can exist some of
the time under normal operating
conditions
Zone 2: Where ignitable
concentrations of flammable gases,
vapors or liquids are not likely to
exist under normal operating
conditions
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Division 1 and 2 Zone 0, 1 and 2
A (acetylene) IIC (acetylene &
hydrogen)
B (hydrogen)
C (ethylene) IIB (ethylene)

D (propane) IIA (propane)

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 CLASS I DIVISION/ZONE
TEMPERATURE CLASS COMPARISON
Division 1 and 2 Zone 0, 1 and 2
T1 (<450º C) T1 (<450º C)

T2 (<300º C) T2 (<300º C)
T2A,B,C,D
(<280º C, <260º C, <230º C, <215º C)
T3 (<200º C) T3 (<200º C)
T3A,B,C,
(<180º C, <65º C, <160º C)
T4 (<135º C) T4 (<135º C)

T4A (<120º C)

T5 (<100º C) T5 (<100º C)

T6 (<85º C) T6 (<85º C) 30
 COMPARISON OF PRODUCT
MARKINGS
U.S. CANADA EUROPE IEC

Class I, Div. 1, Class I, Div. 1, EEx de IIB T5 Ex de IIB T5

Group C,D Group C,D Certificate No. Cert. Number

Class I, Zone 1 Additional for ATEX:

AEx de IIB T5 Ex de IIB T5 0539 II 2 G 2001
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CLASS I, DIVISION 1 AND 2
PROTECTION TECHNIQUES
Area Protection Techniques
Division 1 • Explosionproof
• Intrinsically Safe (2 fault)
• Purged/Pressurized (Type X or Y)

• Hermetically Sealed
Division 2 • Nonincendive Circuits
• Nonincendive Components
• Nonincendive Equipment
• Non-Sparking
• Oil Immersion
• Purged/Pressurized (Type Z)
• Sealed Devices
• Any Class I, Division 1 technique
•Any Cl. I, Zn. 0, 1, or 2 technique 32
CLASS II, DIVISION 1 AND 2
PROTECTION TECHNIQUES
Area Protection Techniques
Division 1 • Dust-Ignitionproof
• Intrinsically Safe
• Pressurized (Type X or Y)

Division 2 • Dusttight
• Nonincendive Circuits
• Nonincendive Components
• Nonincendive Equipment
• Pressurized (Type Z)
• Any Class II, Division 1 technique
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CLASS III, DIVISION 1 AND 2
PROTECTION TECHNIQUES

Area Protection Techniques

• Dusttight
Division 1 & 2
• Intrinsically Safe

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 CLASS I, ZONE 0 AND 1
PROTECTION TECHNIQUES
Area Protection Techniques

Zone 0 • Intrinsically Safe (2 fault), ‘ia’

• Class I, Division 1 Intrinsically Safe (2 fault)

Zone 1 • Encapsulated, ‘m’

• Flameproof, ‘d’
• Increased Safety, ‘e’
• Intrinsically Safe (1 fault), ‘ib’
• Oil Immersed, ‘o’
• Powder Filled, ‘q’
• Purged/Pressurized, ‘p’
• Any Class I, Zone 0 technique
• Any Class I, Division 1 technique

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 CLASS I, ZONE 2 PROTECTION
TECHNIQUES
Area Protection Techniques

Zone 2 •Energy Limited ‘nC’ (‘nL’ in EN50021)

•Hermetically Sealed, ‘nC’
• Nonincendive,‘nC’
• Non-Sparking, ‘nA’
•Pressurization ‘nZ’ (‘nP’ in EN50021)
• Restricted Breathing, ‘nR’
• Sealed Device, ‘nC’
• Any Class I, Zone 0 or 1 technique
• Any Class I, Division 1 or 2 technique

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 ORDINARY LOCATIONS
REQUIREMENTS
n For all equipment:
– Risk of Fire
– Risk of Electric Shock
n Special Applications:
– Environmental Ratings
– Marine Ratings
– Signaling/Fire Alarm

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 OTHER HAZARDOUS
LOCATIONS REQUIREMENTS
Some examples of requirements that may
apply to multiple protection techniques
include:
n Marking/Labeling
n Static Electricity
n Thermal Shock on glass parts
n Vibration Test

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 ARTICLES 500- 505 OF THE
NEC
n Article 500 - General
n Article 501 - Class I, Division Locations
n Article 502 - Class II Locations
n Article 503 - Class III Locations
n Article 504 - Intrinsically Safe Systems
n Article 505 - Class I, Zone Locations

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 SPECIFIC OCCUPANCIES
n Covered in Articles 510 through 517
n Include such occupancies as:
– Commercial Garages (Art. 511)
– Aircraft Hangars (Art. 513)
– Gasoline Service Stations (Art. 514)
– Bulk Storage Plants (Art. 515)
– Spraying, Dipping, and Coating
Applications (Art. 516)
– Health Care Facilities (Art. 517) 40
THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING

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