Guide for Maintaining Electrical Installations in Gas-Hazardous Areas

Appendix A

Regulations and Other Technical Information

1. U.S. and North American Regulatory Classifications
a. Where flammable gases or vapors may be present, special precautions must be taken to
ensure that electrical equipment is not a source of ignition. It is necessary to exercise more
than ordinary care with regard to the selection, installation, and maintenance of electrical
equipment and wiring. A primary objective of design should be to minimize the amount of
electrical equipment installed in hazardous locations. Through the exercise of ingenuity in the
layout of electrical installations for hazardous locations, it is frequently possible to locate much
of the equipment in less hazardous or in nonhazardous areas and thus reduce the amount of
special equipment.
b. U.S. and North American standards classify equipment and locations based upon the
experimentally determined properties of flammable vapors or gases that may be present and
the likelihood that a flammable or combustible concentration or quantity is present. North
American (U.S.) standards identify hazardous locations by Class, Gas Group, and Area
Division criteria, whereas international standards (such as IEC) use an Area Zone and Type of
Protection criteria. Although the nomenclature is different, the classification philosophy is
essentially the same.
c.

The designation Class I refers to flammable gases and vapors that are divided into Groups A,
B, C, or D, depending upon experimentally determined explosion pressure and the ignition
temperature of the most easily ignited mixture of the vapor and the atmosphere.
Group A:
Group B:
Group C:
Group D:

Atmospheres containing Acetylene

Atmospheres such as Hydrogen
Atmospheres such as Ethyl ether, or Ethylene
Atmospheres such as acetone, alcohol, ammonia, benzene, or gasoline

Note: Flammable liquids are graded by flashpoint as Grade A, B, or C cargoes, and have no
direct correlation to flammable vapor hazards as classed by Groups A, B, C, or D as listed
above. (Grades and Groups are not the same)
Combustible liquids are graded as either D or E based on a lower flashpoint than flammable
liquids. Example: Bunker oil (with a flashpoint <140F) is a Grade E combustible liquid and is
NOT considered hazardous, i.e., electrical equipment is NOT regulated.
d. The designation Class II refers hazards of combustible dusts that are not applicable to tank
vessels.
e. The designation Class III refers to hazards of ignitable fibers that are not applicable to tank
vessels.
f.

In general, tank vessels fall into the category of Class I, Group C and D, based on the
products carried or the fact that crude oil varies from source to source and the volatile gasses
vary significantly and are difficult to categorize. Specific rules are enforced by the Flag State
under Classification Society Certification.

g. Area classification (probability of hazardous gas being present)

Note: Area classifications require the use of expert judgment to promote consistency and
ensure safety. The U.S. Coast Guard interprets and regulates hazardous area divisions as
applicable to vessels subject to their control.
Division 0: Proposed hazardous-area definition to define areas where hazardous vapor exist
on a continuous basis. Although only in a proposed regulation, the U.S. Coast Guard

October 1, 1998

Appendix A

Guide for Maintaining Electrical Installations in Gas-Hazardous Areas

recognizes the hazardous area and has stringent rules for electrical installations in certain
locations, i.e., pump rooms, cofferdams, adjacent tanks, etc.
Division 1:
conditions

Where hazard can exist frequently under normal or abnormal operating

Division 2: Where hazard can exist under abnormal conditions (accidental rupture or
breakdown.), or locations adjacent to a Division 1

2. International Regulatory Classifications

a. Group I: Electrical Equipment for mining
b. Group II: Electrical equipment for all other hazardous vapor installations
Electrical Apparatus of Group II is classified by explosion groups and temperature as follows:
Explosion Group A (Similar to NEC Group D)
Explosion Group B (Similar to NEC Group C)
Explosion Group C (Similar to NEC Groups A and B)
Temperature Class T1: Ignition Temp over 450C
Temperature Class T2: Ignition Temp over 300C
Temperature Class T3: Ignition Temp over 200C
Temperature Class T4: Ignition Temp over 135C
Temperature Class T5 Ignition Temp over 100C
Temperature Class T6: Ignition Temp over 85C
c.

Zone Classifications
Note: International standards use the term Zone in lieu of the U.S. term Division.
Zone 0 Explosive gas atmosphere exists for long periods
Zone 1 Explosive gas atmosphere exists occasionally
Zone 2 Explosive gas atmosphere exists for a short period only
(Other zone identifications applicable to dust hazards or medical rooms)

October 1, 1998