Outside North America hazardous areas are classified by gas groups and zones.

Zones are used to define the probability of presence of flammable materials

Groups classifies exact flammable natures of materials

Protection Types are used to denote the safety levels of the devices. Equipment approved
receives temperature codes indicating maximum surface temperature of the equipment.

Zones
The zone defines the probability of hazardous material being present in an ignitable
concentration in the surrounding atmosphere.
Zone 0
Zone 1
Zone 2

Area in which an explosive gas-air mixture is continuously present or

present for long periods.
Combustible or conductive dusts are present. Area in which an explosive
gas-air mixture is likely to occur for short periods in normal operation.
Area in which an explosive gas-air mixture is not likely to occur, and if it
occurs it will only exist for a very short time due to an abnormal
condition.

Protection Types
Different protection techniques are used to address the hazardous zones.
Zone
Ex d
Ex e
Ex ia
Ex ib
Ex o
Ex p
Ex q
Ex m
Ex n or Ex N

Flameproof (Explosion proof) Enclosure

Increased Safety
Intrinsically Safe
Intrinsically Safe
Oil Immersion
Pressurized Apparatus (Purged Apparatus)
Powder Filling (Sand Filling)
Encapsulation
Non incentive or/and normally no sparking circuits

1, 2
1, 2
0, 1, 2
1, 2
2
1, 2
2
1, 2
2

Flameproof (Explosion proof) Enclosure

All electrical circuits are enclosed in a house strong enough to contain any explosion or fire
that may take place on the inside.
Increased Safety
Electrical circuits incorporates special measures to reduce the probability of excessive
temperatures and the occurrence of arcs and sparks in normal service.

Intrinsically Safety
The electrical energy available in circuits and equipment, is limited to a level to low to ignite
the most easily ignitable mixtures in a hazardous area.
Intrinsically safe barriers, as Zener, are installed in the circuit to limit current and voltage in
the hazardous areas to avoid sparks or hot spots under fault conditions.

Hazardous Area Types of Protection

Temperature Codes
A mixture of air and hazardous gases may ignite by coming in contact with a hot surface. An
ignition depends on surface area, temperature and the concentration of the gas.
Certified equipment are tested for maximum temperature ratings by approval agencies.
Equipment for Group II receives a temperature code indicating the maximum surface
temperature.
Temperature Code
T1
T2
T3
T4
T5
T6

F
842
572
392
275
212
185

C
450
300
200
135
100
85

The coding is based on a 104 oF (40 oC) ambient temperature.

The automatic ignition temperature can be found in IEC 79-4.

Critical Temperature Parameters For Dust Explosions

Groups
Electrical equipment are divided into two groups where Group I covers equipment used in
mines and Group II covers all other applications. Group II is subdivided into three subgroups

where the specific hazardous materials within each group can be found in CENELEC EN
50014.
Group I
Group IIA
Group IIB
Group IIC

For application in below ground installations (mines) where methane

(firedamp) and coal dust may be present.
For application in above ground installation where hazards due to propane
may exist.
For application in above ground installations where hazards due to
ethylene may exist.
For application in above ground installations where hazards due to
hydrogen or acetylene may exist.