2. Explosion groups
GB3836-2000 ordains that combustible materials are divided into the following classes in accordance with
the degree of the inflammable hierarchy.
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ⅡB Ethylene 0.060mJ easily
Hydrogen,
ⅡC 0.019mJ
acetylene
The United States of America and Canada (NEC500) divide the explosive objects spreading in the air into
three classes firstly. The “CLASS Ⅰ”are gas and vapour. The “CLASS Ⅱ” is dust. The “CLASS Ⅲ” is
fiber. Then divide the gas and vapour into Group:
Representative gases or China/IEC/European countries’ corresponding
Class group
dusts class (GB3836.1/IEC60079-0/EN50014)
A Acetylene ⅡC (Hydrogen, Acetylene)
B Hydrogen ⅡC (Hydrogen, Acetylene)
CLASS Ⅰ
C Ethylene ⅡB (Ethylene)
D Methane ⅡA (Propane)
E Metal dusts Ⅰ(Methane)
CLASS Ⅱ F Coal dusts
G Grain dusts To be determined(Ⅲ)
CLASS Ⅲ Ⅲ No grouping
3. Zone classification
According to EN 60079-10 and EN 1127-1 explosion hazardous areas are divided into zones such as
flammables gases, vapours, mists and combustible dust. The classification is based on the likelihood that a
dangerous explosive atmosphere occurs. The ATEX directive has re-defined the zone division as follows:
Likelihood of an
explosive Likelihood of an
Likelihood of an
atmosphere : explosive
explosive
China occasionally atmosphere: unlikely
atmosphere:
continuously, for or infrequently - for a
China Description occasionally
long periods or short period only
IEC
frequently
European
constant or long occasionally seldom or short term
Union European
term corresponds corresponds to corresponds to < 10
Union
to > 1000 h/year 10...1000 h/year h/year
gases and
Zone zone 0 zone 1 zone 2
vapours
classification
dusts zone 20 zone 21 zone 22
North
America Description Under normal operating conditions, it The flammable gas or
continuously, intermittently or vapor will release and
periodically exist the flammable gas become dangerous
or vapor and the concentrations reach only when the
a dangerous level. container rupture, the
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equipment anomalies
abnormal operate
occasionally.
Zone classification (gases Div.1 Div.2
and dusts)
China National Quality Supervision and Test Centre for Explosion Protected Electrical Products (CQST):
CQST is one of the China famous professional testing and certification authorities and engages in safety
test, examination and evaluation of Ex electrical products. CQST has made deep research and obtained
extensive experience in the field of explosion protection electric safety technique and has a high reputation
in the word.
CQST has signed the cooperation agreements of mutual acceptance of test results separately with more
than ten international wellknown Ex scientific research and test bodies, such as UL (U.S.A.), FM (U.S.A.),
PTB (Germany), NEMKO (Norway), testsafe (Australia), CCVE (Russia) and LCIE (France).These
cooperation have promoted the international exchange of Ex technique and offered convenient services for
sino-foreign Ex product entering into opposing side market.
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code type standards explosion-proof measure application zone
d flameproof GB3836.2 Isolate the ignition source Zone1,Zone2
existing
e increased safety GB3836.3 Try to prevent producing the Zone1,Zone2
ignition source
ia intrinsic safe GB3836.4 Limit the energy of the ignition Zone0-2
source
ib intrinsic safe GB3836.4 Limit the energy of the ignition Zone1,Zone2
source
p Pressurized GB3836.5 Isolate the hazardous substance Zone1,Zone2
and the ignition source
o jelly filled GB3836.6 Isolate the hazardous substance Zone1,Zone2
and the ignition source
q sand filled GB3836.7 Isolate the hazardous substance Zone1,Zone2
and the ignition source
n non-sparking GB3836.8 Try to prevent producing the Zone2
ignition source
m pour enveloping GB3836.9 Try to prevent producing the Zone1,Zone2
ignition source
h hermetically sealed GB3836.10 Try to prevent producing the Zone1,Zone2
ignition source
For automatic control and instrumentation, intrinsic safe, flameproof and increased safety types are used
commonly.
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Intrinsically safe explosion-proof technology is actually a low-power design technology. It is a very good
apparatus for the design of industrial automation instrument. Compared with other explosion-proof type,
using the explosion-proof electrical technology has following characteristics:
1. Intrinsically electrical apparatus have simple structure, small size, light weight.
2. Installation and maintenance can be with power input.
3. High security and reliability. Do not reduce the security and reliability of the electrical apparatus for
outside structural damage.
4. Applicable range is wide range. It is the only explosion-proof technology that can be applied in the
zone 0.
b. Apparatus Category
Intrinsic safety electrical apparatus and associated apparatus can be divided into ia class and ib class
according to the places used or connected and the safety standards.
Code interpretation
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ia Very high level of safety: devices featuring two independent means of protection;
even in the event of rare device disturbances, the device remains functional and
maintains the requisite level of protection. It can be used in the hazardous areas of
zone0, zone1 and zone2.
ib High level of safety: devices featuring one means of protection. Even in the event of
frequently occurring device disturbances or equipment faults which normally have to
be taken into account the device provides the requisite level of safety. It can be used
in the hazardous areas of zone1 and zone2.
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– Serial number (may be omitted if space is restricted)
– Test authority, date and file number
– ”X” after the test certificate number indicates that special conditions must be met (see certificate for
special conditions)
An intrinsically safe apparatus could have the following marking:
Ex ia ⅡC T6
temperature class
explosion group
type of protection
[Ex ia]ⅡC
explosion group
type of protection
Associated Centralized
Intrinsically Control
cable apparatus
Safety System/
(safety
apparatus PLC/
barrier) Operation
Terminal
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④ Maximum internal Equivalent Capacitance (Ci): Total equivalent capacitance inductance appearing by
the intrinsically safety apparatus.
⑤ Maximum internal Equivalent Inductance (Li): Total equivalent internal inductance appearing by the
intrinsically safety apparatus.
Patch cable:Intrinsically cable is a low capacitance and low inductance cable. Compared with other cable
has excellent shielding and anti-interference performance. It suits for explosion hazardous area and having
high explosion-proof security requirement. Its intrinsically performance as follows:
Maximum distribution capacitance that the cable allow: Cc = Ck * L
Maximum distribution inductance that the cable allow: Lc = Lk * L
Ck ——Distributed capacitance per unit length of the cable
Lk ——Distributed inductance per unit length of the cable
L ——The actual length of the cable
The various configuration of the intrinsically explosion-protection system must meet the following
conditions:
1. The explosion-protection mark class of the intrinsically safety apparatus can not higher than the
associated apparatus (safety barrier).
2. Authentication parameters have to satisfy the following inequality between the associated apparatus,
intrinsically safety apparatus and the cable.
Associated Demonstration of intrinsic Intrinsically safe
apparatus safety apparatus apparatus + cable
Uo ≤ Ui
Io ≤ Ii
Po ≤ Pi
Co ≥ Ci + Cc
Lo ≥ Li + Lc
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13. Safety barrier
Some special industrial fields not only need the two-wire transmission for signal isolation and providing
power input, but also need the explosion-protection performance about safety spark-proof and reliably
avoiding the high voltage and signal contacting. Using the current and voltage double limiting loop,
limiting the energy getting into the hazardous area lower than the ration, these can improve the
explosion-protection performance of the intrinsically system, at the same time increase the
anti-interference ability greatly enhanced the reliability greatly of the system. These field products having
specific function are safety barrier.
Safety barrier is used in the design of an intrinsically explosion-proof system. It is installed in a safety area.
Safety barrier is an apparatus with intrinsically current and non-intrinsically. These current limits the
energy get in to the hazardous area by limiting the current and limiting the voltage, then avoid the
hazardous energy enter into the hazardous area. Safety barrier is named associated apparatus, it is an
important component of the intrinsically system.
Because the safety barrier is designed as an interface between the field apparatus and the control room
apparatus, no matter the control room apparatus is in normal or fault, safety barrier both can ensure the
energy send to the field through it is intrinsically safe.
Safety barrier can be devided into zener safety barrier and isolation safety barrier according to
construction.
Ⅰ. Zener safety barrier
The current uses the rapid fuse, current-limiting resistance or voltage-limiting diode to limit the input
energy, thus ensue the energy output to the hazardous area. The principle as follows:
Hazardous Safe
Area Area
Zener safety barrier have simple principle. Its current can achieve easily and the price is cheap. But the
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application reliability is affected greatly for its principle defect and this limits its application range. The
reason as follows:
a. Installation location must have reliable ground system, and the ground must be less than 1Ω,
otherwise it would lose the explosion-protection performance and reduce signal anti-interference
capacity directly, affect the stability of the system.
b. The instrument from hazardous area must is isolation type, or the signal connected to the ground by
the ground terminal of the zener safety barrier can not transmit correctly, and because of signal
grounding, it will reduce signal anti-interference capacity directly, affect the stability of the system.
c. Zener safety barrier has greater impact on the power supply, at the same time it can be damaged
easily for the instability of the power supply.
d. Using zener safety barrier, signal negative pole all need to the intrinsically ground, it will reduce
signal anti-interference capacity directly, affect the stability of the system., the impact on the DCS
system is sharp prominent.
Hazardous Safe
Area Area
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According to the function, the types of safety barrier commonly used are as follows: switch safety
barrier, analog safety barrier, digital safety barrier, resistance thermometry safety barrier, thermocouple
safety barrier, frequency safety barrier, and so on.
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f. Common use of single-core nonsheathed cables of intrinsically and nonsafe circuits in one line is not
permitted.
g. Separate error assessment when using multi-conductor cables and lines.
h. When marking cables by colour, light-blue must be used.
Installation of cables
Electrical cables are the connection between field and interface devices and are important functional
components of an automation system. Therefore it is advisable to observe some frame conditions when
installing cables. Cables must be protected against negative environmental influences.
Chemical resistance, temperature rating, resistance against ultraviolet radiation and applicable operation
standards are just some of the parameters which should be taken into account.
By choosing an appropriate installation method it is possible to prevent damages, e.g. through vehicles.
When connected to field devices, the cable should be routed in a conduit. If connected to vibrating
machines or moving parts, some extra cable should be added as a reserve. The minimum bending radius
must also be observed. Cable manufacturers provide information on cable installation and valuable
installation hints. Data integrity and reliability depend strongly on the cable types and installation methods.
Sensor cables should always be installed separately from the power cables. Electromagnetic interferences
must also be avoided. Cable connections to motors which are controlled via frequency converters should be
protected according to the manufacturer’s safety specifications. If long cables are needed, it is
recommended to use shielded and earthed cables. The line resistance of sensors may not exceed 50 Ω (EN
60947-5-6); the maximum cable length is determined by the cable' cross-section:
R ×S
L=
δ
— R = line resistance [Ω]
— S = cable cross-section [mm2]
— δ = resistivity [Ω×mm2/m]
— L = cable length [m]
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