Marking of IECEx Equipment for Use in Potentially Explosive Atmospheres

Subdivisions of gases and vapours Zone classification and equipment protection levels (EPL)
Gases and vapours Assignment Temperature class Maximum Permissible Flammable Temporary behaviour Classification Permissible EPL
of gases and vapours surface temperature temperature classes materials of explosive atmosphere of hazardous areas as defined in IEC 60079-O
accordance to the of equipment of equipment
ignition temperature
gases is present continuously or Zone 0 Ga
ammonia, town gas, hydrogen > 450 °C T1 450 °C T1 to T6 vapours for long periods or frequently
methane, acrylnitril
ethane, propane
arises in normal operation occasionally Zone 1 Gb or Ga
ethyl alcohol, ethylene, ethine > 300 °C ... < 450 °C T2 300 °C T2 to T6
cyclohexane, ethylene oxide (acetylene)
n-butane
is not likely toarise in normal operation, or if it does, Zone 2 Gc or Gb or Ga
gasoline, ethylene glycol > 200 °C ... < 300 °C T3 200 °C T3 to T6 will persist for a short time only
n-hexane hydrogen
sulphide dusts is present in the form of a cloud continuously, Zone 20 Da
or for long periods or frequently
acetaldehyde ethyl-ether > 135 °C ... < 200 °C T4 135 °C T4 to T6

> 100 °C ... < 135 °C T5 100 °C T5 to T6 occasionally develops into a cloud during Zone 21 Db or Da
normal operation
sulphide of carbon > 085 °C ... < 100 °C T6 85 °C T6
is not likely to develop into a cloud during normal Zone 22 Dc or Db or Da
operation, or if it does, for a short time only

methane operation where there is a risk of explosion - Ma

Explosion groups
carbon dust
IIA IIB IIC
disconnection where there is a risk of explosion - Mb or Ma
Permissible equipment groups

IIA, IIB, IIC IIB, IIC IIC

Gas Ex db eb IIB T4 Gb IECEx ExCB 11.1234 X 1)

Dust Ex tb IIIB T120 °C Db IECEx ExCB 11.1234 X 1)

Types of protection Use of equipment

Applications Flammable materials Protection principle Type of protection Symbols Marking in accordance with the equipment protection level Norm Marking Conditions
a = very high level of protection b = high level of protection c = enhanced level of protection without equipment can be used without restriction
all equipments gases, vapours and dusts - general requirements - - - IEC 60079-0 X special conditions of use

control stations, motors, fuses, gases and vapours (G) propagation of an explosion flameproof enclosure - Ex d Ex db* - IEC 60079-1 U components with partial certificate,
switchgear, power electronics inside to the outside is excluded conformity is certified when it is installed
into a complete equipment

junction and connection boxes, gases and vapours (G) avoidance of arcs, sparks and increased safety - Ex e Ex eb* Ex ec IEC 60079-7
enclosures, motors, lights, excessive temperature
terminals

Ignition temperature of dust

junction and connection boxes, dusts (D) explosive atmosphere protection by enclosure Ex ta Ex tb Ex tc IEC 60079-31
enclosures, motors, lights, switch keeped at distance permissible temperature of the layer Tadm. C = T 5 mm C - 75 K
and control cabinets, plugs from the ignition source permissible temperature of the cloud Tadm. nuage = 2/3 Tnuage
max. permissible surface Tadm. C > Tadm. < Tadm. nuage
measurement and gases and vapours (G) limitation of energy of intrinsic safety Ex ia Ex ib Ex ic IEC 60079-11 temperature of the equipment
control technology, dusts (D) arcs and temperature IEC 60079-25**
automation technology, IEC 60079-27***
sensors, actuators

switch and control stations, gases and vapours (G) explosive atmosphere pressurization - Ex px Ex pxb* Ex pz Ex pzc* IEC 60079-2
motors, analyzers, computers dusts (D) keeped at distance Ex py Ex pyb*
from the ignition source Groups of dust
Dusts Divisions Permissible
coils of motors or relays, gases and vapours (G) explosive atmosphere encapsulation Ex ma Ex mb Ex mc IEC 60079-18 equipment group
solenoid valves, dusts (D) keeped at distance
connection systems from the ignition source combustible flyings IIIA IIIA, IIIB, IIIC
non-conductive dust IIIB IIIB, IIIC

transformers, relays, gases and vapours (G) explosive atmosphere oil immersion - Ex o Ex ob* - IEC 60079-6 conductive dust IIIC IIIC
control stations, keeped at distance
magnetic contactors from the ignition source

capacitors, transformers, relays gases and vapours (G) propagation powder filling - Ex q Ex qb* - IEC 60079-5
of an explosion
inside to the outside
is excluded

all applications gases and vapours (G) all protection principles “n“ type of protection - - Ex nA IEC 60079-15
for zone 2 for zone 2 Ex nC
Ex nR

1) Approved IECEx Certification Bodies in different countries (ExCB)

* Alternative Ex protection type

** Intrinsically safe systems Application in hazardous area
*** FISCO intrinsically safe field bus systems
Zone 0, Zone 20 Zone 1, Zone 21 Zone 2, Zone 22

BARTEC GmbH Max-Eyth-Str. 16 97980 Bad Mergentheim Germany Phone: +49 7931 597 0 info@bartec.de www.bartec.de