Classication of Chemicals

Flame & Detonation Arrester Specications

The Protectoseal Company recommends that the National Electric Code (NEC) Article 500, rankings of various chemicals be used, whenever possible, to determine the suitability of a detonation arrester for use with a particular chemical. When no NEC rating of the particular chemical is available, the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) classification (Groups IIA, IIB and IIC) is recommended as a secondary source of information for determining the suitability of an arrester for its intended service. In general, the IEC Group IIA is equivalent to the NEC Group D; the IEC Group IIB is equivalent to the NEC Group C; and the IEC Group IIC includes chemicals in the NEC Groups A and B. In the event of a discrepancy between the NEC and the IEC ratings, Protectoseal recommends that the NEC groups be referenced.

PROTECTOSEAL

Butadiene would qualify as a Group D material. In each of these cases, the chemicals were primarly listed in a higher category (Group B), because of relatively high pressure readings noted in one phase of the standard test procedure conducted by Underwriters Laboratories. These pressures were of concern when categorizing the chemicals because these NEC groupings are also used as standard indicators for the design strength requirements of electrical boxes, apparatus, etc. that must withstand the pressures generated by an ignition within the container. It should be noted that, in each of these cases, the test pressures recorded were significantly lower than those commonly encountered when testing a detonation arrester for its ability to withstand stable and overdriven detonations. On the basis of the information presented in the referenced Bulletins, and on the basis of the "double listing" available in NEC Article 500 for each of these chemicals, Protectoseal recommends that, for purposes of specifying detonation arrester, they (Butadiene and Proplyene Oxide) be treated as Group C materials. As a point of information, the IEC ratings of each of these two chemicals is IIB, which roughly corresponds to the NEC Group C ranking. Carbon Disulphide is specified in NEC Article 500 as representing a special hazard requiring safeguards beyond those required for any of the standard chemical groups include Group B, Hydrogen, and Group A, Acetylene. Protectoseal will not offer bids or honor orders for flame or detonation arresters for use in Carbon Disulphide service.

Explanation for Classifications of Butadiene, Proplyene Oxide and Carbon Disulphide:

The NEC chemical groupings are fairly straightforward except as they relate to a few specific common chemicals (Butadiene and Proplyene Oxide). Underwriters Laboratories performed testing that led to the classification, by Group, of many of the chemicals in NEC Article 500. These test results are summarized in UL Bulletins of Research numbered 58, 58A and 58B. Excerpts from these bulletins, as they relate to the two referenced chemicals, are included. These excerpts state that the two chemicals may be considered to be a member of more than one Group. Bulletin 58 indicates that, strictly on the basis of its flame propagation characteristics, Proplyene Oxide would be classified as a Group C material, while

CHEMICAL
Acetaldehyde Acetic Acid Acetone Acetonitrile Acetyl Chloride Acetylacetone Acetylene Acrolein Acrylaldehyde Acrylonitrile Allyl Alcohol Allyl Chloride Aminoethanol Ammonia

IEC GROUPING
Group IIA Group IIA Group IIA Group IIA Group IIA Group IIA Group IIC Group IIB Group IIB Group IIB

NEC GROUPING
Group C

CONFLICT RESOLUTION
Assume Group C

MESG IEC 79-1

Group D Group D

1.02mm 1.50mm

Group A Group B

Assume Group A Assume Group B

.0.37mm

Group D Group C

Assume Group D

0.87mm

Group IIA Group IIA Group IIA

Group D

Group D

3.17mm

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Classication of Chemicals
Flame & Detonation Arrester Specications
CHEMICAL
Amphetamine Amyl Acetate Amyl Methyl Ketone Anilene Benzene Benzotriflouride Benzyl Chloride Bromobutane Bromoethane Butadiene Butane Butanol Butyl Acetate Butyl Glycolate Butyl Mercaptan Butyl Methyl Ketone Butylamine Butylene Butraldehyde Carbon Disulphide Carbon Monoxide Chlorobenzene Chlorobutane Chloroethane Chloroethanol Chloroethylene Chloromethane Chloroprene Chloropropane Coal Tar Naptha Coke Oven Gas
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IEC GROUPING
Group IIA Group IIA Group IIA Group IIA Group IIA Group IIA Group IIA Group IIA Group IIA Group IIB Group IIA Group IIA Group IIA Group IIB

NEC GROUPING

CONFLICT RESOLUTION

MESG IEC 79-1

Group D

0.99mm

Group D

Group B(C) Group D Group D Group D

Assume Group C

0.79mm 0.98mm 0.94mm 1.02mm 0.88mm

Group C Group IIA Group IIA Group D Group D Group D Group IIC Group IIA Group IIA Group IIA Group IIA Group IIA Group IIA Group IIA Group D Group IIA Group IIA Group IIB None Group C Group D No Quotation Assume Group C 0.34mm 0.94mm

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Classication of Chemicals
Flame & Detonation Arrester Specications
CHEMICAL
Cresol Crotonaldehyde Cumene Cyclobutane Cycloheptane Cyclohexane Cyclohexanol Cyclohexanone Cyclohexene Cyclohexlamine Cyclopentane Cyclopropane Cymene Decahydronaphthanlene Decane Di-isobutylene Di-isoprophylmine Di-n-propylamine Diacetone Alcohol Diamincethane Dibutyl Ether Dichlorobenzene Dichloroethane Dichloroethylene Dicyclopentadiene Diethyl Ether Diathylamine Diethylaminoethanol Dimethyl Ether Dimethylamine Dimethylaniline Group IIB Group IIA Group IIA Group IIB Group IIA Group IIA
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IEC GROUPING
Group IIA Group IIB Group IIA Group IIA Group IIA Group IIA Group IIA Group IIA

NEC GROUPING

CONFLICT RESOLUTION

MESG IEC 79-1

Group C Group D

Group D

0.94mm

0.95mm Group D

Group IIA Group IIA Group IIB Group IIA Group IIA Group IIA Group D Group C Group C Group IIA Group IIA Group IIB Group IIA Group IIA Group IIA Group D Group D Group C Group C Group C Assume Group C 0.87mm 1.80mm 0.86mm 1.02mm Group D Assume Group D

0.84mm Group C Assume Group C

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Classication of Chemicals
Flame & Detonation Arrester Specications
CHEMICAL
Dioxane Dioxolane Dipropylether Epichlorohydrin Epoxypropane Ethane Ethanethiol Ethanol Ethanolamine Ethyl Acetate Ethyl Acetoacetate Ethyl Acrylate Ethyl Benzene Ethyl Chloride Ethyl Formate Ethyl Mercaptan Ethyl Methacrylate Ethyl Methyl Ether Ethyl Methyl Ketone Ethyl Morpholine Ethyl Nitrate Ethyl Nitrite Ethylamine Ethylbenzene Ethylcyclobutane Ethylcyclohexane Ethylcyclopentane Ethylene Ethylene Dichloride Ethylene Oxide Ethylenediamine
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IEC GROUPING
Group IIB Group IIB Group IIA Group IIB Group IIB Group IIA Group IIA Group IIA Group IIA Group IIA Group IIA Group IIB Group IIA

NEC GROUPING
Group C

CONFLICT RESOLUTION

MESG IEC 79-1

0.70mm

Group C

Group D

0.91mm

Group D

0.89mm

Group D

0.99mm

Group D Group D Group D

Assume Group D

0.86mm

Group IIA Group IIA Group IIA Group IIB Group IIA

Group D Group C Assume Group D

Group D Group C

Group IIC Group IIA Group D Group IIA Group IIA Group IIA Group IIA Group IIB Group C Group D Group IIB Group B Group D Assume Group B 0.59mm 0.65mm Group D 0.96mm

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Classication of Chemicals
Flame & Detonation Arrester Specications
CHEMICAL
Ethylenimine Formaldehyde (gas) Furan Gasoline Heptane Heptanol Heptane Hexane Hexanol Hexanone Hexanes Hydroacetic Acid Hydrogen Hydrogen Cyanide Hydrogen Selenide Hydrogen Sulfide Isomyl Acetate Isobutyl Acrylate Isobutyraldehyde Isoprene Isopropenylbenzene Isopropyl Acetate Isopropyl Ether Isopropyl Glycidyl Ether
Isopropyl Nitrate Isopropylamine Kerosene LPG Gas Mesityl Oxide Metaldehyde Methane Group IIA Group IIA Group D 1.14mm
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IEC GROUPING

NEC GROUPING
Group C Group B

CONFLICT RESOLUTION

MESG IEC 79-1

Group IIB Group D Group IIA Group IIA Group D Group IIA Group IIA Group D Group D Group IIB Group IIC Group IIB Group B Group C Group C Group C Group D Group D Group D Group D Group IIA Group D Group D Group C
Group IIB Group D Group IIA Group D Group D

Group D

0.91mm 0.94mm

Group D

0.93mm 0.94mm

0.29mm

0.94mm

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Classication of Chemicals
Flame & Detonation Arrester Specications
CHEMICAL
Methanol Methyl Acetate Methyl Acrylate Methyl Ether Methyl Ethyl Ketone Methyl Formal Methyl Formate Methyl Isobutyl Ketone Methyl Isocyanate Methyl Mercaptan Methyl Methacrylate Methyl Propanol Methylacetylene Methylamine Methylcyclobutane Methylcyclohexane Methylcyclohexanol Methylcyclopentane Methylene Chloride Methylstyrene Monomethyl Hydrazine n-Propyl Ether Naphtha Naptha (Petroleum) Napthalene Nitroethane Nitromethane Nitropropane NN-Dimethylanilene Nonane Nonanol
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IEC GROUPING
Group IIA Group IIA Group IIB

NEC GROUPING
Group D Group D Group D Group C

CONFLICT RESOLUTION

MESG IEC 79-1

0.92mm 0.99mm

Assume Group D

0.85mm

Group IIA

Group D Group C

0.92mm

Group IIA

Group D Group D Group D Group C 0.98mm

Group IIA

Group D Group D Group C

Group IIA Group IIA Group IIA Group IIA Group IIA Group IIA Group IIA

Group D

Group D

Group C Group C Group IIA Group IIA Group IIA Group IIA Group IIA Group C Group C Group C Group IIA Group IIA Group IIA Group D Assume Group C Assume Group C Group D Group D

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Classication of Chemicals
Flame & Detonation Arrester Specications
CHEMICAL
Nonene Octane Octanol Octene Pentane Pentane-2.4-Dione Pentanol Pentanone Pentene Petroleum Naphtha Phenol Propane Propane-Thiol Propanol Propene Propionaldehyde Propyl Acetate Propyl Ether Propyl Methyl Ketone Propyl-Mercaptan Propyl Nitrate Propylamine Propylene Propylene Dichloride Propylene Oxide Propyne Pyridine Styrene Tetrafluoroethylene Tetrahydrofuran Tetrahydrofurfuryl Alcohol Group IIB Group IIA Group IIA Group IIB Group IIB Group IIB
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IEC GROUPING

NEC GROUPING
Group D

CONFLICT RESOLUTION

MESG IEC 79-1

Group IIA Group IIA

Group D

0.94mm

Group D Group IIA Group IIA Group IIA Group D Group D Group D Group IIA Group IIA Group IIA Group IIA Group IIA Group IIA Group C Group IIA Group D Group C Group IIA Group IIA Group B Group IIA Group IIA Group D Group D Group B(C) Assume Group C 0.70mm 0.91mm 1.04mm Group D Group D 0.92mm Group D 0.99mm Group D 0.93mm

Group D Group D

Group C

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Classication of Chemicals
Flame & Detonation Arrester Specications
CHEMICAL
Tetrahydrothiophene Thiophene Toluene Toluidine Triethylamine Trifluorotoluene Trimethylamine Trimethylbenzene Trioxane Turpentine UDMH Unsym. Dimethyl Hydrazine Valeraldehyde Vinyl Acetate Vinyl Chloride Vinylidene Chloride Xylene Group IIA Group IIA

IEC GROUPING
Group IIA Group IIA Group IIA Group IIA Group IIA Group IIA Group IIA Group IIA Group IIB Group IIA

NEC GROUPING

CONFLICT RESOLUTION

MESG IEC 79-1

Group D

Group C

Assume Group C

Group D Group C Group C Group C Group D Group D Group D Group D 0.94mm 0.99mm 3.91mm

PROTECTOSEAL
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