Hazardous Areas Classification - Europe

http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/hazardous-areas-classification-d_395...

Resources, Tools and Basic Information for Engineering and Design of Technical Applications!
+2 Share this on Google+
Custom Search

Tweet

Recommend

18

Hazardous Areas Classification - Europe

European hazardous areas classifications in zones, protection types, temperature codes and codes
Hazardous areas outside North America are classified by gas groups and zones. Zones are used to define the probability of the presence of flammable materials. Groups classify the exact flammable nature of the material. Protection Types are used to denote the level of safety for the device. Equipment approved receives a temperature code indicating the 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.

1 of 3

9/18/2013 11:32 AM

Hazardous Areas Classification - Europe

http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/hazardous-areas-classification-d_395...

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
o

842 572 392 275 212 185

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.

Search the Engineering ToolBox

Custom Search

Related Topics
Miscellaneous - Miscellaneous engineering related topics like Beaufort Wind Scale, CE-marking, drawing standards and more Process Control - Instrumentation and process control systems - engineering and documentation Risk, Reliability and Safety - Risk, Reliability and Safety in Process Control Systems

Related Documents
Classification of Gases - Oxidizers, Inert and Flammable gases Hazardous Areas Classification - North America - North American hazardous locations classification in classes, divisions and groups Hazardous Areas Protection Techniques - Instrinsically safe systems, purged and pressurized systems, explosion-proof equipment, nonicendive circuits and components, oil immersed equipment, hermetically sealed equipment, dust-ignitionproof equipment North American Hazardous Area Protection - Dust-ignition proof, explosion proof, instrinsically safe and nonincendive protection of hazardous areas Safety Signals - recommended Colors - American National Standards Institutes schedule of safety colors marking physical hazards

Engineering ToolBox - SketchUp Edition - Online 3D modeling!

Engineering ToolBox - SketchUp Edition - enabled for use with the amazing, fun and free Google SketchUp

Translate the ToolBox

Arabic - Chinese (Simplified) - Chinese (Traditional) - Dutch - French - German - Italian - Japanese - Korean - Portuguese - Russian - Spanish - - Select Your own language . .

About the ToolBox

We appreciate any comments and tips on how to make The Engineering ToolBox a better information source. Please contact us by email editor.engineeringtoolbox@gmail.com if You find any faults, inaccuracies, or otherwise unacceptable information.

2 of 3

9/18/2013 11:32 AM

Hazardous Areas Classification - Europe

http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/hazardous-areas-classification-d_395...

The content in The Engineering ToolBox is copyrighted but can be used with NO WARRANTY or LIABILITY. Important information should always be double checked with alternative sources. All applicable national and local regulations and practices concerning this aspects must be strictly followed and adhered to.

3 of 3

9/18/2013 11:32 AM