Hazardous Areas are defined as:

premises, buildings, or parts thereof in which there exists the hazard of fire or explosion due to following:

a)

highly flammable gases, flammable volatile liquid mixtures, or other highly flammable substances are manufactured or used, or stored

b)

combustible dust or flyings are likely to be present in quantities sufficient to produce an explosive or combustible mixture

For an area to be classified as a Hazardous Area there must be the possibility that the conditions for an explosion or fire may exist as the result of some abnormal occurrence.

Premises or locations
Alcohols (production by distillation) Batteries (charging workshops) Acetylene (storage or use of) Acetylene (manufacture of) Use or storage of toxic substances or preparation Acids (use or storage of) Flammable amines, storage Workshops for repair and servicing of motor vehicles Wood or similar combustible materials (workshops where these are worked on) Wood, paper, cardboard or similar combustible materials (deposits of) Candles or other wax objects, etc. (moulding of) Grinding, crushing, etc, of vegetable substances and all organic products Polymer processing Easily flammable solids Charcoal (deposits or warehouses of) Shoes or leather/skin products (manufacture of) Oxidising substances (manufacture, use, storage of) Detergent (manufacture of products

Liquefied fuel gases (filling stations, or distribution of)

Tar, pitch, resins, etc. (mixture or hot processing of) Coal, coke, etc (warehouses and deposits of) Gaseous hydrogen (storage, use of) Flammable liquids (storage and manufactured tank of) Flammable liquids (installations for blending, processing or use of) Flammable liquids (filling or distribution stations) Leather goods (workshops)

Plastics, plastomers or elastomers (manufacture of) Refrigeration or compression (installations) Sugar factories, sugar refineries, malt houses Silos and storage installations for cereals, grain, food products or any organic products releasing flammable dust Textile dyeing and printing

Fabrics, knitted articles, tulles, guipure lace, etc (manufacturing workshops

Varnishes, paints, primers, glues, rendering (application, baking, drying of)

Hazardous Locations are classified according to the nature of the hazard, as follows: (as per NEC definitions) a) Class I locations are those in which flammable gases or vapors are or may be present in the air in quantities sufficient to produce explosive gas atmospheres; b) Class II locations are those which are hazardous because of the presence of combustible or electrically conductive combustible dusts; c) Class III locations are those which are hazardous because of the presence of easily ignitable fibers or flyings, but in which such fibers or flyings are not likely to be in suspension in air in quantities sufficient to produce ignitable mixtures.

For an area to be classified as a Hazardous Location there must be the possibility that the conditions for an explosion or fire may exist as the result of some abnormal occurrence.

All three elements must be present for an explosion to occur.

For an explosion to take place, all three sides of the triangle,satisfying the following conditions, must be present:

There must be a supply of oxygen present. In most situations this is applicable as a result of the oxygen content in the air (21%).
There must be sufficient fuel present in the air to form an ignitable mixture. The fuel may be in the form of a gas, vapor, mist or dust. There must be a source of ignition with sufficient energy to ignite the fuelair mixture. For electrical equipment this may be from an arcing or sparking device or from a hot surface. There may be sources of ignition other than electrical equipment, such as hot exhaust surfaces from internal combustion engines. These devices do not fall within the scope of the North American electrical codes and are normally covered by other codes and standards such as Occupational Health and Safety.

How to prevent explosions ?

The basic requirement to classify a Hazardous Location is to ensure that all three sides of the triangle do not exist simultaneously. If any one side of the triangle is not present, an explosion cannot occur. Protection against explosions will therefore require control or elimination of one or more sides of the triangle.

1.0 THE OXYGEN SIDE In most situations there is sufficient oxygen present in the air (21%) to meet the conditions for an explosion. In some situations however, oxygen may be excluded by blanketing an enclosed area with another gas to ensure there will not be sufficient oxygen present. The blanket gas is normally an inert gas, such as nitrogen, or in some cases it may even be a flammable gas such as methane.

2.0 THE FUEL SIDE

If avoiding the use of flammable substances is not possible, the fuel side of the triangle is removed by enclosing the gas or dust in piping, or vessels in the case of gas, vapors or flammable liquids, or in enclosed ducts in the case of dust.

3.0 THE IGNITION SIDE The electrical equipment installed in Hazardous Locations forms the ignition side of the triangle. The various designs used for electrical equipment ensure there will not be a simultaneous occurrence of all three sides of the triangle. The specific design of an electrical device for use in a Hazardous Location will depend on the amount of time it will be exposed to flammable concentrations of flammable material. In other words, the design must be suitable for the classification of the area in which it is installed. .

The most important characteristics of flammable substances in regard to ignition are: Upper Flammable Limit Lower Flammable Limit Flash Point of the flammable material Auto-Ignition Temperature Vapor Density 1.0 UPPER EXPLOSIVE LIMIT (UEL)is the highest percentage by volume of gas or vapor in a gas-air mixture that will form an ignitable concentration. Above that concentration there is too much gas or vapor in the mixture and the gas-air mixture is too rich to ignite. 2.0 LOWER EXPLOSIVE LIMIT (LEL)is the lowest percentage by volume of gas (or vapor) in a gas-air mixture that will form an ignitable concentration. Below that concentration there is insufficient gas or vapor in the mixture and the gas-air mixture is too lean to be ignited.

The mixture of gas and air must be between the Upper and Lower Flammable Limits for a fire or explosion to occur.

3.0 FLASH POINT OF THE FLAMMABLE MATERIALS

Flash point is the minimum temperature of a liquid at which sufficient vapor is given off to form an ignitable mixture with air, near the surface of a liquid. Liquids with a flash point below Flammable limits are normally given at 25C; an increase in temperature widens the flammable limits. As a general rule, 12C below flash point results in a flammable vapor concentration of 50% of the lower flammable limit Class I Group C D D D IIB IIA IIA IIA Substance Acetaldehyde Acetic Acid Acetic Anhydride Acetone Flash Point F -38 103 120 -4 C -39 39 49 -20

4.0 AUTO-IGNITION TEMPERATURE The ignition temperature of a gas, sometimes referred to as auto-ignition temperature, is the lowest surface temperature which will ignite the flammable atmosphere (independent of any externally heated element). This becomes important when determining the temperature rating, or T-rating, of an enclosure or component. Published values of ignition temperature are determined by injecting a gas sample into a heated flask to determine the minimum temperature at which ignition takes place. Class I Group C D D D D IIB IIA IIA IIA IIA Substance Acetaldehyde Acetic Acid Acetic Anhydride Acetone Acetone Cyanohydrin Auto-Ignition Temp. F 347 867 600 869 1270 C 75 464 316 465 688

When selecting hazardous area electrical apparatus, ensure that the gas grouping is appropriate to the area classification and that the temperature classification of the equipment is not higher than the auto ignition temperature of the surrounding gas or vapor

VAPOR DENSITY
The vapor density of a gas sometimes referred to as relative vapor density, is the weight of a volume of a vapor or gas with no air present compared to the weight of an equal volume of dry air at the same normal atmospheric temperature and pressure. Vapor densities greater than 1.0 indicate the vapor or gas is heavier than air and will tend to settle towards the ground. Vapor densities less than 1.0 indicate the vapor or gas is lighter than air and will tend to rise.

Class I Group C IIB Substance Acetaldehyde

Vapor Density (Air Equals 1.0) 1.5

D
D D

IIA
IIA IIA

Acetic Acid
Acetic Anhydride Acetone

2.1
3.5 2.0

The gases are divided into groups with similar characteristics based on two main factors: The requirements for constructing an explosion proof or flameproof enclosure to contain an explosion of the gas or vapor, and The minimum current (amperage) required to ignite the gas or vapor. This is the basis for gas grouping relative to intrinsically safe circuits. The North American Division system groups gases into four Groups; A, B, C and D, where A is the most critical group. The IEC system groups the gases into only three Groups; A, B and C, with C as the most critical group.

Explosion proof or flameproof enclosures are constructed to withstand an internal gas explosion without damage to the enclosure and to cool the hot gases produced by the explosion as they exit the enclosure along the flame paths. The gases in the most critical gas groups (i.e. Groups A, B or IIC) require longer flame paths to cool the gas and sometimes thicker walls to contain the increased pressure of the internal explosion. The main factor in grouping gases for the design of explosion proof enclosures is the Maximum Experimental Safe Gap (MESG). MESG for a given gas is the maximum gap or opening (expressed in mm), for a 25 mm-wide flame path, which does not propagate an explosion of that gas.

Minimum Ignition Current (MIC) is determined in a laboratory and provides comparative values for the purposes of grouping only. Gases in the higher gas groups will ignite with lower currents, and as a result, intrinsically safe circuits for these groups will be restricted to lower currents than in the lower groups. For the IEC, gases and vapors are subdivided according to the ratio of their minimum igniting currents (MIC) to that of laboratory methane.

NORTH AMERICAN Vs IEC PRACTICES

NORTH AMERICAN VS IEC PRACTICES The North American Division system groups gases into four groups while the IEC system groups the gases into only three groups. Table 2.4.1 shows a comparison of the two systems, a typical gas for each group and the MESG and MIC for each of the gases.

Table 2.4.1 Comparison of North American and IEC Gas Groupings

MESG Typical Gas Acetylene Hydrogen Ethylene Propane NA (mm) IEC 0.25 <0.5 0.28 <0.5 0.65 0.5-0.9 0.97 >0.9 MIC (mm) IEC* 60 >0.8 75 >0.8 108 0.45-0.8 146 <0.45 Grouping NA A B C D IEC IIC IIC IIB IIA

* For the IEC gases and vapors are subdivided according to the ratio of their minimum igniting currents (MIC) to that of laboratory methane

For the purpose of flameproof enclosures and intrinsic safety, gases and vapors have been classified according to the groups or subgroups of apparatus required for use in the particular gas or vapor atmosphere. The groups of the apparatus are: GROUP I : FOR MINING APPLICATIONS GROUP II : APPLICATION IN OTHER INDUSTRIES For group II apparatus is subdivided according to the requirements appropriate to the nature of the flammable, atmosphere for which the apparatus is intended.

These sub groups with a representative gas and the design parameters are as follows:

APPARATUS SUB GROUP II A II B II C

REPRESENTATIVE GAS PROPANE ETHYLENE HYDROGEN

Various gases & vapours, for which a particular group of enclosure is suitable are listed in IS : 9570-1980

The selection of electrical equipment for use in hazardous areas must ensure that the maximum surface temperature of any part of the apparatus exposed to the potentially explosive atmosphere, does not exceed the auto ignition temperature (i.e., the temperature at which the substance when heated will ignite spontaneously). Temperature classifications according to the North American and IEC 79-0 standards are detailed in Table A. The reference ambient temperature of 40C will be assumed unless otherwise stated on the apparatus labeling . The T-Classification allocated to Certified Electrical Apparatus is based on normal temperature at the most difficult operating conditions. For example, the most onerous condition for an increased safety, Ex-e, terminal box would be an enclosure fitted with the maximum permitted number of terminals with every terminal carrying its maximum rated current and maximum cable lengths connected to each terminal .

Table A T-numbers for North America and IEC Maximum Temperature Classification T1 T2 T2A T2B T2C T3 T3A T3B T3C T4 T4A T5 T6

Surface Temperature North America IEC 450C 450C 300C 300C 280C 260C 230C 200C 200C 180C 165C 160C 135C 135C 20C 100C 100C 85C 85C

FOLLOWING ARE MAIN STANDARDS IN AREA CLASSIFICATION 1.0 IEC 2.0 NEC THE AREA CLASSIFICATION IN NEC IS BASED ON DIVISION SYSTEM & IN IEC THE SAME IS IN ZONE SYSTEM

CLASS I

DIVISION DESCRIPTION SYSTEM

DIVISION 1
Hazardous under normal operation

ZONE SYSTEM
ZONE 0 ZONE 1

COMMENTS
Division 1 is split into Zone 0 and 1. Zone 0 is a small % of locations usually confined to inside vented tanks. Zone 2 and Division 2 are essentially the same

GASES & VAPORS DIVISION 2

Not normally Hazardous

ZONE 2

CLASSIFIED AREA

TIME THAT HAZ. GASES PRESENT IN INGNITABLE CONCENTRATIONS

Continuously Normally Presently

ESTIMATED % OF DIVISION AREAS IN NORTH AMERICA

<5%

ESTIMATED % OF DIVISION AREAS IN EUROPE

<2% > 60 %

Zone 0 Zone 1 Zone 2

Div. 1 Occasionally in normal opeartions Div. 2 Not normally present

> 95 %

< 40 %

DEFINITION OF DIVISIONS:
North American Hazardous Locations are divided into Class and Divisions: Class I, Division 1 : A Class I, Division 1 location is one where an explosive atmosphere is presumed to be present in normal operation either all or part of the time. These are typically manufacturing areas such as a pharmaceutical plant where volatile gases escape from vessels during fermentation. In theory, Division 1 locations encompass both Zones 0 and 1 as designated in IEC Standards. Class I, Division 2 : A Class I, Division 2 location is one where volatile flammable liquids or flammable gases are handled, processed or used, but which are normally enclosed in containers from which they can only escape in the case of accidental rupturing or abnormal operation of equipment. This classification approximates Zone 2 in IEC Standards

DEFINITION OF ZONES: The Zones are divided in three types based upon frequency of occurrence and duration of an explosive gas atmosphere as follows: ZONE 0: Zone 0, locations in which explosive gas atmospheres are present continuously or are present for long periods; Zone 0 locations are those where there is a flammable mixture exists typically more than 1,000 hours per year. Zone 0 locations typically do not exist outside of enclosed spaces except for the area immediately around vents which are venting from a Zone 0 location.

ZONE 1 Zone 1, comprising locations in which: Explosive gas atmospheres are likely to occur in normal operation; or Zone 1 locations are those where there is a flammable mixture more than 10 hours per year and less than 1,000 hours per year. Zone 1 locations normally occur around vents or in enclosed areas where there are intermittent or continuously open processes

The areas where Explosive gas atmospheres may exist frequently because of repair or maintenance operations or because of leakage;
The area where location is adjacent to a class I, Zone 0 location, from which explosive gas atmospheres could be communicated .

ZONE 2
Zone 2, comprising Class I locations in which, Explosive gas atmospheres are not likely to occur in normal operation and, if they do occur, they will exist for a short time only; or

Explosive gas atmospheres will not occur in the air except as the result of an abnormal situation such as a failed pump packing, flange leak, etc. Also when an abnormal situation does occur it will be corrected within a short time .
Zone 2 locations are those where explosive gas atmospheres will exist for less than 10 hours per year

ZONE CLASSIFICATION SUMMARY

The primary activity for Area Classification is to list the process equipment in the area under consideration and identify all potential sources of flammable material. An estimate must be made of the duration and frequency of each release in order to classify the emission as Continuous, Primary or Secondary and the rate of potentially explosive atmosphere into the surrounding area. Continuous Grade (1000 hours/year) leads to a Zone 0. Primary Grade (100 hours/year) leads to a Zone 1. Secondary Grade (10 hour/year in total) leads to a Zone 2.

EXAMPLES OF HAZARDOUS AREA ZONE CLASSIFICATION

ZONE 0: Areas within process equipment developing flammable gas or vapors. Areas within enclosed pressure vessels or storage tanks. Areas around vent pipes which discharge continually or for long periods. Areas over or near the surface of flammable materials ZONE 1 Areas above roofs outside storage tanks. Areas above floating storage tanks. Areas within a specified radius around the outlet pipes and safety valves. Rooms without ventilation openings from a Zone 1 area. Areas around flexible pipelines and hoses. Areas around sample taking points. Areas around seals of pumps, compressors and similar primary sources.

Typical Zone designation.

Zone 0 is inside the vented tank and near the vent. Zone 1 is a perimeter around the vent. Zone 2 is the area outside the tank.

EXAMPLES OF HAZARDOUS AREA ZONE CLASSIFICATION

ZONE 2 Areas around flanges and connecting valves. Areas outside Zone 1 around outlet pipes and safety valves. Areas around vent openings from Zone 2.

See file hazardous area examples.doc

Method of Protection Flameproof

Symbol

Protection Principle

Zone

Standards CENELEC IEC EN 50 018 60079-1

Withstand and contain the explosion & prevent transmission of explosion to surrounding external atmosphere. No arcs, sparks, or hot surfaces.

Increased Safety

EN 50 019

60079-7

Intrinsic Safety

ia ib p

Removes ignition from explosion triangle through prevention of high fault current & voltage. Removes fuel from explosion triangle by passing protective gas through enclosure.

0 1 1

EN 50 020 EN 50 020 EN 50 016

60079-11 60079-11 60079-2

Pressurization

Non-Sparking

No arcs, sparks, or hot surfaces.

EN 50 021

60079-15

Powder Filled

Electrical components are covered with a filling medium, preventing presence of explosive gas-air mixtures.

EN 50 017

60079-5

Oil Immersion

Electrical parts are immersed in oil, preventing exposure of arc or spark to explosive atmosphere.

EN 50 015

60079-6

Encapsulation ----A Special

Encapsulation

Component parts which could ignite an explosive atmosphere are enclosed in resin compound

EN 50 028

Special protective techniques not covered by standards

1 2

----- Protection National

Ex-d is a type of Ex Protection in which the parts that can ignite an explosive gas air mixture are placed in an enclosure which can withstand the pressure developed during an internal explosion, and which prevents transmission of the explosion to the surrounding external atmosphere. (IS : 2148-1981)

Flameproof enclosures contain the explosion and allow gases to cool as they escape across the joints.

Flameproof protection is often used for motors and switchgear. Since very little heat is generated in switchgear, the surface temperature of the enclosure is only slightly higher than the surrounding atmosphere. In most cases the switchgear satisfies the temperature classes T5 and T6. Motors dissipate more heat. In order not to exceed the permissible limiting temperature, it may be necessary to lower the rated output of a flameproof motor as compared to a standard motor. Examples of components requiring flameproof protection:

Motors with slip rings and commutators Three-phased squirrel cage motors Switchgear with opening and closing contacts such as motor protection switches, circuit breakers and air break contactors Fuses Transformers Lighting fixtures Communication equipment measuring instruments

The definition of Type e Protection is where increased measures are taken to prevent the possibility of excessive heat, arcs, or sparks occurring on internal or external parts of the apparatus in normal operation.

The increased safety concept can be used for electrical equipment such as terminal boxes, lighting, transformers, instruments, and motors.
Ex-e prevents the possibility of excessive heat, arcs or sparks from occurring on internal or external parts of the apparatus in normal operation. The increased safety concept is only suitable for non-sparking apparatus and is commonly used in Zone 2 designated hazardous areas. (IS : 6381 1972)

Whereas the other protective techniques use mechanical means to prevent ignition from electrical faults, intrinsic safety, Ex-ia is an electrical protective measure. This protective technique removes ignition from the explosion triangle. Intrinsic Safety, used in both Zones 0 & 1 and Division 1, prevents high fault currents and voltage from occurring in control circuits.

Intrinsic Safety is normally applied to sensing or control circuits which are 24 VDC/AC or less..

EX-ia LIMITS THE ENERGY

Voltage and current limitations are determined by ignition curves, as seen in Fig. 4. A circuit with a combination of 30 V and 150 mA would fall on the ignition level of some gases. This combination of voltage and current could create a spark with enough energy to ignite the mixture of gases and oxygen. Intrinsically safe applications always stay below these curves.

Ex-ia prevents excess voltage and current from creating sparks with enough energy to ignite gases.

(IS : 5780- 1980)

Pressurization, which is a similar to purging, removes fuel from the explosion triangle by passing a quantity of protective gas through the enclosure. (IS : 7389 (PART 1) 1976) This ensures that any potentially explosive mixture that may be present inside the system is expelled, and the mixture reduced to a concentration well below the lower flammable limit. It guards against the ingress of the external atmosphere into an enclosure or room by maintaining a positive pressure above that of the external atmosphere. Normally air is the protective gas used provided that the oxygen content is not more than 21%. Alternatively, an inert gas such as nitrogen may be used.

Ex-p pressurization by continuous dilution of air removes fuel from the enclosure. Pressurization is used to overcome installation problems in hazardous areas where other explosive protected techniques would be difficult or too expensive

Type n apparatus is standard industrial equipment which in normal operation will not produce arcs, sparks or surface temperatures high enough to cause ignition. The apparatus has an IP rating called Ingress Protection which is similar to NEMA enclosure ratings such as NEMA 4.

Ex-n prevents or limits electrical apparatus sparking in Zone 2.

( IS : 8289 1976)

This protection method is typically only used for small transformers, capacitors and on electrical components that have no moving parts. The protection consists of a sealed enclosure (normally with a vent) containing quartz sand (the origin of the q description), powder or glass beads. The enclosed electrical components are covered and surrounded by the filling medium. This ensures that under normal use no arc can be created which is able to ignite the explosive mixture inside the enclosure and the surrounding hazardous area. (IS : 7224-1975)

The Oil Immersion Ex-o concept has historically been used for heavy duty switchgear, motor starters and transformers. The standard for design and testing of Ex-o type electrical apparatus is IEC 60079-6. (IS : 7693-1975)

Ex-o immerses electrical apparatus in oil to prevent arcs or sparks from igniting volatile gases.

The basic principle is to immerse the electrical parts in mineral oil, which will prevent any exposure of the arcing or sparking to the an explosive atmosphere. It will also quench arcs and limit the temperature rise on electrical parts.
Standards for oil immersion protection, Ex-o, require that all parts capable of producing arcs or sparks must be immersed in the oil at a depth not be than 25 mm. A method to check the oil level must be provided, e.g., by a sight glass or by some other reliable method. Some mineral oils used in switchgear apparatus produce acetylene and hydrogen gas when arcing occurs. Because of the risk of fire or an explosion with oil immersion, this application for apparatus in hazardous areas has been generally restricted. In the Petro-Chemical industries there are very few examples of Ex-o certified products installed in hazardous areas even though the standards permit its use in Zones 1 and 2.

Encapsulation is a type of protection whereby parts that are capable of igniting an explosive atmosphere, by either sparking or heating, are enclosed in a compound is such a way that the explosive atmosphere cannot be ignited under operating or installation conditions. The selected compound may be any thermosetting, thermoplastic, epoxy, resin (cold curing) or elastomeric material with or without fillers and/or additives, in their solid state.

Ex-m encloses all ignitable component parts in resin, preventing contact with explosive gases

Enclosures are designed to protect components mounted inside from the outside environment. When these enclosures contain electrical equipment, the degree of protection is critical to shield the components from moisture and dusts that could contaminate and damage the equipment.
The North American Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) have designated numbers to describe the protection that the enclosure will render. Likewise the IEC Standard IEC 60529 provides a means of classifying the degree of protection from touch, dust, water and impact. The IEC designation of the ratings is known as Ingress Protection or IP.

The IP is followed by 2 numbers with the first number providing the degree of protection against solid objects and dust, and the second number the degree of protection against water

FIRST NUMERAL Protecting against solid bodies 0 - No Protection 1 - Objects equal to or greater than 50 mm 2 - Objects equal to or greater than 12.5 mm 3 - Objects equal to or greater than 2.5 mm 4 - Objects equal to or greater than 1.0 mm 5 - Dust Protected 6 - Dust-tight

SECOND NUMERAL - Protecting against liquid 0 - No Protection 1 - Vertically Dripping Water 2 - 75 to 105-Angled Dripping Water 3 - Spraying Water 4 - Splashing Water 5 - Water Jets 6 - Heavy Seas, Powerful Water Jets 7 - Effects of Immersion 8 - Indefinite Immersion

A commonly asked question is what IP number is equivalent to NEMA. While there may be differences in the intricacies of the testing program such as nozzle size and water velocity, following Table provides conversion of the NEMA type numbers to IP ratings. NEMA Type Number 1 2 3 3R 3S 4 and 4X 5 6 and 6P 12 and 12K 13 vs. IP Ratings IP Designation IP10 IP11 IP54 IP14 IP54 IP56 IP52 IP67 IP52 IP54

ZONES & EQUIPMENTS

EQUIPMENT 1 MOTORS ZONE 0 ZONE 1 ZONE 2 No motor shall be used a) Motors with type of a) Motors suitabe for ZONE 1 in this area protection 'd' a) Motors with type of b) Motors with type of protection 'n' & 'e' protection 'p' However all normally sparking parts such as slip-rings and brushes shall be provided with type of protection 'd' or 'p' Motors provided with a combination of the above forms of protection, e.g , slip ring motors in which the main enclosures and windings are of type 'e' but the normaly sparking parts of type 'd' protection a) All power and No Transformer or distribution transformer Transformers and capacitors suitable for capacitor shall be used and capacitors with type Zone 1 areas in this area 'd' protection Transformers and capacitors that are dry b) For control and type or containing liquids that need not instrumentation purpose, have any special enclosure provided and type of protection 'i' the following requirements are satisfied: a) Cable boxes shall be suitable for specified level of current and fault clearing time.

Transformers & Capacitors

ZONES & EQUIPMENTS

EQUIPMENT ZONE 0 ZONE 1 ZONE 2 b) Only off-circuit manually operated tap changers shall be allowed with provision for locking the opearting handle in position. c) Auxiliary devices shall be intrinsically safe or if they have sparking contacts, these shall are 1) type 'd' or hermatically sealed 2) under adequate head of oil 3) of enclosed break type Or alternatively , auxiliary devices may be deleted or installed in a safe zone rendered safe by pressurisation. d) Any other sparking accessories or swutch shall comply with the requirements for Zone 1 area Where oil-filled transformers are used, necessary precaustions against spread of fire shall be complied with (IS 1646 -1961) All lighting fittings shall be type 'd'. If necessary a suitable guard shall be provided by means of No lighting fittings shall cable in screwed steel a) Lighting fittings for Zone 1 be used. conduits. Provision against internal displacement necessary. b) Lighting fittings with type of protection 'e' or 'n' All switches, circuitAll equipments where arcing may occur No Switchgear & breakers, fuses and under normal condition shall be type 'd' Controlgear shall be other equipments, & unless the interruption of currents ocuurs in used. When not enclosure together with a hermatically sealed chamber, and the practicable use type 'i' the enclosed apparatus equipment is provided with a general protection. shall be type 'd' purpose. protection.

Lighting fittings

Switchgear Controlgear

Example of New ATEX markings

NEW ATEX MARKING REQUIREMENTS Each piece of equipment must be marked with the following minimum data: Manufacturers name and address CE marking Series and model number Year of construction The letter G for group II for explosive areas containing gases The letter D for areas where an explosive atmosphere can occur from dusts. The Ex symbol showing the equipment is explosion protected. Other details which are required for safety of operation.

ATEX CONCEPT CATEGORIES

In the ATEX Directive (94/9/EC) categories distinguish between safety of equipment and locations of use. Category 1 Zone 0 Category 2 Zone 1 Category 3 Zone 2