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North American And International Hazardous Area Standards and Approvals Once apporved, the equipment must be marked

to indicate
the details of the approval.
The North American system for the certiUS (NEC 505) US (NEC 500) cation, installation, and inspection of hazMethod of Protection ardous locations equipment includes the American Temperature (optional except for I.S.) Permitted National Class following elements: Class Permitted Class Standard Method of Installation Codes; e.g. NEC, CEC Protection Group Standard Developing Organizations (SDOs); e.g. UL, CSA, FM Class I, Zone 1, AEx d [ia] IIC T5 Explosionproof with I.S. Outputs, Class I Division 1, Groups A, B, C, D, T5 Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories (NRTLs) Explosion Gas Group Third Party Certiers; e.g. ARL, CSA, ETI, Protected Temperature Class Permitted Division Permitted Zone (T5 & T6 optional) (optiona1 except for Division 2) I.S. Output FM, ITSNA, MET, UL Permitted Gas Group Inspection Authorities; e.g. OSHA, IAEI, USCG CENELEC member countries: The installation codes in North America North American Ex Marking and Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, are the NEC (National Electric Code) for the Area Classication Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, GermaOnce approved, the equipment must USA, and the CEC (Canadian Electric Code) ny, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, for Canada. In both countries these guides be marked to indicate the details of the Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Nethare accepted and used by most authorities approval. erlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, as the nal standard on installaSlovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, tion and use of electrical products. Class I Explosive Gases Switzerland, United Kingdom Gases normally present in explosive amounts Details include equipment construc- Division 1 All countries within the EC also tion, performance and installation Division 2 Gases not normally present in explosive have governing bodies that set requirements, and area classication amounts additional standards for products requirements. With the issuance of Gas Types by Group and wiring methods. Each member the new NEC these are now almost country of the EC has either governGroup A Acetylene identical. ment or third party laboratories that The Standards Developing Orga- Group B Hydrogen test and approve products to IEC nizations (SDOs) work with industry Group C Ethylene and related products and or CENELEC standards. to develop the appropriate overall Propane and alcohol products equipment requirements. Certain Group D ATmospheric EXplosibles SDOs also serve as members of the Class II -_Explosive Dusts (ATEX) technical committees charged with Division 1 Dust normally present in explosive amounts The ATEX directives set the minithe development and maintenance mum standards for both employer Division 2 Dust not normally present in explosive amounts of the North American installation and manufacturer explosive atmoDust Types by Group codes for hazardous locations. spheres. It is the responsibility of the The Nationally Recognized Test- Group E Metal dust Employer to conduct an assessment ing Laboratories (NRTLs) are indeof explosive risk and to take necessary Group F Coal dust pendent third-party certiers who measures to eliminate or reduce the Grain and non-metallic dust assess the conformity of equipment Group G risk. There are two European Direcwith these requirements. The equiptives that have been law since July 2003 that ment tested and approved by these agen- European and Rest of World detail the manufacturers and users obligations cies is then suitable for use under the NEC Hazardous Area Standards and regarding the design and use of apparatus in or CEC installation standards. Approvals hazardous atmospheres. In the United States the inspection authorThe standards used in most countries outity responsible is OSHA (Occupational Health Responsibility Directive Article side of North America are IEC / CENELEC. and Safety Administration). In Canada the Manufacturer 94/9/EC 100a inspection authority is the Standards Coun- The IEC (International Electrotechnical ComEmployer (End User) 1992/92/EC 137 cil of Canada. To conrm compliance to all mission) has set broad standards for equipnational standards both countries require ment and classication of areas. CENELEC an additional indication on products tested (European Committee for Electrotechnical ATEX Directive 94/9/EC Article 100a and approved. As an example CSA approved Standardization) is a rationalizing group that Article 100a describes the manufacturers product to USA standards must add NRTL/C uses IEC standards as a base and harmonizes responsibilities: to the CSA symbol. In Canada UL must add them with all member countries standards. a small c to its label to indicate compliance The CENELEC mark is accepted in all Euro- The requirements of equipment and protective systems intended for use in to all Canadian standards. pean Community (EC) countries.

EN 50014 Series Denition Zone 0

ATEX

ATEX Category Category 1 Category 2 Category 3

Permitted Certication Type EEx ia EEx ib, EEx d, EEx e, EEx p, EEx m, EEx o, EEx q EEx ib, EEx d, EEx e, EEx p, EEx m, EEx o, EEx q, EEx n

Areas in which explosive atmospheres caused by mixtures Category 1 of air and gases, vapors, mists or dusts are present continuously or for long periods of time Areas in which explosive atmospheres caused by mixtures of air and gases, vapors, mists or dusts are likely to occur Areas in which explosive atmospheres caused by mixtures of air or gases, vapors, mists or dusts are likely to occur or only occur infrequently or for short periods of time Category 2 Category 3

Zone 1 Zone 2

Explosive Atmospheres Warning Sign


The employer must mark points of entry to places where explosive atmospheres may occur with distinctive signs: In carrying out the assessment of explosion risk the employer shall draw up an Explosion Protection Document that demonstrates: explosion risks have been determined and assessed measures will be taken to attain the aims of the directive those places that have been classied into zones those places where the minimum requirements will apply that work place and equipment are designed, operated and maintained with due regard for safety The employer may combine existing explosion risk assessments, documents or equivalent reports produced under other community acts. This document must be revised with signicant changes, extensions or conversions.
The information for this article is taken from the Honeywell Analytics Gas Book. Used with permission. For more information call 800-538-0363; or write to: detectgas@ honeywell.com

potentially explosive atmospheres (e.g. Gas Detectors). The requirements of safety and controlling devices intended for use outside of potentially explosive atmospheres but required for the safe functioning of equipment and protective systems (e.g. Controllers). The Classication of Equipment Groups into Categories The Essential Health and Safety Requirements (EHSRs). Relating to the design and construction of the equipment / systems In order to comply with the ATEX directive the equipment must: display a CE mark. have the necessary hazardous area certication. meet a recognized performance standard e.g. EN 61779-1:2000 for ammable gas detectors. The classication of hazardous areas has been re-dened in the ATEX directive.

The requirements of safety and controlling devices intended for use outside of potentially explosive atmospheres but required for the safe functioning of equipment and protective systems (e.g. Controllers). The Classication of Equipment Groups into Categories The Essential Health and Safety Requirements (EHSRs). Relating to the design and construction of the equipment/systems In order to comply with the ATEX directive the equipment must: display a CE mark. have the necessary hazardous area certication. meet a recognized performance standard e.g. EN 61779-1:2000 for ammable gas detectors.

Assessment of Explosion Risks


The employer must conduct a risk assessment including: 1.  Probability of explosive atmosphere Zone Area classication 2.  Probability of ignition source Equipment Categories 3. Nature of ammable materials Gas groups, ignition temperature (T rating), gas, vapor, mists and dusts 4.  Scale of eect of explosion Personnel, plant, environment

ATEX Directive 94/9/EC article 100a


Article 100a describes the manufacturers responsibilities: The requirements of equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres (e.g. Gas Detectors).
CENELEC / IEC

ATEX additional markings


Type of explosive atmosphere G : Gas, mist, vapor D : Dust

EEx d IIC T5(Tamb -40C to +55C)


Apparatus group Type of protection EU Explosion protected (Ex) symbol Complies with: F = EN50014 A = NEC 505 Reference to ambient -20C to +40C unless indicated as above Temperature Class (Group II) Notified body number CE Mark

II 2 G
Gas 1: Zone 0 2: Zone 1 3: Zone 2

Equipment category

Dust Mining 1: Zone 20 M1: energised 2: Zone 21 M2: de-energised 3: Zone 22

Equipment group I : Mining II : other areas (Ex)

EU Explosive atmosphere symbol

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