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CLASS I
CEC/NEC (North American) Area Classifications
Flammable gases, vapors or liquids

CLASS I (Gas and Vapors) Hazardous Substances CHART (PDF)

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 or ignitable mixtures. (Gases refers to materials that are in
a gaseous state under normal atmospheric conditions. Examples of this would be hydrogen or
methane. Vapors refers to the gases over a material that is a liquid under normal atmospheric
conditions but emits gases within the flammable range under these atmospheric conditions.)
Division 1
locations are those where the volatile flammable gases or vapors exists under normal conditions, or
where volatile flammable gases or vapors may exist frequently because of repair or maintenance
operations or leakage, or where breakdown or faulty operation of electrical equipment or processes
might release ignitable concentrations of flammable gases or vapors, and might also cause
simultaneous failure of electrical equipment in such a way as to directly cause the electrical
equipment to become the source of ignition. An example of this might be an area where a flammable
liquid is stored under cryogenic conditions, and a leak directly into the electrical equipment could
cause a failure of the electrical equipment at the same time the vapors of the evaporating liquid are
within the flammable range.)
Division 2

locations are those locations where ignitable concentrations of flammable gases or vapors are not
likely to exist under normal conditions, or in locations that are adjacent to Class I, Division 1

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likely to exist under normal conditions, or in locations that are adjacent to Class I, Division 1
locations where there are no barriers or partition to separate the Division 1 space from a nonhazardous location or where ventilation failure extend the area where flammables exist under normal
conditions.
Groups
The gases and vapors of Class I locations are broken into four groups (NEC 500-503), by the codes
A, B, C & D. These divisions are because different materials have different explosion and ignition
characteristics. The grouping permits equipment to be tested based on the type of flammable
material in which it is intended to be used. It also permits area classification to be based on the type
of material anticipated in that location. The grouping is based on two major factors: the explosion
pressure generated during an explosion; and the maximum gap between ground flat mating metal
surfaces that will prevent propagation of an explosion through the gap to a flammable atmosphere of
the same flammable material and concentration. This chart shows common gases in Class I and how
they differ by ignition temperature and explosive pressure:
NFPA

C Ignition

F Ignition

Hydrostatic

Zone

Class I

Group

Temperature

Temperature

Pressure *

Gas Groups

Acetylene

305

581

6,000 PSI

IIC

Hydrogen

520

968

6,000 PSI

IIC

Ethylene

450

842

1,200 PSI

IIB

Gasoline

280

536

600 PSI

IIA

* Typical tested hydrostatic pressure required for electrical fittings such as unions, elbows, seals,
etc.
Ambient temperature is the surrounding temperature of the environment in which a piece of equipment
is installed, whether it is indoors or outdoors. A heat producing product is considered acceptable for
the location, provided the minimum ignition temperature of the hazardous material present and the
ambient temperature of the location do not exceed the limits set by the manufacturer. If the ambient
temperature is higher than the maximum stated on the nameplate, it might still be acceptable to use
the product under certain conditions, providing the minimum ignition temperature of the hazardous
material has not been exceeded. In all cases, consult the factory for assistance.
Operating temperature
The rated operating temperature for hazardous (classified) products is determined by conducting
laboratory tests in an ambient temperature of 40 C. Products certified by the various agencies

laboratory tests in an ambient temperature of 40 C. Products certified by the various agencies

consider products certified to their standards to be suitable for different temperature ranges. The
range for CSA ( Canada) is -50 C to +40 C to +40 C; the range for UL ( United States) is -25 C to
+40 C; the range for IEC and CENELEC (International) is -20 C to +40 C.
Temperature Codes (T-Codes)
The ignition temperature or auto-ignition temperature (AIT) is the minimum temperature required to
initiate or cause self-sustained combustion in a substance without any apparent source of ignition.
The lowest published ignition temperature should be the one used to determine the acceptability of
equipment. This is of particular concern when selecting heat producing equipment such as lighting
fixtures or motors which could generate sufficient heat to ignite the surrounding atmosphere.
Class I and Class II areas use T-Codes or are subject to maximum temperature limitations as shown
in the following chart. North America and the IEC are consistent in their temperature or T-Codes.
However, unlike the IEC, North America includes incremental values as shown. Equipment tested
must have nameplates and marked showing class, group and operating temperature based on
operation in a 40 C ambient (see NEC 500-3 for exceptions). Non-heat producing equipment does
not have this requirement.
North America Temp. Codes

IE / CENELEC / US

(NEC-500) & CSA

(NEC 505) T-CODES

Maximum Temperature
C

T1

T1

450

842

T2

T2

300

572

T2A

280

536

T2B

260

500

T2C

230

446

T2D

215

419

200

392

T3A

180

356

T3B

165

329

T3C

160

320

135

275

120

248

T3

T4
T4A

T3

T4

T5

T5

100

212

T6

T6

85

185

NEC ARTICLE 505 TO INCLUDE ZONES

The rewritten Article 505 of the 1999 National Electrical Code (NEC) provides for the use of the Zone
Classification System from the Division System. Prior to insertion of the Zone Classification, the
IEC/CENELEC (for the European Union) utilized this classification system whereas the Division
System was utilized only by the NEC (for the United States). Article 505 was rewritten because the
Division Classification and the Zone Classification were difficult to merge.
Both the Zone System and the Division group classify the different gases in ascending order of more
easily ignitable; Group A in the NEC (Division System) is the most easily ignitable Acetylene,
whereas Group A in the IEC (Zone System) is the least easily ignitable. Further, the IEC uses three
groups for the representative gases and the NEC uses four. AD to this confusion, the IEC and NEC
do not use the same terminology and neither have the same number of categories to identify the
likelihood of the hazard being present.
Both Division and Zone Classification Systems start with a definition if what the hazard is and the
probability the hazard will be present. The NEC Division Classification Systems uses Classes and
Groups to identify hazards:
Class I represents gases & vapors
Class II represents explosive dusts
Class III represents hazardous (flammable) fibers
Groups further define the hazard in Class I and Class II areas. In Class I, there are Group A
(Acetylene and similar gases), Group B (Hydrogen and similar gases), Group C (Ethylene and similar
gases) and Group D (Propane and similar gases). Hazardous dusts and fibers (Class II & III
respectively) are not treated in Article 505.
The IEC Zone Classification System identifies the hazard by 2 Main Groups
Group I for mining (underground locations and Group II for surface (not underground) locations.
[Further Section 90-2(b)(2) states the NEC does not cover underground mining installations.)
Group II is divided into 3 sub-groups in order of hazard to threat of ignition Group A the
least likely to ignite (such as Propane); Group B (gases such as Ethylene) and Group C the
easiest to ignite (such as Acetylene and Hydrogen).
DEFINITION OF DIVISIONS

DEFINITION OF DIVISIONS

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.
A Class I, Division 2 location is one where volatile flammable liquids or 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.
DEFINITION OF ZONES

Class I locations can further be divided into Zones based upon the frequency of occurrence and
duration of and explosive gas or vapor atmosphere as follows:
Zone 0 areas are locations in which explosive gas or vapor atmospheres are present continuously or
for long periods of time. Zone 0 areas are those where there is a flammable mixture typically more
than 1,000 hours per year.
Zone 1 areas are those in which (a) explosive gas atmospheres are likely to occur in normal
operation, or (b) explosive gas atmospheres may exist frequently because of repair or maintenance
operations or because of leakage, or (c) the location is adjacent to a Class I, Zone 0 location from
which explosive gas atmospheres could be transmitted. Zone 1 areas are those where there is a
flammable mixture more than 10 hours per year and less than 1,000 hours per year.
Zone 2 areas are those in which (a) explosive gas or vapor atmospheres are not likely to occur and if
they do occur, will exist for a short period of time, or (b) flammable liquids, gases or vapors are
handled, processed or used, but in which liquids, vapors or gases are normally confined within closed
containers or closed systems from which they can escape only as a result of accidental rupture or
breakdown of the containers or systems or the abnormal operation of the equipment by which the
liquids, gases or vapors are handled, processed or used, or (c) explosive gas atmospheres are
normally prevented by adequate ventilation but which may occur as a result of failure of the ventilation
system, or (d) the location is adjacent to a Class I, Zone 1 location from which explosive gas
atmospheres could be transmitted unless this is prevented by adequate positive-pressure ventilation
from a source of clean air and effective safeguards against failure of the ventilation system. Zone 2
areas are those where explosive gas atmospheres will exist for less than 10 hours per year.
EXAMPLES OF AREA ZONE CLASSIFICATION

ZONE 0 (Continuous Grade 1,000 hours per year)

Areas within process equipment developing flammable gas or vapors
Areas within enclosed pressure vessels or storage areas
Areas around vent pipes which discharge continually or for long periods

Areas around vent pipes which discharge continually or for long periods
Areas over or near the surface of flammable materials
ZONE 1 (Primary Grade 100 hours per year)
Areas above roofs outside storage tanks
Areas above floating storage tanks
Areas within specified radii 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
ZONE 2 (Secondary Grade 10 hours per year)
Areas around flanges and connecting valves
Areas outside Zone 1 around outlet pipes and safety valves
Areas around vent openings from Zone 2.

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