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Training Notes: Disclaimer

These materials are for the exclusive use of ExVeritas Limited

clients and is provided pursuant to the agreement between
ExVeritas Limited and its client.
ExVeritas Limited responsibility and liability are limited to the
terms and conditions of the agreement.
ExVeritas Limited assumes no liability to any party, other than
to the Client in accordance with the agreement, for any loss,
expense or damage occasioned by the use of this information.
This material may not be reproduced and distributed in whole
or part to third parties without the express permission of the
author.

Area Classification (10-2018 Rev 5) ©ExVeritas® Area Classification 1

Explosive Atmosphere
(IEC)

Group I Group II Group III

Coal Mining Gases and Vapours Combustible Dusts

Group IIA Group IIIA

Typically Fibres and
Propane Flyings

Group IIB Group IIIB

Typically Non-conductive
Ethylene Dusts

Group IIC Group IIIC

Typically Conductive
Hydrogen Dusts

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Standards

• The current standard used for Area Classification for

gases and vapours is:

IEC 60079-10-1:2015

Issued September 2015

Area Classification (10-2018 Rev 5) ©ExVeritas® Area Classification 5

Introduction

• In areas where dangerous quantities and

concentrations of flammable gas or vapour may arise,
protective measures need to be applied in order to
reduce the risk of explosions.
• This standard (IEC 60079-10-1) is concerned with the
classification of areas where flammable gas or vapour
hazards may arise and may then be used as a basis to
support the proper selection and installation of
equipment for use in hazardous areas.

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IEC 60079-10-1
Does not apply to the following:
• mines (susceptible to firedamp);
• the processing and manufacture of explosives;
• areas with combustible dusts and fibres;
• catastrophic failures; in this context is applied, for
example, to the rupture of a process vessel or
pipeline and events that are not predictable.
• Room used for medical purposes
• flammable mists; if it gives rise to unpredictable risk;
• domestic premises.

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Scope

• For the purpose of this standard, an area is a three-

dimensional region or space.
• Atmospheric conditions are deemed as 1013 kPa (1
013 mbar) and 20°C.
• In any process plant, there may be numerous
sources of ignition apart from those associated with
equipment.
• This standard does not take into account the
consequences of ignition of an explosive
atmosphere.
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Safety

• Installations in which flammable substances are

handled or stored should be…
• designed, constructed, operated and maintained to
ensure that any releases of flammable substance,
and consequently the extent of hazardous areas, are
kept to a minimum, whether in normal or abnormal
operation, with regard to frequency, duration and
quantity of a release.

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Safety

• In a situation in which there may be an explosive gas

atmosphere, the following steps should be taken:
a) eliminate the likelihood of an explosive gas
atmosphere occurring around the source of
ignition, or
b) eliminate the source of ignition.

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Objectives

• Area classification is a method of analysing and

classifying the environment where explosive gas
atmospheres may occur, so as to facilitate the
proper selection, installation and operation of
equipment to be used.
• The classification also takes into account the ignition
characteristics of the gas or vapour such as ignition
energy and ignition temperature.
• Area classification has two main objectives, the
determination of the type of any hazardous zone,
and the extent of the zone
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Explosion Risk Assessment

• Prior to the completion of the area classification,

• a risk assessment may be carried out to assess
whether the consequences of ignition of an explosive
atmosphere requires the use of equipment of a
higher equipment protection level (EPL) (ATEX
Category) or may justify the use of equipment with a
lower equipment protection level than normally
required.

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Competency

• The area classification should be carried out by

personnel who understand the relevance and
significance of the properties of the flammable
substances, principles of gas/vapour dispersion and
those who are familiar with the process and the
equipment.

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Methodology

• Classification may be approached by calculation,

considering appropriate statistical and numerical
assessments for the factors concerned, for each
source of release.
• The source of release approach can be summarized
as follows:

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Methodology

• Identify the sources of release;

• Determine the release rate and grade of release for
each source based on likely frequency and duration
of release;
• Assess ventilation or dilution conditions and
effectiveness;
• Determine zone type based on grade of release and
ventilation or dilution effectiveness;
• Determine extent of zone.

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Additional Guidance- Industry Codes

Additional guidance for area classification are available

such as;
• Energy Institute Model code of Safe Practice Part 15
(Petroleum Products) Ed 4
• Institute of Gas Engineers Safety Recommendations
IGE/SR/25 (Natural Gas) Ed 2

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Types of Ventilation - Natural

• Natural ventilation in buildings arises from pressure
differences induced by the wind and/or by
temperature gradients (buoyancy induced
ventilation).
• Ventilation rates arising from natural ventilation are
inherently very variable.

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Types of Ventilation - Artificial

• Air movement can be artificial means, e.g. fans or
extractors.
• Artificial ventilation is mainly applied inside a room
or enclosed space, although it can also be applied to
situations in the open air to compensate for
restricted or impeded air movement due to
obstacles.

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Identification and Grading of

Sources of Release

All potential sources of release (SoR) e.g. tank, pump,

pipeline*, vessel, etc in a given area are graded as to their
frequency and duration of release and three grades are
recognised:
1. Continuous
2. Primary
3. Secondary
* welded pipeline are not considered SoR

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Identification
• The first stage is to identify the point sources, that
are possible from the associated equipment which
typically includes valves, flanges, vents, sampling and
drainage points, instrument connections, release
from rotating machinery such as pumps and
compressors, and any area where spillage from these
sources could collect.
• The grade of release of each ‘point source’ needs to
be determined. The Zones (Zone 0, 1 or 2) can then
be assigned – the degree of ventilation needs to be
considered when determining the Zones.

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Continuous

• The point from which a flammable gas is released

continuously or for long periods.

(More >1000 hours of the year (10%))

• Example: The surface of a flammable liquid in a fixed

roof tank with a permanent vent to atmosphere.

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Primary
• The point from which a flammable gas is released
periodically or occasionally in normal operation.
• (Between 10 hours and 1000 hours of the year (0.1%
to 10%))

• Example: Seals of pumps, compressors or valves if a

release of flammable material is expected during
normal operation. Vents, sample points, relief valves,
drainage points and other openings which are
expected to release in normal operation.
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Secondary
• The point from which a flammable gas is released
which is not expected to occur in normal operation
and, if it does occur, is likely to do so only
infrequently and for short periods
• <10 hours (0.01% to 0.1%))
• Example: Seals of pumps, compressors or valves if a
release of flammable material is NOT expected
during normal operation. Flanges, sample points,
relief valves, drainage points and other openings
which are NOT expected to release in normal
operation.
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IEC 60079-10-1

There is, in most cases, under unrestricted ‘open air’

conditions a direct relationship between the grade of
release and the type of zone which it gives rise:

Continuous : Zone 0
Primary : Zone 1
Secondary : Zone 2

Zone 0 or zone 1 areas should be minimized in number

and extent by design or suitable operating procedures.

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Zone identification Preferred Markings

Zone 0
• A location where an explosive atmosphere consisting
of a mixture of air with a flammable substances in the
form of a gas, vapour or mist is present continuously
or for long periods or frequently.

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Zone identification Preferred Markings

Zone 1
• A location where an explosive atmosphere consisting
of a mixture of air with a flammable substances in the
form of a gas, vapour or mist is likely to occur in
normal operation occasionally.

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Zone identification Preferred Markings

Zone 2
• A location where an explosive atmosphere consisting
of a mixture of air with a flammable substances in the
form of a gas, vapour or mist is not likely to occur in
normal operation, but if it does occur, will persist for a
short period only.

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Markings

IMPORTANT

• You can use any markings you like, as long as they

are clearly identified on the HAC drawing .

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Example of area classification

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Area Classification Point source

Vents

Flanges Bund
area

Zone 0
inside
vessel

Zones 1 and 2 extend x metres

from SoR
Motors
and
pumps

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Area Classification (Blanket)

Vents

Flanges Bund
area

Zone 0
inside
vessel

Zones 1 and 2 extend x metres

from SoR
Motors
and
pumps

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Vent Pipe

Zone 1 extends x
mtrs (ft) from SoR
(vent)

Zone 2 extends x
mtrs (ft) from SoR
(vent)

Zone 0 in and extends

x mtrs (ft) from SoR (vent)
= ventilation piping

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Area Classification for a vessel

Secondary SoR Primary SoR

(Zone 2) Zone 1

Continuous SoR
Zone 0

Tank

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Fuelling Station (Garage)

Zone 2

Zone
1

Zone 0

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Fuelling Station (Garage) The dangers

• Fire triangle - Horse.mpeg

• shop static.avi
• tank farm incident.WMV

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What’s the zone in the tank, if the tank is half-filled

with a flammable substance?

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Vent
Tank

• What zones in and

around tank?

Bund

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Zone around a vent

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Openings

The openings between areas are also considered as

possible sources of release.

The grade of release is based on the following:

• Zone type of the adjoining area;
• Frequency and duration of opening times;
• Effectiveness of any seal or joints;
• Difference in pressure between the areas.

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Openings

Openings are classified as A, B, C or D;

Type A
Opening is defined as an opening not classified as B, C
or D
For example passage way, piping or cable ducting etc.
Fixed vents in rooms which are opened for long periods

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Openings
Type B
Openings which are normally closed e.g. automatic
closing, infrequently opened and close fitting.
Type C
Openings which are normally closed e.g. automatic
closing, infrequently opened and fitted with a sealing
gasket.
Type D
Openings normally closed conforming to type C which
can only be opened by special means or in an
emergency.
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Openings
Zone upstream of Opening Type Grade of release of
opening openings

A Continuous
Zone 0 B (Continuous)/Primary
C Secondary
D Secondary
A Primary
Zone 1 B (Primary)/Secondary
C (Secondary)/No Release
D No Release
A Secondary
Zone 2 B (Secondary)/No Release
C No Release
D No Release

For grades of release shown in brackets, the frequency of operation should be considered in the design

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Opening example

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Documentation

• It is recommended that the steps taken to carry out

area classification and the information and
assumptions used are fully documented.
• The area classification document should be a living
document and should include the method used for
area classification and should be revised during any
plant changes.

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