Hazardous Area Classification

And The Selection of Equipment

Introduction:
For the classification of hazardous areas the notable standards that are most
frequently used are IEC60079 Part 10 for U and Euro!e" #$%&'% Part ( for
U only" )PI %00 ) for U$)* $tartin+ from ,uly 1" (00& all the Euro!ean
Countries -ill follo- the Euro!ean .irecti/e 9'090EC" also no-n as the
)1E2 .irecti/e*
ATEX Directive 9!9!EC:
.irecti/e 9'090EC" commonly called the )1E2 34)toms!heres
E5!losibles67 .irecti/e is one of a number of ne- a!!roach directi/es
de/elo!ed by the Euro!ean Union and co/ers all equi!ment and !rotecti/e
systems intended for use in !otentially e5!losi/e atmos!heres* 1he .irecti/e
is no- in effect and become mandatory startin+ from ,uly 1" (00&" and
su!ersedin+ all !re/ious le+islation related to !roducts used in e5!losi/e
atmos!heres*
1he )1E2 .irecti/e co/ers the follo-in+ ma8or elements9
1he a!!lication of the CE mar:
Essential health and safety requirements
Products included;equi!ment" !rotecti/e systems" com!onents"
safety" controllin+ or re+ulatin+ de/ices*
EC 1y!e E5amination Certificate
Conformity assessment !rocedures for9
; Product e/aluation
; <uality assurance of the manufacturin+ !rocess*
CE "ar#in$ of Equipment:
=ith the e5ce!tion of some com!onents" !roducts enterin+ the Euro!ean
common mar:et are required to bear mandatory CE 3Conformite
Euro!eenne7 mar:in+ is a declaration by the manufacturer that the
equi!ment9
Is in conformity -ith all a!!licable technical !ro/isions and
requirements of )1E2 and other directi/es that a!!ly to the
equi!ment" and
>as been the sub8ect of the a!!ro!riate conformity assessment
!rocedures of the )1E2 directi/e*
Elements of Hazardous Area Classification:
) hazardous area is one in -hich a flammable mi5ture of +ases or /a!ors
may e5ist* U!on i+nition the flammable mi5ture -ill burn or e5!lode* 1he
i+nition can be caused by one of t-o methods* 1he usually attributed method
is by a s!ar:* 1he second is by a hi+h surface tem!erature bein+ attained"
usually by o!eratin+ equi!ment*
$!ar:s can occur by electrical or mechanical acti/ity* Electrically the s!ar:s
are usually made by s-itchin+ contacts" loose contacts in a circuit carryin+
current" !oorly matin+ metallic faces that are carryin+ current and static
dischar+es*
); ?i5tures of @ases" Aa!ors and )ir9
I+nition can only lead to a fire or e5!losion if three com!onents occur
simultaneously" they are9
1* ) flammable +as or /a!or is !resent in sufficient quantity 3this occurs
due to lea:a+e or accidental dischar+e from an enclosed /essel" !um!"
com!ressor" /al/e" flan+e or the li:e*
(* $ufficient air is !resent 3it can be assumed that there -ill be al-ays be
sufficient air in the area* 1he o5y+en in the air is required for the
combustion*
&* 1he source of i+nition occurs 31his -ill be a s!ar: ha/in+ sufficient
ener+y" or a hot surface that -ill cause s!ontaneous or auto;i+nition
e*+* a hot e5haust manifold and !i!in+ of a diesel en+ine*
@ases and Aa!ors9
=hen +ases and /a!ors are !resent in air the resultin+ mi5ture may be
flammable* Bot all +ases and /a!ors !roduce flammable mi5tures* Ima+ine a
flammable +as or /a!or slo-ly lea:in+ into a confined /olume of air that is
not re!lenished* Initially the concentration of the +as or /a!or in the mi5ture
-ill be too lo- to su!!ort combustion* )s the concentration increase a
critical !oint -ill be reached -hen combustion -ill be !ossible* 1his is
called the Co-er E5!losi/e Cimit 3CEC7* If the concentration is increased
beyond this !oint by a si+nificant amount then a second critical !oint -ill be
reached* )t this !oint the mi5ture -ill not contain sufficient o5y+en to
enable combustion to occur* 1his is called the U!!er E5!losi/e Cimit 3UEC7
abo/e -hich no combustion or e5!losion is !ossible*
In terms of hazardous area analysis the UEC is not normally of !ractical
si+nificance* Aarious institutions ha/e determined the CEC for most of the
re+ularly encountered +ases and /a!ors* #oth the CEC and UEC are
e5!ressed in !ercenta+e of /olume*
1em!erature Class9
In order to classify a +as or /a!or by its ability to be i+nited by a hot surface"
the definition 1em!erature Class is used* I+nition by this classification is
s!ontaneous or automatic* 1he classification is sim!le to a!!ly and consists
of a t-o;di+it code" the first di+it is the letter 416 and second a number
bet-een 1 and 6* 1he lo-er the number the hi+her the ma5imum allo-able
surface tem!erature* >ence a 16 +as or /a!or is relati/ely more hazardous
than one -ith a 11 code*
1he belo- table com!lies -ith the same classification used in the U$)"
e5ce!t that the BEC sub;di/ide the classes in some case to further )" # and
C classes*
@rou!in+ of @ases and Aa!ors9
In order to classify a +as or /a!or by its ability to be i+nited by a s!ar:" the
definition @as @rou! is used* )+ain the classification is sim!le to a!!ly* It
consists of a three;di+it code* 1he first and second di+its are I or II 31he IEC
may add @rou! III in future for dust hazards7* 1he third di+it is letter )" #"
or C*
For the oil industry the @rou! I is of little concern because it !ertains only to
under+round minin+* >ence @rou! II)" II# and IIC are of concern in this
subsection* ) @rou! II) +as or /a!or is the hardest of the three sub;+rou!s
to i+nite by a s!ar:* Con/ersely a @rou! IIC +as or /a!or is the easiest to
i+nite*
Hazardous Area Divisions!%ones:
Bon;>azardous )rea
Done ( >azardous )rea
Done 1 >azardous )rea
Done 0 >azardous )rea
)d8acent >azardous Dones
T&pes 'f (rotection )or Hazardous Areas:
?ost electrical equi!ment consists of li/e or acti/e static !arts" and in some
cases such as motors" solenoid /al/es and relays mo/in+ mechanical !arts"
enclosed in an enclosure* 1he electrically li/e conductors are :e!t out of
touch to !re/ent electric shoc: hazards* 1he detrimental effects of the
atmos!here e*+* rain" s!rayed -ater" fine dust and !articles are :e!t out of
contact -ith the conductors" insulation" bearin+s and the li:e* For equi!ment
that is to be used in hazardous areas there is the additional requirement that
+ases and /a!ors should be restricted from enterin+ into the enclosure* 1here
are /arious basic methods that attem!t to ensure that this requirement is
achie/ed at a more or less de+ree" -hich +enerally is de!endent u!on the
Done of the intended area of installation*
1he desi+n of the enclosure -ith re+ard to hazardous area a!!lications is
defined by se/eral lo-er case letter codes" mostly sin+le di+its for electrical
!o-er equi!ment but occasionally t-o di+its for /ery lo- ener+y electronic
equi!ment*
1he most frequently encountered codes are d" e" n" !" and i* 1he lesser used
codes are o" m" s" and q*
T&pe of (rotection *d+:
1y!e of !rotection" for -hich the !arts -hich can i+nite an e5!losi/e
atmos!here are inside an enclosure -hich -ill -ithstand the !ressure of the
E5!losion -ithin the enclosure*
Pre/ent the transmission of the e5!losion to an e5!losi/e atmos!here
surroundin+ the enclosure*
1his ty!e of !rotection is also referred to as 4flame!roof6 in some literature*
)n enclosure that is desi+ned as ty!e 4d6 -ill be able to -ithstand an
internal e5!losion of the +as;air mi5ture -ithout bein+ dama+ed beyond
re!air* Furthermore the matin+ surfaces of 8oints e*+* terminal bo5es" bearin+
seals on shafts" -ill be so desi+ned that the flame inside the enclosure -ill
not !ass to the outside -ith sufficient ener+y to i+nite the en/ironmental +as;
air mi5ture* In effect the desi+n of the surfaces is such as to act as a /ery
slo- !ressure relief system for the internal e5!losion*
#y the form of the desi+n these enclosures are usually robust" 4hea/y duty6
and often made of thic: cast iron" steel or bronze -ith many bolts to fasten
the fabricated sections and lids*
This t&pe of protection is mainl& intended for %one , areas* =hen an
internal e5!losion occurs or under normal runnin+ conditions" the outside
surface of the enclosure must not e5ceed the +as;air auto;i+nition
tem!erature i*e* 1em!erature Class*
T&pe of (rotection *I+:
E 1y!e of !rotection" for -hich the ener+y in the electrical circuit is held
so lo- that s!ar:s" arcs or tem!eratures ca!able of causin+ i+nition
cannot occur*
E Includes sub;di/ision into the cate+ories ia F ib
E Ia must not !roduce any i+nition -hen any combination of t-o faults
is !resent*
E Ib must not !roduce any i+nition" in normal o!eration" -hen one fault
is !resent*
E 1he circuit and its de/ices do not ha/e sufficient o!eratin+ ener+y or
stored ener+y to cause a s!ar: that -ill i+nite the +as;air mi5ture*
E Ia is allo-ed to be used in a Done 0 areas*
E Ib can not be used in Done 0 areas*
E Intrinsically safe ty!e 4i6 !rotection is not a!!licable to electrical
!o-er equi!ment* It is mainly intended for electronic measurin+ and
control circuits i*e* instrumentation and telemetry* 1he !rinci!le
behind 4i6 !rotections is that a circuit and its de/ices do not ha/e
sufficient o!eratin+ ener+y or stored ener+y to cause a s!ar: that -ill
i+nite the +as;air mi5ture*
E ) s!ar: can occur but it must be inherently too -ee: to i+nite the
mi5ture*
E 1here are t-o sub;di/isions of ty!e 4i6" namely 4i
a
6 and 4i
b
6 * 1he
ty!e 4i
a
6 has a more strin+ent s!ecification than 4i
b
6 and therefore
allo-ed to be used in a Done 0 area* 1y!e 4i
b
6 cannot be used in a
Done 0 area*
E 1he system includes the source of !o-er and its %ener -arrier. the
interconnectin+ cables -hich by their nature ha/e inductance and
ca!acitance" and the connected a!!aratus or load*
Intrinsicall& Safe S&stems:
Definitions:
)ssociated )!!aratus* )!!aratus in -hich the circuits are not necessarily
intrinsically safe themsel/es but that affect the ener+y in the intrinsically
safe circuits and are relied on to maintain intrinsic safety* )ssociated
a!!aratus may be either of the follo-in+9
317 Electrical a!!aratus that has an alternati/e;ty!e !rotection for use in the
a!!ro!riate hazardous 3classified7 location" or
3(7 Electrical a!!aratus not so !rotected that shall not be used -ithin a
hazardous 3classified7 location*
Intrinsically $afe $ystem* )n assembly of interconnected intrinsically safe
a!!aratus" associated a!!aratus" and interconnectin+ cables in that those
!arts of the system that may be used in hazardous 3classified7 locations are
intrinsically safe circuits*
FPB9 )n intrinsically safe system may include more than one intrinsically
safe circuit*
Intrinsically $afe Circuit* ) circuit in -hich any s!ar: or thermal effect is
inca!able of causin+ i+nition of a mi5ture of flammable or combustible
material in air under !rescribed test conditions*
$im!le )!!aratus* )n electrical com!onent or combination of com!onents
of sim!le construction -ith -ell;defined electrical !arameters that does not
+enerate more than 1*% /olts" 100 milliam!s" and (% milli-atts" or a !assi/e
com!onent that does not dissi!ate more than 1*& -atts and is com!atible
-ith the intrinsic safety of the circuit in -hich it is used*
FPB9 1he follo-in+ a!!aratus are e5am!les of sim!le a!!aratus9
3a7 Passi/e com!onentsG for e5am!le" s-itches" 8unction bo5es" resistance
tem!erature de/ices" and sim!le semiconductor de/ices such as CE.s
3b7 $ources of +enerated ener+y" for e5am!le" thermocou!les and !hotocells"
-hich do not +enerate more than 1*% A" 100 m)" and (% m=*
Equipment Installation:
3)7 Control .ra-in+* Intrinsically safe a!!aratus" associated a!!aratus" and
other equi!ment shall be installed in accordance -ith the control dra-in+3s7*
E5ce!tion9 ) sim!le a!!aratus that does not interconnect intrinsically safe
circuits*
FPB9 1he control dra-in+ identification is mar:ed on the a!!aratus*
3#7 Cocation* Intrinsically safe a!!aratus shall be !ermitted to be installed in
any hazardous 3classified7 locations for -hich it has been identified*
@eneral;!ur!ose enclosures shall be !ermitted for intrinsically safe
a!!aratus*
)ssociated a!!aratus shall be !ermitted to be installed in any hazardous
3classified7 location for -hich it has been identified or" if !rotected by other
means" !ermitted by )rticles %01 throu+h %0& and )rticle %0%*
Separation of Intrinsicall& Safe Conductors9
3)7 From Bonintrinsically $afe Circuit Conductors*
317 H!en =irin+* Conductors and cables of intrinsically safe circuits not in
race-ays or cable trays shall be se!arated at least %0 mm 3( in*7 and secured
from conductors and cables of any nonintrinsically safe circuits*
E5ce!tion9 =here either 317 all of the intrinsically safe circuit conductors
are in 1y!e ?I or ?C cables or 3(7 all of the nonintrinsically safe circuit
conductors are in race-ays or 1y!e ?I or ?C cables -here the sheathin+ or
claddin+ is ca!able of carryin+ fault current to +round*
3(7 In Iace-ays" Cable 1rays" and Cables* Conductors of intrinsically safe
circuits shall not be !laced in any race-ay" cable tray" or cable -ith
conductors of any nonintrinsically safe circuit*
E5ce!tion Bo* 19 =here conductors of intrinsically safe circuits are
se!arated from conductors of nonintrinsically safe circuits by a distance of at
least %0 mm 3( in*7 and secured" or by a +rounded metal !artition or an
a!!ro/ed insulatin+ !artition*
FPB9 Bo* (0 +au+e sheet metal !artitions 0*91 mm 30*0&%9 in*7 or thic:er
are +enerally considered acce!table*
E5ce!tion Bo* (9 =here either 317 all of the intrinsically safe circuit
conductors or 3(7 all of the nonintrinsically safe circuit conductors are in
+rounded metal;sheathed or metal;clad cables -here the sheathin+ or
claddin+ is ca!able of carryin+ fault current to +round*
FPB9 Cables meetin+ the requirements of )rticles &&0 and &&( are ty!ical
of those considered acce!table*
3&7 =ithin Enclosures*
3a7 Conductors of intrinsically safe circuits shall be se!arated at least %0 mm
3( in*7 from conductors of any nonintrinsically safe circuits" or as s!ecified
in %0'*&03)73(7*
3b7 )ll conductors shall be secured so that any conductor that mi+ht come
loose from a terminal cannot come in contact -ith another terminal*
FPB Bo* 19 1he use of se!arate -irin+ com!artments for the intrinsically
safe and nonintrinsically safe terminals is the !referred method of com!lyin+
-ith this requirement*
FPB Bo* (9 Physical barriers such as +rounded metal !artitions or a!!ro/ed
insulatin+ !artitions or a!!ro/ed restricted access -irin+ ducts se!arated
from other such ducts by at least 19 mm 3J in*7 can be used to hel! ensure
the required se!aration of the -irin+*
3#7 From .ifferent Intrinsically $afe Circuit Conductors* .ifferent
intrinsically safe circuits shall be in se!arate cables or shall be se!arated
from each other by one of the follo-in+ means9
317 1he conductors of each circuit are -ithin a +rounded metal shield*
3(7 1he conductors of each circuit ha/e insulation -ith a minimum thic:ness
of 0*(% mm 30*01 in*7*
E5ce!tion9 Unless other-ise identified*
/roundin$:
3)7 Intrinsically $afe )!!aratus" )ssociated )!!aratus" and Iace-ays*
Intrinsically safe a!!aratus" associated a!!aratus" cable shields" enclosures"
and race-ays" if of metal" shall be +rounded*
FPB9 $u!!lementary bondin+ to the +roundin+ electrode may be needed for
some associated a!!aratus" for e5am!le" zener diode barriers" if s!ecified in
the control dra-in+* $ee )B$I0I$) IP 1(*6;199%" =irin+ Practices for
>azardous 3Classified7 Cocations Instrumentation Part 19 Intrinsic $afety*
@roundin+ Electrodes*
3)7 Electrodes Permitted for @roundin+*
317 ?etal Under+round =ater Pi!e* ) metal under+round -ater !i!e in direct
contact -ith the earth for &*0 m 310 ft7 or more 3includin+ any metal -ell
casin+ effecti/ely bonded to the !i!e7 and electrically continuous 3or made
electrically continuous by bondin+ around insulatin+ 8oints or insulatin+
!i!e7 to the !oints of connection of the +roundin+ electrode conductor and
the bondin+ conductors* Interior metal -ater !i!in+ located more than 1*%(
m 3% ft7 from the !oint of entrance to the buildin+ shall not be used as a !art
of the +roundin+ electrode system or as a conductor to interconnect
electrodes that are !art of the +roundin+ electrode system*
E5ce!tion9 In industrial and commercial buildin+s or structures -here
conditions of maintenance and su!er/ision ensure that only qualified
!ersons ser/ice the installation" interior metal -ater !i!in+ located more
than 1*%( m 3% ft7 from the !oint of entrance to the buildin+ shall be
!ermitted as a !art of the +roundin+ electrode system or as a conductor to
interconnect electrodes that are !art of the +roundin+ electrode system"
!ro/ided that the entire len+th" other than short sections !assin+
!er!endicular throu+h -alls" floors" or ceilin+s" of the interior metal -ater
!i!e that is bein+ used for the conductor is e5!osed*
3(7 ?etal Frame of the #uildin+ or $tructure* 1he metal frame of the
buildin+ or structure" -here effecti/ely +rounded*
3&7 Concrete;Encased Electrode* )n electrode encased by at least %0 mm 3(
in*7 of concrete" located -ithin and near the bottom of a concrete foundation
or footin+ that is in direct contact -ith the earth" consistin+ of at least 6*0 m
3(0 ft7 of one or more bare or zinc +al/anized or other electrically
conducti/e coated steel reinforcin+ bars or rods of not less than 1& mm 3K
in*7 in diameter" or consistin+ of at least 6*0 m 3(0 ft7 of bare co!!er
conductor not smaller than ' )=@* Ieinforcin+ bars shall be !ermitted to be
bonded to+ether by the usual steel tie -ires or other effecti/e means*
3'7 @round Iin+* ) +round rin+ encirclin+ the buildin+ or structure" in direct
contact -ith the earth" consistin+ of at least 6*0 m 3(0 ft7 of bare co!!er
conductor not smaller than ( )=@*
Sealin$:
Conduits and cables that are required to be sealed by %01*% and %0(*% shall
be sealed to minimize the !assa+e of +ases" /a!ors" or dusts* $uch seals shall
not be required to be e5!losion !roof or flame!roof*
Identification:
Cabels required by this section shall be suitable for the en/ironment -here
they are installed -ith consideration +i/en to e5!osure to chemicals and
sunli+ht*
3)7 1erminals* Intrinsically safe circuits shall be identified at terminal and
8unction locations in a manner that -ill !re/ent unintentional interference
-ith the circuits durin+ testin+ and ser/icin+*
3#7 =irin+* Iace-ays" cable trays" and other -irin+ methods for
intrinsically safe system -irin+ shall be identified -ith !ermanently affi5ed
labels -ith the -ordin+ 4Intrinsic $afety =irin+6 or equi/alent* 1he labels
shall be located so as to be /isible after installation and !laced so that they
may be readily traced throu+h the entire len+th of the installation* Intrinsic
safety circuit labels shall a!!ear in e/ery section of the -irin+ system that is
se!arated by enclosures" -alls" !artitions" or floors* $!acin+ bet-een labels
shall not be more than 7*% m 3(% ft7*
Color Codin$*
Color codin+ shall be !ermitted to identify intrinsically safe conductors
-here they are colored li+ht blue and -here no other conductors colored
li+ht blue are used* Ci:e-ise" color codin+ shall be !ermitted to identify
race-ays" cable trays" and 8unction bo5es -here they are colored li+ht blue
and contain only intrinsically safe -irin+*
T&pe of (rotection *e+:
1y!e 4e6 is also called 4increased safety6 and intended for a!!aratus
that is to be installed in a Done 1 area*
1he !ractical as!ect is the remo/al of a source of i+nition i*e* a s!ar:
or a hot surface*
In many ty!es of equi!ment e*+* luminaries" terminal bo5es" 8unction
bo5es" some desi+ns of motor control stations" tele!hones and !ublic
address s!ea:ers" the elimination of these t-o sources of i+nition is
not a difficult !roblem*
T&pe of (rotection *p+:
1his is also :no-n as !ressurization or continuous dilution*
It is mainly a!!lied to lar+e motors" control !anels" dis!lay !anels"
and occasionally s!ecial !ur!ose +enerators*
E Pre/entin+ the entry of surroundin+ atmos!here into the enclosure by
holdin+ an i+nition;!rotection +as 3air" inert +as7 under o/er;!ressure
in relation to the surroundin+ atmos!here
E $uitable for Done 1 and Done ( areas*
E 1he !ressurization !rocess is carried out in t-o !arts" the first !art
-hen the equi!ment is ready to be ener+ized and the second !art to
cater for the runnin+ and shutdo-n of the equi!ment*
E 1he first !art is called 4!ur+in+6* )ir or inert +as is !assed into and
/ented from the enclosure" to !ur+e out any +as;air mi5ture that may
be !resent* 1he equi!ment is !re/ented from bein+ ener+ized until the
!ur+in+ cycle is com!lete*
E 1he !ur+in+ cycle -ill need to !ass a !rescribed /olume of air or inert
+as throu+h the equi!ment*
E ?easurin+ de/ices -ill be incor!orated into the !ur+in+ equi!ment to
ensure that the necessary /olume of air or +as has been !assed*
E If the !ur+in+ equi!ment fails then the enclosure cannot be ener+ized*
E 1he !ur+in+ air must be dra-n from a non;hazardous area source e*+*
throu+h suitable ductin+ or from a !lant air com!ressor*
E 1he !ur+in+ +as for a small enclosure may be ta:en from hi+h
!ressure stora+e cylinders usin+ a suitable !ressure reduction
re+ulator*
T&pe of (rotection *q+:
E 1he electrical a!!aratus enclosure is filled -ith !o-der or sand*
E )n arc occurrin+ in the enclosure does not i+nite an e5!losi/e
atmos!heres surroundin+ the enclosure*
It is mainly intended for electronic equi!ment as it has /ery little
a!!lication in the oil industry*
T&pe of (rotection *o+:
=ith this ty!e of !rotection the acti/e and s!ar:in+ !arts of the
equi!ment are immersed in mineral oil*
1he conce!t is similar to that used in the manufacture of bul: oil
immersed and small /olume oil immersed s-itch+ear 3both of -hich
are seldom encountered no-adays7*
Hil immersion finds a!!lication -ith electronic and telemeterin+
equi!ment*
1y!e 4o6 !rotection is only !ermitted in Done ( and non;hazardous
areas*
Hil immersed s-itch+ear is not normally s!ecified in the oil industry
because there are far better insulatin+ media a/ailable in modern
desi+ns*
T&pe of (rotection *m+:
1y!e 4m6 enclosures are enca!sulations" for e5am!le and electronic
circuit enca!sulated in solid e!o5y resin or fire;resistance solid
material*
1here are /ery fe- e5am!les in electrical !o-er equi!ment used in
the oil industry*
T&pe of (rotection *n+:
1y!e of Protection 4n*6 1y!e of !rotection -here electrical equi!ment"
in normal o!eration" is not ca!able of i+nitin+ a surroundin+ e5!losi/e
+as atmos!here and a fault ca!able of causin+ i+nition is not li:ely to
occur*
1he basic conce!t of ty!e 4n6 !rotection -as to ha/e an enclosure
desi+n that -ould be suitable for Done ( areas*
T&pe of (rotection *s+:
1y!e 4s6 !rotection is also called 4s!ecial6 !rotection and enables
unusual desi+ns to be desi+ned" tested and certified*
It is a little used method and the a!!lications are mainly suited to
electronic and lo- !o-er equi!ment*
T&pes of (rotection for In$ress of 0ater and Solid (articles
European (ractice:
IEC60%(9 is the most commonly used standard for definin+ the
4de+ree of in+ress !rotection6 for both liquids and !articles*
=hen hazardous area equi!ment is bein+ installed" it -ill need to be
+i/en a minimum de+ree of in+ress !rotection*
1he de+ree -ill de!end u!on -hether the equi!ment is to be installed
outdoors and e5!osed to the e5tremes of the -eather" or indoors and
e5!osed 3or not7 to dust or liquid in+ress*
The American (ractice: The 1ational Electrical "anufacturin$
Association 21E"A3:
In the U$) the Bational Electrical ?anufacturin+ )ssociation
3BE?)7 !laces certain standards on electrical !roducts*
1his or+anization has established a 4BE?)6 ty!e codin+ system for
enclosures*
Each ty!e" numbered from 1 to 1&" describes a s!ecific ty!e of
!rotection*
1he BE?) codin+ system s!ecifically includes three cate+ories for
equi!ment that is to be installed in oil industry hazardous areas"
namely 1y!e 7" L and 9" but only for indoor locations*
"ar#in$ of Equipment 1ameplates:
>azardous area equi!ment that has been tested and a!!ro/ed by a
reco+nized laboratory should ha/e a mar:in+ !late attached to its
surface" in a !lace easily seen by the user*
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