Part 1 Hazardous Areas

GENERAL PRINCIPLES

SOURCES OF IGNITION

Ver: 2.0
 Fire Triangle
FUEL
(GAS, VAPOUR, MISTS) OR DUSTS

AIR
21% OXYGEN
SOURCE OF IGNITION
79% Nitrogen
 Flammable (Explosive) Limits
Too Weak Too Rich
Insufficient Insufficient
Fuel Oxygen

FLAMMABLE
RANGE
LOWER (Explosive Range) UPPER
EXPLOSIVE EXPLOSIVE
LIMIT (LEL) % LIMIT (UEL) %
MATERIALS LEL% UEL%
Propane 1.7 10.9
Ethylene 2.3 36
Hydrogen 4.0 77
Kerosene 0.7 5.0
Acetylene 2.3 100 Play Video
 Sources Of Ignition
SUBJECT TO PROCEDURES AND REGULATIONS
- Welding, Lightning, Electrical Equipment, Hot
Surfaces
SUBJECT TO GENERAL CONTROL IN PLANT AREA
- Mobile Phones Etc, Cigarettes, Lighters & Matches
PLANT OPERATIONS
- Static Electricity, Mechanical Friction, Friction Sparks

EXTERNAL
- Flames, Welding, Electrical Equipment

CHEMICAL REACTION
- Exothermic Runaway
 Ignition Sources Arising
Within Plant
1. Electrostatic Sparks

2. Thermite Sparks

3. Mechanical Friction

4. Hot Surfaces

5. Smouldering Deposits

6. Ignition Temperature (Previously

Autoignition)
 Flash Point

DEFINITION:
The lowest temperature at which
sufficient vapour is given off a
liquid, to form a flammable
mixture with air, that can be
ignited by an arc, spark or naked
flame.
 Flash Point
Amount of vapour released
dependant on temperature

VAPOUR

Effects to Flashpoint
Liquid 1. DEPENDS ON PRESSURE
Increase with increasing pressure
Decrease with decreasing pressure
Material Deg ºC
2. PRESENCE OF SOLIDS
Propane -104 Can raise flash point
3. PRESENCE OF VOLATILES
Ethylene -120 (Approx) Can effect significant reduction
Hydrogen -256 (Approx)
Kerosene 38
Acetylene -82 (Approx)
 Flash Point
Paraffin -
Flash Point 38 Deg ºC
Ignition Source

At 38 Deg ºC

At 33 Deg ºC

At 0 Deg ºC
 Minimum Ignition Energy (MIE)
GASES
Hydrogen (Approx) 20 µJ (Micro Joules)
Ethylene (Approx) 95 µJ
Propane (Approx) 260 µJ
Methane (Firedamp) (Approx ) 280 µJ

LIQUIDS
Data obtained from literature -
benzene (Approx) 200 µJ
hexane (Approx) 240 µJ
acetone (Approx) 1.15 mJ (Milli Joules)

DUSTS
Data normally obtained by in house measurement -
anthraquinone (Approx) 2.5 - 4 mJ
phenothiazine (Approx) 25 - 50 mJ
sulphur (Approx) < 1 mJ
 Ignition Temperature

DEFINITION:
The lowest temperature at which a
material can ignite and sustain
combustion, when mixed with air at
normal pressure, without the ignition
initiated by any spark or flame. i.e.
when making contact with a hot
surface.
 Ignition Temperature

Hot Surface
MATERIAL TEMP
Propane 470 ºC
Ethylene 425 ºC Hydrogen
560 ºC
Acetylene 305 ºC
Kerosene (Paraffin) 210 ºC
Methane (Fire damp) 537 ºC
Oxygen Enrichment can occur at compressed air factories or
where there is oxygen burning equipment. It lowers the Ignition
Temperature and Widens the Flammable range
‘T’ Rating Of Apparatus In Relation
To Ignition Temperature
Material Ignition Temp ‘T’ Rating
Methane (Firedamp) 595 ºC
Hydrogen 560 ºC T1 – 450 ºC
Propane 470 ºC
Ethylene 425 ºC
T2 – 300 ºC
Acetylene 305 ºC
Cyclohexane 259 ºC
T3 – 200 ºC
Kerosene 210 ºC
Diethyl Ether 160 ºC T4 – 135 ºC

T5 – 100 ºC

Carbon Disulphide 95 ºC T6 – 85 ºC
 Temperature Classification
Relating To Equipment
TEMPERATURE MAXIMUM SURFACE
CLASSIFICATION TEMPERATURE ºC
T1 450
T2 300
T3 200
T4 135
T5 100
T6 85

A potential ignition surface will not exceed the temperature

related to the ‘T’ rating in normal or specified fault conditions.
 Ambient Temperature Range

100 Deg.C

T6 – (85ºC) Temperature Classification

80 Deg.C Not Correctly
Installed

60 Deg.C

40 Deg.C

20 Deg.C
“Ta” in Europe the value is:
-20 +40ºC Correctly
Installed
0 Deg.C
35 Deg C
Temp rise
-20 Deg.C
 Vapour Density
COMPARISON OF A GAS/VAPOUR WITH AIR
PLACEMENT OF GAS DETECTORS & VENTILATION

MATERIAL VAPOUR DENSITY

AIR 1.0
PROPANE 1.56
ETHYLENE 0.97
HYDROGEN 0.07
ACETYLENE 0.9
KEROSENE 4.5 (Approx)

= Gas Detector
 Area Classification
ZONE 0 In This Zone, A Flammable Atmosphere Is
Continuously Present, Or Present For Long Periods.

1000 ≤ 8760 hrs per year

ZONE 1 In This Zone, A Flammable Atmosphere Is

Likely To Occur During Normal Operation.

10 ≤ 1000 hrs per year

ZONE 2 In This Zone, A Flammable Atmosphere Is

Not Likely To Occur During Normal Operation But If It Does,
Its Duration Will Be For A Short Time Only.

0 ≤ 10 hours per year

 Area Classification
Zones – Diagrammatic Representation
Small Circles 45° Cross Hatching

Zone 0 Zone 1

Zone 2 Non Hazardous Zone

45° Slanting Lines
Area Classification
Fixed Roof Storage Tank
 Area Classification
1 2

3
 Area Classification
Sources of Release
Welded pipe Non-hazardous

Flanged Joint - Zone 2

300mm Diameter min standard

Pump Gland - Zone 1

Generically, a movement of a pump may
change the zone or manufacture may choose
the zone

Space above liquid in a closed tank - Zone 0

 Grouping
Gas or Dust Representative
Description
Sub Division Material
Methane
I Mining
(Firedamp)
II IIA Propane Surface
II IIB Ethylene Industries
II IIC Hydrogen/Ace Gas
Combustible
III IIIA Flyings Surface
Non-Conductive Industries
III IIIB dust Dust
III IIIC Conductive Dust
 INGRESS PROTECTION
IP 1 2 st nd
(Additional Letters)
Solids
1st Figure Protection against Solids 1st Figure Protection against Solids

IP Test Comment IP Test Comment

0   No protection

1
Protected against solid bodies 4
greater than 50mm diameter. Protected against solid bodies
(e.g. accidental contact with the greater than 1.0mm diameter
hand) (e.g. thin tools and fine wire).
 
 
2
Protected against solid bodies 5  
greater than 12.5mm diameter. Protected against dust (no
(e.g. finger) harmful deposit)
   
Dust Proof
3  
Protected against solid bodies
greater than 2.5mm diameter 6  
(e.g. tools, wires) Completely protected against
  dusts
 
Dust Tight

Where there is no requirement for a protection rating with

regard to one criteria the digit is replaced with an X.
 INGRESS PROTECTION
IP 1 2 (Additional Letters)
st nd

Liquids
2 nd
Figure Protection against Liquids 2nd Figure Protection against Liquids

IP Test Comment IP Test Comment

0   No protection  

1   5  
   
Protected against vertically falling Protected against jets of water from all
drops of water (condensation) directions
   

2   6  
   
Protected against drops of water Protected against powerful jets of
falling up to 15° from the vertical water from all directions
   

3   7  
 
Protected against water sprayed up Protected against the effects of
to 60° from the vertical temporary immersion in water 
   

4   8  
  Protected against the continuous
Protected against splashing water effects of  immersion in  water having
from all directions regard to specific conditions
   

Additional letters that can be appended to classify only the level of Further letters can be appended to provide additional information
protection against access to hazardous parts by persons: related to the protection of the device:
Level Protection against access to hazardous parts with Letter Protection against access to hazardous parts with

A Back of hand H High voltage device

B Finger M Device moving driving water test

C Tool S Device standing still during water test

D Wire W Weather conditions