Hazardous areas outside North America are classified by gas groups and zones.

Zones are used to define the probability of the presence of flammable materials.

Groups classify the exact flammable nature of the material.

Protection Types are used to denote the level of safety for the device. Equipment approved
receives a temperature code indicating the maximum surface temperature of the equipment.

Zones
The zone defines the probability of hazardous material being present in an ignitable
concentration in the surrounding atmosphere.
Zone 0
Zone 1
Zone 2

Area in which an explosive gas-air mixture is continuously present or present

for long periods.
Combustible or conductive dusts are present. Area in which an explosive
gas-air mixture is likely to occur for short periods in normal operation.
Area in which an explosive gas-air mixture is not likely to occur, and if it
occurs it will only exist for a very short time due to an abnormal condition.

Protection Types
Different protection techniques are used to address the hazardous zones.
Zone
Ex d
Ex e
Ex ia
Ex ib
Ex o
Ex p
Ex q
Ex m
Ex n or Ex N

Flameproof (Explosion proof) Enclosure

Increased Safety
Intrinsically Safe
Intrinsically Safe
Oil Immersion
Pressurized Apparatus (Purged Apparatus)
Powder Filling (Sand Filling)
Encapsulation
Non incentive or/and normally no sparking circuits

1, 2
1, 2
0, 1, 2
1, 2
2
1, 2
2
1, 2
2

Flameproof (Explosion proof) Enclosure

All electrical circuits are enclosed in a house strong enough to contain any explosion or fire that
may take place on the inside.
Increased Safety
Electrical circuits incorporates special measures to reduce the probability of excessive
temperatures and the occurrence of arcs and sparks in normal service.

Intrinsically Safety
The electrical energy available in circuits and equipment, is limited to a level to low to ignite the
most easily ignitable mixtures in a hazardous area.
Intrinsically safe barriers, as Zener, are installed in the circuit to limit current and voltage in the
hazardous areas to avoid sparks or hot spots under fault conditions.

Hazardous Area Types of Protection

Temperature Codes
A mixture of air and hazardous gases may ignite by coming in contact with a hot surface. An
ignition depends on surface area, temperature and the concentration of the gas.
Certified equipment are tested for maximum temperature ratings by approval agencies.
Equipment for Group II receives a temperature code indicating the maximum surface
temperature.
Temperature Code
T1
T2
T3
T4
T5
T6

F
842
572
392
275
212
185

The coding is based on a 104 oF (40 oC) ambient temperature.

The automatic ignition temperature can be found in IEC 79-4.

Critical Temperature Parameters For Dust Explosions

C
450
300
200
135
100
85

Groups
Electrical equipment are divided into two groups where Group I covers equipment used in mines
and Group II covers all other applications. Group II is subdivided into three subgroups where the
specific hazardous materials within each group can be found in CENELEC EN 50014.
Group I
Group IIA
Group IIB
Group IIC

For application in below ground installations (mines) where methane

(firedamp) and coal dust may be present.
For application in above ground installation where hazards due to propane
may exist.
For application in above ground installations where hazards due to ethylene
may exist.
For application in above ground installations where hazards due to hydrogen
or acetylene may exist.