ATEX Groups & Zones

Groups -

Equipment for mines

Group I

Firedamp content Any firedamp content Beyond limiting value

Category of equipment which

may be used following 2014/34/EU M1 M2
directive

Equipment for surface installations

Group II

Zones 0 20 1 21 2 22

G D G D G D
Nature of atmosphere
gas dust gas dust gas dust

Explosive atmosphere Continuously present Not likely to be present Accidentally present

Category of equipment which

may be used following 2014/34/EU 1 2 3
directive

Zones -

Hazardous areas for Group II are further divided in zones, these zones relate to the predicted occurrence of when an explosive
atmosphere may be present in the area. These zones are defined as being:

Color Zones Presence of gas/dusts

0 Continuously present (during long periods)

1 Not likely to be present (regular service)

Accidentally present (short-time-service - never in regular

2
service)
Color Zones Presence of gas/dusts

20 Continuously present (during long periods)

21 Not likely to be present (regular service)

Accidentally present (short-time-service - never in regular

22
service)
Types of Protection -

Zones
Protection
Description Symbolic drawing
symbol
0 20 1 21 2 22

Protection by constructional safety according to

EN 13463-5
This standard establishes manufacturing requirements
"c" which have been proven safe, in order to avoid any
inflammation sources such as friction or heating sparks.
It applies to apparatus where movement and friction
can occur (clutches, brakes, bearings, springs...).

Flameproof enclosure
Refers to an electrical apparatus whose explosive parts
are enclosed in an explosion proof casing. This casing
"d" will resist the pressure generated by the internal
explosion of an explosive mixture and will prevent the
explosion from penetrating to the ambient explosive
atmosphere.

Increased safety
Refers to an electrical apparatus with a high safety
coefficient. Such an apparatus is free from excessively
"e"
high temperatures and, like under normal service
conditions, cannot develop inside and outside electric
arcs and sparks.

"ia" Intrinsically safety

Refers to a circuit in which neither sparks nor
temperature can ignite an explosive atmosphere, if
"i"
generated under the service conditions specified by the
"ib" standard regulations (normal and faulty operating
conditions).

Encapsulation
Refers to a special casing in which the parts, of an
electrical apparatus which could ignite an explosive
"m"
atmosphere by either sparking or heating, are
encapsulated in a compound in such a way that this
explosive atmosphere cannot be ignited.

Method of protection for electrical equipment designed

so that it will not ignite the surrounding explosive
atmosphere in normal operation and under certain fault
"n" conditions specified in the standard. There are 5
categories of equipment: nA (non-sparking), nC
(hermetically sealed), nR (restricted breathing), nL
(limited energy), and nP (simplified pressuration).

Immersion
"o"
Refers to electrical apparatus immersed in oil.
 Pressurised enclosure
Pressurization is maintained against atmosphere by
means of a neutral inert gas.
"p"

"q" Refers to a casing containing powder filling.

Temperature Classes -

Group I

Temperatures < 150°C or < 450°C according to coal dust accumulation on equipment

Group II

Temperature class for gas (G) Permissible surface temperature of electrical equipment

T1 450°C
T2 300°C
T3 200°C
T4 135°C
T5 100°C
T6 85°C

Ignition Temperature for Dusts -

The dust ignition temperature depends on its consistency and its nature. The ignition temperatures for various types of dust are
available from reference tables: examples.

Ignition temperature
Dusts
Clouds 5 mm layer

Aluminium 560°C > 450°C

Charcoal 520°C 320°C

Coal dust (lignite) 380°C 225°C

Cocoa 590°C 250°C

Coffee grounds 580°C 290°C

Corn 530°C 460°C

Methyl cellulose 420°C 320°C

 Paper fiber 570°C 335°C

Phenolic resin 530°C >450°C

Polyethylene 440°C melts

PVC 700°C >450°C

Sugar 490°C 460°C

Soot 810°C 570°C

Starch 460°C 435°C

Toner 520°C melts

Wheat 510°C 300°C