CHAPTER 10

INSTALLATION OF ELECTRICAL INSTRUMENTS

IN HAZARDOUS LOCATIONS

Electrical equipment in hazardous locations cannot always be installed in

explosion-proof enclosures because of cost, space limitation, and installation
complexity. For simple electrical instruments, the cost of explosion-proof
enclosures can be substantial. A suitable practice to reduce cost and space, and
to simplify installation is to install ordinary electrical instruments in an air or inert
gas purged general purpose enclosure. Air or inert gas purging enclosures are
suitable for Div. 1 and Div. 2 hazardous locations. The addition of air or inert gas
(nitrogen) into the general purpose enclosure at sufficient flow will prevent the
entry of a hazardous vapor. The general purpose enclosure shall have a size of
2 feet deep, 2 feet high, and 2.5 feet wide, or any other combination of
dimensions not to exceed 10 cubic feet.
If air for purging is used, the compressor intake air must come from a
nonhazardous location, and must be of top quality. Plant compressed air is
usually not suitable,. Instrument air that passes through hazardous locations
should be avoided as much as possible.
The Instrument Society of America has issued a booklet entitled
"Recommended Practice for Instrument Purging for Reduction of Hazardous Area
Classification." It gives detailed information of the requirements of the various
types of purging for instruments. Also detailed information in purging can be
found in NFPA 496, standard for purged and pressurized enclosures for electrical
equipment.
The purging for enclosures as recommended by the Instrument Society of
America and NFPA 496 is classified into three types: Z, Y and X purging. Type
Z purging will reduce the classification of the area within an enclosure from Div.
2 to nonhazardous. Type Y purging will reduce the classification of the area
within an enclosure from Div. 1 to Div. 2. Type X purging will reduce the
classification of the area within the enclosure from Div. 1 to nonhazardous.

A. Type Z Purging

The following is required to reduce the classification of the area within an

enclosure from Div. 2 to nonhazardous:
 (1) Pressure control valves are required to prevent the power
from being applied before the enclosures have been purged.
(2) Before power is turned on, the enclosure must have been
purged by a minimum of 10 enclosure volumes of purge
air, thereby maintaining an internal enclosure pressure of
not less than 0.1 inch of water.
(3) When power is on, the enclosure must be maintained under
a positive pressure of not less than 0.1 inch of water.
(4) Safety interlocks to remove power upon failure of purging
supply are not required. However, an alarm for purging
system failure suitable for the location must be provided.
(5) Under normal operation, no external enclosure temperature
over 80% of the ignition temperature of the gas or vapor
under consideration shall exist under normal operating
conditions with 125% voltage applied to the instruments.
(6) A warning name plate in red must be mounted on the
instrument and must be visible before the enclosure is
opened. The warning nameplate shall state that the
enclosure shall not be opened before power to all devices
has been removed and that the enclosure has been purged
for x minutes as recommended by the manufacturer.

B. Type Y Purging

The following is required to reduce the classification of the area within an

enclosure from Div. 1 to Div. 2:
(1) All requirements for Type Z purging will also apply for
Type Y.
(2) In addition, all equipment shall conform to the requirements
for Div. 2 locations.

C. Type X Purging

The following is required to reduce the classification of the area within an

enclosure from Div. 1 to nonhazardous.
(1) Installation of enclosures with Type X purging must be
avoided where possible. It is not considered good practice
to install electrical equipment in connection with Type X
purging.
(2) In this system a device must be incorporated to
automatically remove all potentials from all circuits upon
 failure of purging supply.
(3) A door switch must be provided to automatically remove
potential from all circuits within the enclosure if the
enclosure can be readily opened without the use of a key or
tools.
(4) A timing device must be incorporated to prevent power
from being applied until sufficient time has elapsed to
permit ten enclosure volumes of purge gas to have passed
through the enclosure while maintaining an internal air
pressure of at least 0.1 inch of water.
(5) The maximum operating temperature shall be the same as
for Type Z purging.

Exact and detailed information as to the type of electrical equipment and the
volume of purged gas can be obtained from NFPA 496 and the booklet ISA-S-
12-4, sponsored by the Committee on Instrumentation for Hazardous Areas.