Guide to Hazardous Locations

Explosive Gas Atmospheres

Ex Marking Protection Concepts Area Classification

US (NEC 500) and CA (CEC Annex J18)
® Type of Protection Code Market Application Standard Protection Principle Flammable Material Flammable Material Flammable Material
General Requirements US Class I, Division 1 & 2 FM 3600 Present Continuously Present Intermittently Present Abnormally
Type of Protection CA Class I, Division 1 & 2 CAN/CSA C22.2 No. 0
(optional except for I.S.) Permitted Class
IEC / EU Zone 0 Zone 1 Zone 2
AEx US Class I, Division 1 & 2 ANSI/UL 60079-0
Ex CA Class I, Division 1 & 2 CAN/CSA C22.2 No. 60079-0
US (NEC® 505) Zone 0 Zone 1 Zone 2
Ex EU Category 1G, 2G, & 3G EN 60079-0 US (NEC® 500) Division 1 Division 2
Ex IEC EPL Ga, Gb, Gc IEC 60079-0 CA (CEC Section 18) Zone 0 Zone 1 Zone 2
Explosionproof for Class I, Increased Safety AEx e (or AEx eb)
Ex e (or Ex eb)
US
CA
Class I, Zone 1
Zone 1
ANSI/UL 60079-7
CAN/CSA C22.2 No. 60079-7
CA (CEC Annex J18) Division 1 Division 2

Division 1, Groups A, B, C, D T5
IEC classification per IEC 60079-10-1
Ex eb EU EPL Gb EN 60079-7 EU classification per EN 60079-10-1
US classification per ANSI/NFPA 70 National Electrical Code® (NEC®) Article 500 or Article 505
Ex e (or Ex eb) IEC EPL Gb IEC 60079-7 CA classification per CSAC22.1 Canadian Electrical Code (CEC) Section 18 or Annex J
AEx ec US Class I, Zone 2 ANSI/UL 60079-7
Permitted Division Temperature Class Ex ec CA Zone 2 CAN/CSA C22.2 No. 60079-7
No arcs,
(optional except for Division 2) (T5 and T6 optional) Ex ec EU Category 3G EN 60079-7 sparks or
Permitted Group
Non-Incendive
Ex ec
(NI)
IEC
US
EPL Gc
Class I, Division 2
IEC 60079-7
FM 3611
hot surfaces
Equipment Grouping
Ambient temperature ranges other than standard (-25°C ≤ Ta ≤ +40°C) must be marked.
(NI) CA Class I, Division 2 CAN/CSA C22.2 No. 213 US (NEC® 505)
CA (CEC Section 18)
US (NEC® 505) Non-Sparking AEx nA (or AEx nAc)
Ex nA
US
CA
Class I, Zone 2
Zone 2
ANSI/UL 60079-15
CAN/CSA C22.2 No. 60079-15 EU US (NEC® 500)
American Ex nA (or Ex nAc) EU Category 3G EN 60079-15 Typical gas IEC CA (CEC Annex J18)
National Standard Temperature Class Ex nA (or Ex nAc) IEC EPL Gc IEC 60079-15 Acetylene Group IIC Class I/Group A
Type of
Permitted Class Protection Explosionproof (XP) US Class I, Division 1 FM 3615 Hydrogen (Group IIB + H2) Class I/Group B
(XP) CA Class I, Division 1 CAN/CSA C22.2 No. 30
Flameproof AEx da US Class I, Zone 0 ANSI/UL 60079-1 Ethylene Group IIB Class I/Group C
Class I, Zone 1, AEx db [ia] IIC T5 Gb AEx da CA Zone 0 CAN/CSA C22.2 No. 60079-1 Propane Group IIA Class I/Group D
Ex da EU Category 1G EN 60079-1
Methane Group I* Mining*
Explosion-Protected Gas Group Equipment Ex da IEC EPL Ga IEC 60079-1
Protection Level *Not within scope of NEC . Under jurisdiction of MSHA. Not within scope of CEC.
®

Permitted Zone I.S. Output AEx d (or AEx db) US Class I, Zone 1 ANSI/UL 60079-1
(optional) Ex d (or Ex db) CA Zone 1 CAN/CSA C22.2 No. 60079-1
Ambient temperature ranges other than standard (-20°C ≤ Ta ≤ +40°C) must be marked.
Ex db EN Category 2G EN 60079-1

CA (CEC Section 18), EU and IEC

Ex db
AEx dc
IEC
US
EPL Gb
Class I, Zone 2
IEC 60079-1
ANSI/UL 60079-1
Contain
the explosion
Temperature Class
Type of Protection Temperature Ex dc CA Zone 2 CAN/CSA C22.2 No. 60079-1 and extinguish US (NEC® 505)
Equipment the flame
Class Ex dc EU Category 3G EN 60079-1 CA (CEC) Section 18)
Protection Marking
Ex dc IEC EPL Gc IEC 60079-1 EU US (NEC® 500)
Level
Powder-Filled AEx q (or AEx qb) US Class I, Zone 1 ANSI/UL 60079-5 IEC CA (CEC Annex J18)
Ex q CA Zone 1 CAN/CSA C22.2 No. 60079-5
Ex db [ia Ga] IIC T5 Gb Ex q (or Ex qb)
Ex q (or Ex qb)
EU
IEC
Category 2G
EPL Gb
EN 60079-5
IEC 60079-5
450°C T1 T1
300°C T2 T2
Explosion-Protected Gas Group Equipment
Enclosed Break AEx nC (or AEx nCc) US Class I, Zone 2 ANSI/UL 60079-15
Ex nC CA Zone 2 CAN/CSA C22.2 No. 60079-15 280°C T2A
I.S. Output Protection
Level
Ex nC (or Ex nCc) EU Category 3G EN 60079-15 260°C T2B
Ex nC (or Ex nCc) IEC EPL Gc IEC 60079-15
Ambient temperature ranges other than standard (-20°C < Ta < +40°C) must be marked. 230°C T2C
Intrinsic Safety (I.S.) US Class I, Division 1 FM 3610
215°C
Additional EU marking per 2014/34/EU (ATEX) (I.S.)
AEx ia
CA
US
Class I, Division 1
Class I, Zone 0
CAN/CSA C22.2 No. 157
ANSI/UL 60079-11
T2D
200°C T3 T3
CE Conformity Marking Ex ia CA Zone 0 CAN/CSA C22.2 No. 60079-11
Explosion Protection Marking Ex ia EU Category 1G EN 60079-11 180°C T3A
Type of Exposive Atmosphere: Ex ia IEC EPL Ga IEC 60079-11 165°C T3B
G (for gas, vapor, mist) AEx ib US Class I, Zone 1 ANSI/UL 60079-11
160°C T3C
Ex ib CA Zone 1 CAN/CSA C22.2 No. 60079-11
Ex ib EU Category 2G EN 60079-11 Limit 135°C T4 T4
1725 II 2(1) G Ex ib
AEx ic
IEC
US
EPL Gb
Class I, Zone 2
IEC 60079-11
ANSI/UL 60079-11
energy of
sparks and 120°C T4A
surface 100°C T5 T5
Ex ic CA Zone 2 CAN/CSA C22.2 No. 60079-11 temperature
Identification Number of Notified Body Category for I.S. Output Ex ic EU Category 3G EN 60079-11 85°C T6 T6
Involved in Production Control Stage Ex ic IEC EPL Gc IEC 60079-11
Category Note 1: For associated intrinsically safe apparatus suitable for installation in a hazardous location, the symbols for the type of protection
Equipment Group 1 (for Zone 0) “ia” or “ib” are enclosed within square brackets, e.g. Class I, Zone 1, AEx db [ia] IIC T4.
Note 2: For associated intrinsically safe apparatus not suitable for installation in a hazardous location, both the symbol “Ex” or “AEx” and
I (for mines) 2 (for Zone 1)
II (for other than mines) 3 (for Zone 2)
the symbol for the type of protection “ia” or “ib” are enclosed within the same square brackets, e .g. [AEx ia] IIC; in this case, a temperature
class is not included.

Limited Energy AEx nC (or AEx nCc) US Class I, Zone 2 ANSI/UL 60079-15
Ingress Protection (IP) Codes
Ex nL CA Zone 2 CAN/CSA C22.2 No. 60079-15 First characteristic Numeral Second characteristic Numeral
EPL/Category Pressurized
Ex nL (or Ex nLc)
Type X
IEC
US
EPL Gc
Class I, Division 1
IEC 60079-15
FM 3620 (NFPA 496) Protection against solid bodies Protection against liquid
Typical Zone Type X CA Class I, Division 1 NFPA 496
Definition IEC EU (ATEX) Type Y US Class I, Division 1 FM 3620 (NFPA 496) 0 No protection No protection
EPL Group Category Group of Application Type Y CA Class I, Division 1 NFPA 496 1 Objects greater than 50mm Vertical (90˚) dripping water
Mines, “very high” Type Z US Class I, Division 2 FM 3620 (NFPA 496)
level of protection
Ma M1 2 Objects greater than 12mm 75˚ to 90˚ dripping water
Type Z CA Class I, Division 2 NFPA 496
I I N/A AEx px (or AEx pxb) US Class I, Zone 1 ANSI/UL 60079-2 3 Objects greater than 2.5mm Sprayed water
Mines, “high”
level of protection Mb M2 Ex px (or Ex pxb) CA Zone 1 CAN/CSA C22.2 No. 60079-2 4 Objects greater than 1mm Splashed water
Ex pxb EU Category 2G EN 60079-2
Gas atmospheres, 5 Dust-protected Water jets
“very high” level Ga 1G 0 Ex pxb IEC EPL Gb IEC 60079-2
of protection AEx py (or AEx pyb) US Class I, Zone 1 ANSI/UL 60079-2 6 Dust-tight Heavy seas
Gas atmospheres, Ex py (or Ex pyb) CA Zone 1 CAN/CSA C22.2 No. 60079-2
Ex pyb EU Category 2G EN 60079-2
7 Temporary immersion
“high” level of Gb II 2G II 1
protection Ex pyb IEC EPL Gb IEC 60079-2 8 Continuous immersion
Gas atmospheres, AEx pz (or AEx pzc) US Class I, Zone 2 ANSI/UL 60079-2 9 High pressure/temperature water jet
“enhanced” level Gc 3G 2 Ex pz (or Ex pzc) CA Zone 2 CAN/CSA C22.2 No. 60079-2
of protection Ex pzc EU Category 3G EN 60079-2
Level of protection assigned to equipment based on its likelihood of Ex pzc IEC EPL Gc IEC 60079-2 Approximate U.S. enclosure type equivalent to IPXX
becoming a source of ignition
Note 3: For associated equipment used with pressurized equipment, such as a pressurization control system installed within the hazardous
location, the symbol for the Type of Protection is enclosed within square brackets e.g. Ex db [p] IIC T4 Gb. Type IP Type IP Type IP
Note 4: The associated equipment not suitable for installation in a hazardous location, both the symbol “Ex” or “AEx” and the symbol “p”
Keep
FM Approvals is your global
are enclosed within the same square brackets, e.g. [Ex p]. In this case, a temperature class is not included.
flammable 1 10 3S 54 6 and 6P 67
Restricted Breathing AEx nR (or AEx nRc) US Class I, Zone 2 ANSI/UL 60079-15 gas out

conformity assessment solution Ex nR CA Zone 2 CAN/CSA C22.2 No. 60079-15 2 11 4 and 4X 55 12 and 12K 52
Ex nR (or Ex nRc) EU Category 3G EN 60079-15
Ex nR (or Ex nRc) IEC EPL Gc IEC 60079-15 3 54 5 52 13 54
Market Recognized product certification marks Encapsulation AEx ma US Class I, Zone 0 ANSI/UL 60079-18 3R 14
Ex ma CA Zone 0 CAN/CSA C22.2 No. 60079-18
Ex ma EU Category 1G EN 60079-18
U.S. C US
Ex ma IEC EPL Ga IEC 60079-18

Canada C C US
AEx m
AEx mb
US
US
Class I, Zone 1
Class I, Zone 1
ANSI/UL 60079-18
ANSI/UL 60079-18 Acronyms
Ex mb CA Zone 1 CAN/CSA C22.2 No. 60079-18
ATEX Atmosphère explosible
Ex mb IEC EPL Gb IEC 60079-18
EU (ATEX) Ex mb EU Category 2G EN 60079-18 CA Canada
FM Approvals can also issue IECEx Test Reports, Quality Assessment Reports and
AEx mc US Class I, Zone 2 ANSI/UL 60079-18 CEC Canadian Electrical Code (CSA C22.1)
Ex mc CA Zone 2 CAN/CSA C22.2 No. 60079-18
Certificates of Conformity.
EPL Equipment Protection Level
Ex mc EU Category 3G EN 60079-18
Ex mc IEC EPL Gc IEC 60079-18 EU European Union
FM Approvals Liquid Immersion AEx o (or AEx ob) US Class I, Zone 1 ANSI/UL 60079-6 IEC International Electrotechnical Commission
1151 Boston-Providence Turnpike, Norwood, MA 02062-9102 Ex o CA Zone 1 CAN/CSA C22.2 No. 60079-6
I.S. Intrinsic Safety
Phone: +1 (1)781 255 4851 Fax: +1 (1)781 762 9375 Ex o (or Ex ob) EU Category 2G EN 60079-6
E-mail: information@fmapprovals.com Ex o (or Ex ob) IEC EPL Gb IEC 60079-6 MSHA Mine Safety and Health Administration
AEx oc US Class I, Zone 2 ANSI/UL No. 60079-6 NFPA National Fire Protection Association
In the United Kingdom: FM Approvals Limited Ex oc CA Zone 2 CAN/CSA No. 60079-6
1 Windsor Dials, Windsor, Berkshire, SL4 1RS Ex oc EN Category 3G EN 60079-6 NEC National Electrical Code (NFPA 70)
P0296 © 2013 FM Approvals Ex oc IEC EPL Gc IEC 60079-6 US United States of America
(Rev. 10/2017) All rights reserved.
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