Selection of Explosion Protected

Equipment for Hazardous Locations

Pieter Coetzee
Explosion Prevention Consultant
South African Flameproof Association

MIE workshop 2015

Contents
Introduction
Standards
Occupational Health and Safety Act. (Act 85 of 1993) &
ARP 0108
Area Classification
Marking of Ex equipment
Equipment protection levels (EPL)
Gas Groups
Temperature Classification
Selection of Explosion Protected Equipment
Conclusion
Introduction
Hazardous Location Definition
An area in which an explosive gas atmosphere or
combustible dust, in the form of a cloud is present, or may
be expected to be present, in quantities such as to require
special precautions for the construction, installation and
use of equipment
Explosion protected
descriptive of apparatus designed and approved for use in
hazardous locations in accordance with a suitable
protection method, including Ex d, Ex i, Ex e, Ex p, Ex nA, Ex
m and Ex q
Standards

IEC/SANS 60079-14 IEC/SANS 60079-17 IEC/SANS 60079-19

Three components are required for an explosion
or fire to occur

Oxygen

Flammable Substance

Ignition Source
Ignition Source
 Possible results from explosions, incidents and
fires
Includes:
loss of life

loss of production (Financial Impact)

Explosion in Reynosa Mexico,
damage to plants Unofficially a leak of gas.
14Killed
Environmental impact Many
Hospitalized
February 7, 2008
Reynosa Mexico reported the death of 30
Sugar Involved
contractors/PEMEX workers and 42 injured
Loss of life
Acts and regulations
Act – The Act shall refer to the latest issue of the Act
Industry: Mines
- Mines Health and Safety Act (Act 29 of 1996)

Industry: Surface
Occupational Health and Safety Act (Act 85 of 1993)
To meet safety requirements as per section 44 of the OHS Act.
Electrical Machinery Regulation (EMR)

EMR 9(1)
Every employer or user shall identify all hazardous locations
and classify them
EMR 9(2)
The equipment must be appropriate to the area
classification
EMR 9(3)
The end user shall be in possession of a certificate in a form
acceptable to the chief inspector - IA certificates as per ARP
0108 etc.
STEP 1 EMR 9(1)Area Classification /Map
Area classification is:
is a method of analysing and classifying the explosive environment,

takes into account gas groups and temperature classes.

is to facilitate proper selection and installation of apparatus to be used

safely in that environment,

The basic underlying philosophy is SAFETY of life and property by

quantifying the location.
Objectives of Area Classifications
An approximate structure of the procedure is outlined in the following block diagram
 EMR 9(1)Area Classification /Map

Area divided into Zones

Important information
Important information on Area Classification
drawing/Map
Zones/EPL (0/Ga; 1/Gb; 2/Gc for gas or 20/Da; 21Db;
22/Dc for dust)
Material name (flammable substance)
Flash point
Ignition temperature
Gas group (IIA; IIB; IIC)
Temperature class for flammable substance( T1- T6)
Extend of the zones ( vertical and horizontal in meters)
Equipment Protection Level (EPL)
The level of protection assigned to equipment based on:
its risk of becoming a source of ignition, and
distinguishing the differences between
explosive gas atmospheres,
explosive dust atmospheres

The higher the risk like zone 0, 20 - a higher level of protection is required like
Ex ia; ma.
The lower the risk like Zone 2, 22 - a lower level of protection is required like
Ex ic, p .

EPL-Scale
Equipment Protection Level (EPL)
Minimum type of
Group Ex risk Risk Zone EPL
protection

I (mines) energized Very high “0” Ma Same as Ga

de-energized in
I (mines) presence of Ex High 1 Mb Same as Gb
atmosphere

explosive atmosphere Very high

II (gas) 0 Ga ia, ma
> 1000 hrs/yr

explosive atmosphere
High ib, mb, px, py, e, o, q,
II (gas) between 10 and 1000 1 Gb
d
hrs/yr

explosive atmosphere
II (gas) between 1 and 10 Low 2 Gc nA, ic, pz
hrs/yr

explosive surface > Very high

III (dust) 20 Da ta; ia; ma
1000 hrs/yr

explosive surface
High tb, ib, mb, p
III (dust) between 10 and 1000 21 Db
hrs/yr

explosive surface
tc, ic, p
III (dust) between 10 and 10 Low 22 Dc
hrs/yr
Safety Height and Hazard Depth
Typical example and interpretation of an Ex marking
E Ex ia IIC T6 Ga

Equipment protection level

Temperature Classification (T-Class) identifies the maximum ignition-

capable surface temperature which the equipment will exhibit.(T6 =85°C)
Unless otherwise stated, the maximum ambient temperature to which the
equipment may be subjected (and thus the maximum ambient temperature
for which the T-Class will be true) is 40°C

Gas Group/ Apparatus Group

The roman II indicates surface industry (not mining). IIC is the most
onerous subgroup in Group II.
Equipment which is suitable for IIC will also be suitable for IIA and IIB

Code letters indicate the type of protection (or types) of protection utilized
by this equipment:‘ia’ indicates Intrinsic Safety

Ex: is the symbol for explosion protection

The initial ‘E’ indicating conformity with European EN standards.

This ‘E’ is no longer used so it will not be shown on equipment which has
been designed and certified since around 2007
STEP 2 Gas Groups - Ex d IIC T4 Gb

Industry Gas Group Substance MIE Selection of equipment

Methane 200µJ
Mining Industry Equipment only suitable for mines unless it is
I additional approved for surface: Marked I/IIC
Group I

Surface Industry
Group II IIA; IIB and IIC certified equipment may be use
IIA Propane 180 µJ and higher
in an IIA area.

IIB and IIC certified equipment may be used in

IIB Ethylene 60 µJ -180 µJ
an IIB area.

Only IIC certified equipment is allowed to be

IIC Hydrogen 20 µJ – 60 µJ
used in an IIC area.

According to SANS 60079-0, 2009, equipment group for dust is to be group III - IIIA, IIIB or
IIIC for electrical equipment for places with an explosive dust atmosphere.
(The gases noted in the table are typical gases for each group.)
MIE – Minimum ignition energy
Gas Group IIC is the most severe gas group
Verification of gas groups:
The equipment requirements increase from II A to II C

Increase in the level of protection will increase the

cost !
STEP 3 Temperature Classes - Ex d IIC T4 Gb
Explosion proof equipment, installed within the Ex area, is divided into 6 temperature classes (T1 to
T6).
Temperature class is not – as it is often wrongly believed – the operating temperature range of the
equipment, but the maximum permissible surface temperature of the equipment, in relation to +
40°C ambient temperature on any surface area, and should not be exceeded at any time.
The maximum surface temperature must remain below the ignition temperature of the all flammable
substances at all times.
The equipment requirements rise from T1 to T6.

Maximum surface temperature Ignition temperatures of combustible

T-Class
of the equipment substances
T1 450°C > 450 °C

T2 300°C > 300 °C

T3 200°C > 200 °C

T4 135°C > 135 °C

T5 100°C > 100 °C

T6 85°C > 85 °C
Modification of Ex e enclosures

Special terminals
Ex e Special terminals
 HAC Temperature Classes – Zone 2 IIC T1
All flammable gases and vapours are placed in a gas group and a temperature class as per table.
 STEP 4
EMR9(2) Selection of Explosion Protected Equipment
(EPE)
Selection of EPE will always follow the area classification
Type of protection must be suitable for the Zone/EPL of use.

EPE must be covered by an approved Inspection Authority (IA) certificate

issued by an ATL.

Ingress protection (IP) Ratings – application.

Ambient temperature rating –20°C to +40°C if not on certification.

 Different Ex Techniques
Technique Protection Type Symbol Application Typical application Principle

Energy Limiting Intrinsic Safety Ex ia Zone o Instrumentation;

Ex ib Zone 1 control gear
Ex ic Zone 2
Ex iaD Zone 20
Containment Flameproof Ex d Zone 1 & 2 Switchgear; motors;
pumps

Refined Mechanical Increase Safety Ex e Zone 1 & 2 Motors; Light fittings

design

Refined Mechanical Non-sparking Ex nA (ec) Zone 2 Motors; Light fittings

design
Segregation Pressurization Exp; Zone 1& 2 Motors; analysers;
(Isolation) Ex pD Zone 21 control rooms

Segregation Encapsulation Ex ma Zone 0 Solenoids; fuses;

(Isolation) Ex m; Zone 1& 2 relays
Ex mD Zone 20
Sand filling Ex q Zone 1 & 2 Strip heaters,
capacitors
EMR9(2) Selection of Explosion Protected Equipment (EPE)

Hazardous area divided into zones and EPE

EPE for use in different zones EPL’s
allowed in these zones
0 1 2
Zone 0 EPE - Ex ia; ma Ga   
Zone 1 EPE - Ex ib; d; e; m; p; q Gb   
Zone 2 EPE - Ex ic; nA; nR; nC; Gc   
 Verification of EPE for hazardous locations
Hazardous Area Classification Equipment marking
Zone 1; Gas Group IIB; Temp: T4 Ex d IIC T5 Gb - 20 to 40°C

Verification sheet
Area Equipment Compliance
Zone 1 d (Gb) Suitable
Gas Group IIB IIC Suitable

Temperature class T4 T5 Suitable

Ambient - 20 to 40°C - 20 to 40°C Suitable

temperature
 Practical Exercise: Equipment selection and
verification for hazardous locations
Hazardous Location Information
Equipment (EPE) Yes/No
Classification Chemical Gas Group Temp. Class
Example:

Ex nA IIB T2 Zone 1 N Illuminating Paraffin IIA Y T3 N N

Comments: EPE protection type (nA) not applicable to the Classification Zone 1. Equipment (EPE) temperature class too high for the location temperature class.

Ex o IIB T2 Zone 1 Y Carbon Disulphide IIC N T6 N N

Ex m IIB T4 Zone 2
Y Ethyl Nitrite IIA Y T6 N
N

Ex ib II T4 Zone 0 N Ethylene Oxide IIB Y T2 Y N

Ex n IIB T2 Zone 1 N Acetylene IIC N T2 Y

N

Ex ib IIB T6 Zone 1
Y Octane IIA Y T3 Y
Y
Comments:
Practical Exercise: Memorandum
Hazardous Location Information
Equipment (EPE) Yes/No
Classification Chemical Gas Group Temp. Class
Example:

Ex nA IIB T2 Zone 1 N Illuminating Paraffin IIA Y T3 N N

Comments: EPE protection type (nA) not applicable to the Classification Zone 1. Equipment (EPE) temperature class too high for the location temperature class.

Ex o IIB T2 Zone 1 Y Carbon Disulphide IIC N T6 N N

Comments: Gas group incorrect; temperature class too high.

Ex m IIB T4 Zone 2 Y Ethyl Nitrite IIA Y T6 N N

Comments: Temperature class too high.

Ex ib II T4 Zone 0 N Ethylene Oxide IIB Y T2 Y N

Comments: Protection type can only be used in Zones 1 and 2.

Ex n IIB T2 Zone 1 N Acetylene IIC N T2 Y N

Comments: Protection type incorrect; Gas Group incorrect.

Ex ib IIB T6 Zone 1 Y Octane IIA Y T3 Y Y

Comments:
People are our most valuable asset and the industry must ensure
a safe work environment as per Section 8 and Electrical
Machinery regulation 9 as per the latest issue of the
Occupational Health and Safety Act and Regulations (85 0f 1993).