497-6 spark discharge to ignite methane under the same test condi- dons. (SieIEC 793.) MIE (Minimum Ignition Energy). The minimum energy requited from a capacitive spark discharge to ignite the most ‘easily ignitable mixture of a gas oF vapor. Chapter 2 Classification of Combustible Materials 21 National Blectrical Code® Criteria, 21.1 Article 500 of the NEC designates as hazardous (class- fed) any area in which a combustible material is or may be present in the atmosphere in sulficient concentration to pro- uce an ignitable mixture. Article 500 designates three major categories of hazardous areas: Clas 1, Glass Il, and Class I, Ina Class | hazardous area, the material present is a flam- ‘mable gas or vapor. In a Class Il hazardous area, the material present is a com- bustle dus. In a Class II] hazardous area, the material present is an Ignitable fiber or ying. ‘This recommended practice i limited to Class I hazardous (classified) areas. ‘The Class I category is further subdivided into either Class 1, Divison 1 or Division 2; or Class I, Zone 0, Zone 1, or Zone Ba follows: (2) Class I, Divison I in which the combustible material is present normally or frequently (b) Class I, Division 2 in which the combustible material is present asa result of infrequent failure of equipment or con (©) Class I, Zone 0 in which the combustible material is present contsiuously or for long periods (@) Class I, Zone 1 in which the combustible material is likely to be present normally or frequently because of repair ‘or maintenance operations or because of leakage (6) Class, Zone 2in which the combustible material is not likely to occur in normal operation, and ifit does occu it will ‘exist only for a short period 24.2° ‘The intent of Article 500 of the NECis o prevent com Dustible material from being ignited by elecuical equipment and wiring systems, 2.2 Behavior of Class I (Combustible Material) Gases, ‘Vapors, and Liquids. 22.1 LighterthamAir (Vapor Density Less than 1.0) Gases. “These gases tend to dissipate rapidly in the atmosphere. They will not affect as great an area a8 heavierthan-air gases or va pors. Exeept in enclosed spaces, such gases seldom accumu late to form an ignitable mixture near grade level where most clecuical installations are located, A lightershan-air gas that has been cooled sufficiently may behave as a heavierthan air ‘525 until it absorbs heat from the surrounding atmosphere, 2.2.2 Heavierthan-Air (Vapor Density Greater than 1,0) Cases. ‘These gases tend to fall t grade level when released, The gas ‘may remain fora significant period of time, unless dispersed by natural or forced ventilation, A heaviershan-air gas chat has ‘beer heated suficienly wo decrease its density may belive as 2 1997 Exton CLASSIFICATION OF FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS lighterthanair gas until cooled by the surrounding. atmo- sphere. 228 Applicable to AU! Densities. As the gus diffoses into the ‘surrounding air, the density ofthe mixture approaches that of sir. 224 Compressed Liquefied Gases. These gases are stored, above their normal boiling point but are kept in the liqui state by pressure, When released, the liquid immediately ex- pands and vaporizes, creating large volumes of cold gas. The ‘old gat behaves like a heaviershan air gas 2.2.5 Cryogenic Flammable Liquids and Other Cold Lique- fied Combustible Materials. Cryogenic liquids are generally handled below -150°F (-101°C). These behave like flammable liquids when they are spilled. Small liquid spills will immedi ately vaporize, but larger spills may remain in the liquid state for an extended time. As the liquid absorbs heat, it vaporizes and may form an ignitable mixture. Some liquefied combust- ble materials (not eryogenic) are stored at low temperatures and at pressures close to atmospheric pressure; these include ‘anhydrous ammonia, propane, ethane, ethylene, and propy- lene. These materials wil behave as described above. 226 Flammable Liquids. When released in appreciable quan tity, a Class 1 quid all begin to evaporate ata rate that depends ‘on its volatl: the lower the fash point, the greater the vola- ity; hence, the faster the evaporation. The vapors of Clas! lig ‘ds form ignitable mixtures with aie at ambient temperatures ‘more or less readily, Even when evolved rapidly, the vapors tend ‘0 disperse rapidly, becoming diluted to a concentration below the lover flammable iit. Until this dispersion takes place hone ever, these vapors will behave like heavierthan air gases. Class I liquids normally vil produce ignitable mixtures that will travel some finite disance form the point of origin; thus, they will normally tequire area clasification for proper electrical system design, 22.7 Combustible Liquids. A combustible liquid will form aan igntable mixture only when heated above its flash point. 22.7.1. With Class I liquids, the degree of hazard is lower be- cease the vapor release rate is low atthe normal handling wd Sorage temperatures, In general, there liquids will not form ignitable mixtures with air at ambient temperatures unless heated above their flash points. Als, the vapors will not travel as far because they tend to condense as they are cooled by am- bent air Cass I liquids should be considered capable of pro- ducing an ignitable mixwre near the point of release when handled, processed, or stored under conditions where the liq- ‘uid may exceed its lash point. 227.2. Class IIA liquide have flash points at or above 140°F (60°C) but below 200°F (98.4°C). These liquids do not form ig- niable mixtures with air at ambient temperatures unless heated above their fash points. Furthermore, the vapors cool rapidly in air and condense. Hence, the extent of the area re- quiring electrical classification wil be very small or nonexistent. 22.1.3 Class IIB liquids have flash points at or above 200° (@3.4°C). These liquids seldom evolve enough vapors to form ‘gnitable mixtures even when heated, and they are seldom ig- nited by properly installed and maintained general purpose clecirical equipment. A Class [IIB liquid will cool Below is flash point very quickly when released. Therefore, area class- fication is seldom needed and Class TB liquids are not in ‘duded in Table 2.CLASSIFICATION OF CLASS (COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL) AREAS down of the containers or system, or as the result of the ab- normal operation of the equipment with which the liquids or gases are handled, processed, or used. (©) Ignitable mixtures normally are prevented by postive mechanical ventilation, but may become hazardous as the result of failure or abnormal operation of the verdilation ‘equipment. (€) The area is adjacent to a Class 1, Zone 1 location, from Which ignitable concentrations of flammable gases or vapors could be communicated, unless such communication is pre- vented by adequate positive pressure ventilation from 2 source and effective safeguards against ventilation failure are provided. The Zone 2 classification usually includes locations where volatile flammable liquids or flammable gases or vapors are "used, but which would become hazardous only in case of an ac- cident or of some unusual operating condition, 33-Undlasified Areas. $3.1 Experience hasshown tha the release ofignitabie mi tures from some operations and apparatus is 30 infrequent “that area clasification is not necessary. For example, it ROL . usualy necessary to caniy the following areas where combus- Ube materials are processed, stored, or handled: (8) Areas that have adequate ventilation, where combust- ble materials are contained within suitable, wellmainained, closed piping systems (@) Areas that lack adequate ventilation, but where piping systems are without vahe, fitings, anges, and similar acces Stories that may be prome t leake (o) Areas where combustible materials are sored in sult able containers S82. Areas considered to have adequate ventilation include the following: (a) An outside area (8) A building, room, or space that is substantially open and free of obstriction fo the natural passage of ar either vertically or horizontally (Such areas may be roofed over with: ho wall may be roofed over and closed on one side, or may be provided with suitably designed windbreaks) (©) An enclosed or partly enclosed space provided with ventilation equivalent to natural ventilation (The ventilation system must have adequate safeguards against failure.) 33.3 Open flames and hot surfaces associated withthe op ation of certain equipment, such as boilers and fired heaters, provide inherent thermal ignition sourees. Electrical classifica tion is not appropriate in the immediate vicinity ofthese facil- ities. However, it is prudent to avoid installing electrical equipment that could be a primary ignition source for poten- jal leak sources in pumps, valves, and 0 forth, or in waste product and fuel feed lines. 33.4 Experience indicates that Class IIIB liquids seldom evolve enough vapors to form ignitable mixtures even when heated, and are seldom ignited by properly installed and ‘maintained general purpose electrical equipment. 38.5 Experience has shown that some halogenated liquid hydrocarbons, such as. tichloroethylene; I, 1,LArichloroet hhane; methylene chloride; and 1,l-dichloro-Lluoroethane 497-19 (HCRC-141b), which do not have flash points, but do have a flammable range, are for practical purposes nonflammable ‘and do not require special eleetrcal equipment for hazardous (classified) locations, 3.4 Extent of Classified Areas. 341 The extent of a Division 1 or Division 2; or Zone 0, ‘Zone 1, oF Zane 2 area requires careful consideration of the following factors: (@) The combustible material (b) The vapor density of the material (c) The temperature of the material (@) The processor storage pressure (@) The size of release (®) The ventilation $4.2 The firs step is w identify the materials being han- dled and their vapor densities. Hydrocarbon vapors and gases are generally heavier dhan air, while hydrogen and methane fare lighter than air, The following guidelines apply: (2) In the absence of walls, enclosures, or other barziers, and in the absence of air currents or similar disturbing forces, the combustible material wil disperse. Heavierthan-sir vapors ‘will rave primarily downward and oupwardslighterhanair v= ‘pors will rvel upward and outward, Ifthe source ofthe vapors Js single point, the horizontal area covered by the vapor will bea circle. (») For heaviershanair vapors released at or near grade level, ignitable mixtures are most likely to be found below grade level; next most likely at grade level; with decreasing likelihood of presence as height above grade increases. For lighterthan-air gases, the opposite is rue! there is litle or no havard at and below grade but greater hazard above grade, {c) In cases where the source of the combustible material is above grade or below grade or in cates where the combusti- ble material is released under pressure, the limits of the elas fied area are altered substantilly. Also, a very mild breeze ‘may extend these limits. However, a stronger breeze may accelerate dispersion of the combustible material so that the extent ofthe classified area is greatly reduced. Thus, dimen- ‘ional limits recommended for either Class, Division 1 or Di- ‘mut be based on experience rather than relying solely on the theoretical diffusion of vapors. S43. The size ofa building and is design may influence con siderably the elassifcation ofthe enclosed volume. In the case inadequately ventilated room, it may be appropri- the entire room as Class I, Division 1 or Class I $44 When clasifying buildings, careful evaluation of prior experience with the same or similar installations should be made. Is not enough to merely dentifya potential source of the combustible material within the building and proceed im- ‘mediately to defining the extent of either the Clas, Division Vor Division 2; or Clast I, Zone 1 or Zone 2 classified areas, Where experience indicates that particular design conceptis, sound, a more hazardous classification for similar installations ‘may not be justified. Furthermore, itis conceivable that an area might be reclassified from either Class, Division 1 10 vision 2, or from Glass I, Division 2 10 unclassified or from 1967 Eaton497-58 combustible material. This testing produced more variability ‘when the results of specific combustible materials were com- pared. Howeves, it was found that the minimum igniting cur- Fenis of one test could be favorably compared with those of ‘other tests ifa ratio value based on methane was applied. This testing has resulted in the generation of MIC ratio daca Other testing has been performed when it was incorrectly assumed that a factor called “Minimum Ignition Energy” (MIE) and “Autoignition Temperature” (AIT) were related. and could be used to place materials imo groups. The fact tat ‘these were independent factors resulted in deletion of AITs as aabasis for group determination in the 1971 NEC, -MIEs have been found to exhibit theoretical results that do ‘not translate into practical designs that can be applied to ac- wal electrical devices with their associated energy levels. Since the primary concern js to have electrical devices that can safely operate when used in locations clastified by clas, group, and division, the definitions for the four gas groups Ihave been defined on the basis of the parameters providing ‘he most significant basis for that design, which are MESG and MIC ratio. Lacking these values, expericace-based data indi- cating equivalency to atmospheres providing similar hazards may be used. ALL, Table Note 5. Selecting clectrical oquipment based fn the lowest AT showin Tab 21 may be unncsrriy e- Stricdre. As an example, in an area handling a commercial trade of hexane, Table 31 tabulate Sve diferent isomers of fRexane solvent (GH) with the AIT ranging from alow of 225'C 10.4 high of H8°C. The AIT of the sohent mixta ‘should be determined either experimentally or fom the sp Plier. Itwould be expected thatthe commercial grade of hex ne would have an AIT ranging fom 268°C to 200°. A21.2. Electrical installations for classified areas may be de- ‘Signed in various manners. No single manner is best in all e- specis for all types of equipment used in a chemical plant Explosionproof enclosures, pressurized equipment, and ia- insicaly safe circuits are applicable to both Division 1 and Division 2 areas. Nonincendive equi Vision 2 areas. No ‘equipment and other “less restrictive equipment, as specified in NFPA70, National Ei ited in Division areas, Factors such as corrosion, weather, maintenance, equip: ‘ment standardization and interchangeabiliy, and possible process changes or expansion frequently dictate the use of Special enclosures or installations for electrical systems. How ver, such Factors are outside the scope of this recommended practice, which is concerned entirely with the proper applica tion of electrical equipment to avoid ignition of combustible materials, 424.2 Combustible materials shown in Table 2 have been ‘classified in groups. Some of these combustible materials are indicated in groups that may not seem to agree with defined -MESG or MIC ratio values, but have been continued within groups due to historical experiences and specific properties that are not reflected in MESG or MIC ratio testing, For ‘example, one source for group classifications was Matix of Combustion-Relevani Properties and Classification of Gases, Vapors, ‘and Secied Solids, NMAB 353-1, published by the National ‘Academy of Sciences. Those materials whose group classifica tions are marked with asterisks were previously assigned group classifications based on tests conducted in the Wester- 1097 Eon GLASSINCATION OF FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS berg Apparatus at Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (See An Investigation of Flammable Gases oF Vapors with Respot to Explo- sion Poof Electrical Equipment, UL Bulletin of Research No. 58, ‘and subsequent Bulletins Nos. 58A and 58B, reissued July 23, 1993, ‘as UL Technical Report No. 38.) All other materials were a. signed group classifications based on analogy with tested ma- terials and on chemical stracture, or on reputable published data reflecting MESG or MIC ratio values. (Se for example, IEC 7920.) While the classifications of these latter materials rep. reseot the best judgment of three groups of experts, itis con- ceivable that the group classification of any particular untested material may be incorrect. Users of these data should be aware that the data are the result of experimental determination, and 28 such are influenced by variation in ex: perimental apparatus and procedures and in the accuracy of tation. Additionally, some of the datz have at an above-ambient temperature in order ‘that the vapor is within the flammable region. Variation in the temperature for the determination would be expected to i fluence the result of the determination. Also, values shown generally represent the lowest reported in reputable, docu- imented studies, In certain instances, therefore, it may be 2 visable to submit an untested material to a qualified testing laboratory for verification of the assigned group classifice tion, Autoignition temperatures fisted in Table 21 are the lowest value for each material as listed in NFPA 325, Guide to ‘Fire Hezard Properties of Fanmable Liquids, Gass, and Volatile ‘Slids, or as reported in an article by C.J. Hilado and 8. W. (Clark in Chenseal Enginaering, September 4, 1972, S42 The degree to which air movement and material vol aly combine to affect the extent of the clasifid area can be iiustrated by two experiences monitored by combustible gas detectors. Gasoline spilled in a sizable open manifold pit gave ro Indieation of igatabie mixtares beyond 8 fo 4f (0.9 m 10 L2m) from the pit when the breeze was 8 0 10 mph (130 16m he) slighty smaller pool of more volatile materia, blocked on one side, was monitored during agente breeze. At rade, vapors could be detected for approximately 100 fe {G0:m) downwind; however, at 18 in. (4 cn) above grade there was no indication of vapor as close as 30 ft (9 m) from he poo! "These examples show the great variability that may be resent in situations of this ype, and pointout again thateare- Ex'consideration must be gien toa lage numberof factors when classifying areas. ‘A37.2.5 When fire hazard properties of a combustible ma- terial are not avalabe, the appropriate group may be es tated using the following information: (2) Minimum igniting current (MIC) ratio (b) Ratio of upper flammable li limit (©) Molar heat of combustion mult fammable limit (€) Ratio of the lower flammable limit to the stoichiomet- rie concentration (©) Maximum experimental safe gap (MESG) (© Minimum ignition energy (MIE) (@) Stoichiometse Name temperature (8) Knowledge ofthe chemical structure to lower flammable by the lower