osHa DSEMIEET ise Glesreas Grremere Breese Occupational Safety & Health Administration — We Can Help What's New | Offices Home || Woes | Aegubtons | Enorcoment | Date &Statstes | Tanne || beaters || Newson || Smatausness | OSHA << Back to Consiucten Qutisach Program Hazardous (Classified) Locations Construction Safety and Health 4s Depart of bor utreach Program ofc of ranng td Ean Outreach Progr May 1996 “The Raton Electrical Code (NEC) defines hazardous fcators as thse areas "where fire or explosion hazards may est de to Narmable gases or apo, Mammable gids, combust cst, or ltable ers o hings -Asubstantal part ofthe NECe dvetac tote dcusson of hazardous locaton, Thats because electra equipment can became a source of nition in these vate areas. Arles 00 through 504, and $10 trough S17 prow dasseaton and intallaton standart forthe ue of elcrical equipment selections. The ites of the NEC developed a short-hand method of Gescrbng areas casi as Raradousloators, One ofthe purposes of is dscusson i to explain ths Alassiiatin system. Hazarcus locators ae cassfiec in thee ways bythe National Elecrcl Code: TVPE, CONDITION, and NATURE Hazardous Location Types ‘ass T Locations ‘Accorng to the NE, there are thee types of hazarous locations. The fst typeof hazards one which is create by the presence of famable gases or vapors in the a sich 2s natural as 2 gasaline vapor When these mates are feud inthe atmosphere, a ptetal fr exh east, which could beige fan ‘tect or oter source oF gniton fs present. The Code wrters Rave refered to this frat ye of hazaré as Css I So, 2 Cass f Hazardous Locaten fone In which ‘ammabl gases or vapors may be presentn the a sult quarts tobe explosive a pnb, Some tpl Cass Ica are + Petrcleum refers, and gasline storage ard dispensing areas; 1 bry cleaning planes where vaprs fer caning fds can be present, 1 pray ishing areas; 1 Alrerattrangars and ful serving areas; and 1 Untty 23s plans, and aperatonsinvlung storage and handing of igus petoleum gas or natural as {Allo ese are Class 1" gas or vapor hazardous loans. Al requre special les I hazardous lcaton equpment. ‘ass I Locations “The second typeof hazard lst by the Natoral Electrical Code are those areas made hazardous bythe presence of combustible dit. These ae refered to inthe Code as "Cass Locators." Fel pulverized rataral suspended inthe atmosphere, can cause as powertl an excleson as one ocuring aa peleum ear. Some Spical Cis locations are + Gra elevators; 1 our and feed mie; 1 Hams tat manuacre, use or store magnesium o aluminum powers; 1 rode of pastes, medknes and freners 1 odes of Starch or candies: + Spicesrndng plants sugar plants and coc plans; and * Coal reparation plans and other carbon heen oF processing areas ‘dass mt Locations (dass I nazarous locations, acoreng tothe NEC, are areas where there ae ealilantable fiers or fhings preset, de tothe types of materials being handled, stored, er processed. Te Mibers ond ngs arena kay to be suspended inthe a, ut can cllet around machinery O on lghtng atures and where Rest, © Spark or hot metal can gnte then Some typical Class heaton ee: + Teale is, etn gins; Catton Sed ils, Nax processing ants; and 1 Fat that shape, puberize or ct wood ons create saws oF hing Hazardous Location Conditions Jn action tothe types of hazardous locations, the Natal Elecrcl Code algo concern self wth the knds of condos under which these hazards are present he Code species tat havarcous material my exist n several ferent ends of condons whch, fr simply, cen be cascbed 3, fst normal condor, an, secon, abo canons. 1m the normal conten the hezerd wous be expected tobe present in everyey production operations or during frequent repair and malntenance act ‘When the hazardous materi is expected o be cortned win dose containers oF csed systems and wll be preset onl trough accdertal rapture, breakage oF unusual fauty operation, the sitvaton could be calc “abrermal” “The Code wrtrs have cesgratd these two nds of condor very sly, as Dvslon 1 ~normal ané Dion 2~ abnormal Class, Class and Cass hazardous locations canbe ether Dison 1 or Divison 2, ood examples of Clas, Dison 1 locations would be the areas near open dome lading facts or adhere to rele vas ina petrleum refinery, because theClosed storage cums containing flammable igus in an inside storage room wou not narmaly low the hazardous vapors to escape ino the atmosphere Bt, ‘what happens one ofthe containers leaking? Youve gota Dwvsion2 “abnormal - condition «2 Class Dison 2 hazarcous location So far we've covered the vee types of hazardous locations: Chass 1- 98 0 vapor lass 1 st, ane (las I~ Soers and ings ‘And secondly, kd of conten Dison 1 = normal canton, and Dison 2- abrarmal condos. Now lets move onto 2 discussion ofthe nature of hazardous sbstnees, Nature of Hazardous Substances “The gases and vapors of Class Ilecations ae broken it fur grou by the Cod: , 8, C, and D. These mata are groupe according tothe lption terperatre ofthe suasanc,¢s explosion pressure, ae oer fammasle character tes he nly substance In Group As acetylene. Acetylene makes up aly avery small percantage of hazardous locators. Consequently, le equpmentsavalable for ‘bs pe oflocation. Acetylene sa 2s wth exremely igh explosion presses ‘coup 8's another relatively small pment of casiied areas. Ths eroupindudes hydrogen and eter materials wth sina charaerses.¥ you follow certain Sete estrtions in the Code, some of these Grup Blocatons, cer than hyogen, can actualy be salisied wth Group C and Group equipment Croup C and Group O ae by far the mast usal Cass 1 oraups. They comprise the greatest percentage ofl Class hazardous locator. Found in Group Dare mary tf the most commen flarnmable substances suchas bulane, geecine, ata gas and propane, tn class it- dust eatans- we fi the hararcous mater in Groups E,F, and. These oroups are classe acorns to the lnton temperature ae the Conc of e hazardous substance. Candy san portant coeieraion n 03s cations, especaly wit etal dss etal dusts are categorized in the Cade as Grup E Indes here ae lurioum and magnesium dst ae other metal dusts of siiar nature, Croup F atmospheres contin such materials as carbon Black, charcoal us, coal and coke dust 1h Group Gwe have oan dusts, Nou, starch, cosa, and similar types of materia Review Lets quckly review, Hazardous locators are dassifed in tee ways by the Nasonal Elcical Code: TYPE, CONDITION, and NATURE, ‘There are tvee types of hazardous condton: Cass I 98s and vapor, Cass I ust, and Class I Nbers and vgs. “There ae wo Kn of hazardous contions: Dison 1 - orm, and Bison 2- abnormal ‘Ad ial, there isthe nature of the hazardous substance... where we Fi Groups , B,C, nd Din Clas Tbcatons, and in Class locations: Groups EF, and G. Lets itustrate our Code "wansatin with an earmpe How would we dassfy a storage arca where LP gas scntaned in close tanks? LP gas is a Css Isubstarco (Gas orvapor). Is Dion 2 because t woud only be tthe atmosphere fan accidental rupture or leakage ecued, adits Group O materal “The tale blow summarizs the varios hazardous (lsc) locations. Surman of Cass, HU zardous Locations GASSES OS DVSIONS 1 2 Gases, [haste Rermaly expesve and | Net normaly presentn vapors, razarcous anepese fare” | tyecogen, ee ancerivaton (bat may Tis secidertaly ext) ©: Bhar, ee (an 501) |: tyrocarbons, uss, solvents, ee Tass |e: Metal dusts conductive" [Igntatle quanates of ust Dust not normally anc explosive) normally areor may sein | suspendec nan (ae Sispension, or conducive igntable concentration 502) |r: carbon dusts ome are Jeustmay be pesert | (but may acdertaly conaucive,* and alare fst). Dast ayers ae eorene) present 6: Four, stare, ain, combustible pBste oF chemicalous (expose) Tbs | Teles, woce-working ote [Panda or used in “Stored or handled in Jans | easly entable, but rat key | manacuring storage (excuse of things | tobe exlsne) mmanacrng) (ae 503) ‘NOTE: Elecicaly conductive dst ae dusts witha resist less han 108 cb centimeter. Hazardous Location Equipment. Sources of ignition Now that weve complete aur Code transation, we're eadyto move to the nest part of our cussion - hazardous location equipment. To do this, k's rst take Too a he ways in whch electra equipment con become a source of gnton, There are tee of hem, _rcs an spark produced by the normal operation of equpment ke motor starters, contactors ad stthes, can git hazardous lation atmosphere pocopned Pahoratcin ay, he hightemperature of sme het-poducing equipment, such s lamps and Iighing fares, can ignite flammable atmospheres i they exceed te gniton temperature ofthe hazardous material. The Natonal Elec Code reques special marking of heat - producing ecupmene wih temperatures above 100% (212°) etal equipment flare anther way an eplsion cul be Sto. A brn oto @ amp socket shorting fermi could spor real aster a harardous oct, [Equipment Design and Construction Sa CHIT an ASIF Now lets gt down to spec harware and how ts éesignad ad constuctd tobe suitable for hazardous locators. starting wih hose designe fr Cass I... gas o vapor... appleatons he fst requrrent fra las Lercesures strength. The endesure must be song encugh to contan an expleson within. The walls must be thick enough witstand te tena stain Ira to be explsion peat n case gas or vapors get inside. Secondly, rust funeson ata temperature Blow the gion temperature oF the sureunding aospere “The equpment must also pode 2 way forthe buring gases to escape fom the device as they expand during a internal explosion; bt only ater they have been Cooke of ond thee ames quenched” Ths escape eute for he exlodng gases prowsed Lough several ypes of fame pas (One type the ground surface ae path, Here the surfaces are ground, mate, and elé oa tleanceof 15 ten-thousanets of an inch. Ths permits gases to escape, but oly afer theyve been sur acled, so they wor te the volte surrouding atmosphe: ‘Arcther kind of fame path isthe treaded fame path. After an oglsin, the gas vavels ou the threaded jl... butas toes, eae of placed gases may also escape around the shafts of cpertors used inthe aclu, UA, here agin, dose tolerances ae ved to quench he burning gas Examples of wa fame paths are shown below. Flame Paths et gaaea escape ‘much apenas soi ote refOPENINGS DESIGNED INTO THREADED JOINT Explosion Proof em Accurately Machned Groundbint of Flange, Nexium Gao 0.0015 In Minimurn Flame Path Lengih ie 3/8 inch OPENINGS DESIGNED INTO GROUND JOINT ‘You can see how importants to make certain ata ame paths are protec ring installation and maintenance, and even during handing, shipping, and storage of exposior-proof material Eve" sight camage to a lame pth ean permit burning gases to escape, nting the sureunding atmesshere, As, al cver bots must installs forthe same reason, A single missing alt culd allow the akaseof farming gases. Jn designing equipment fer Clas 1, sion 1 lacations tis assure thatthe hazardous gases or vapors wil be presen an eventual seep nt the endosue, so ‘Bere sa very real chance for an intral explosion occur tn the case of Class, however, the asumpsons are ferent and so the designs aferent. In lass the ecosve cust is kept away rom equpmen housed ‘win the endosure so than neal explsion ca ake aoe and there Is no longer any need fo heavy exploson-cntaling construction, o lame paths. THs diferene explains why Class 1 Dison 1 equipment canbe called eposin-poot, and Cas I equipments called dustignion poof Class I equipment has a iferest se of reuters 1, Rims ea ot the st 2, Rrmust operate below te ipniton temperature ofthe hazardous substance 3, Rrmustallow fra dust laket. Thats, the Bul.up of dust coloctng on tp ofthe device that can eause its run "ht and ignite the sureurng soesphere For Cass I equipment, there is very ite france inthe design from Clas IL Class ll equpment must minimize eniranc of firs and fyings prevent the escape ‘of spars, burning materal or hot metal parle resulting fom fale of equpment; an operate at a temperature that wil prevent he gniton offers ‘ecumdated onthe equpment “There are many enclosures, devices, nd hres sutae fr al bee dasses. This simply means that meets the speicatons for each nda type. A Hass deve wich cau cortain an explosion of a specie’ ges woud aso have to prevent dust from entering the ercosreto be sutable fr Class. Te cose tokrance of the ame path whi coos the burning gases aso dose enowah to exclude explosive dst so that & gasket woud not be need, Proper isan of hazardous locaton equipment cll or the use of Seals, Spec figs are required to hnep hot gases rom traveling through the cond syst igiting other areas if an internal exoson ocuts a Class T dee. They ar also needed In certain stualors to huep favable dusts frm etering dus Igniter-poof enclosures treugh the conaut As shown nthe gure elon, when arcs ad sparks ause lion of famable gases and vapor, the equ ‘cori the explosion and ents only cool gases ito the surrounding hazardous area.Hazardous Location Equipment Seals Arcs and spaiks confined seas ar8 plavea van an approved neusing in thrended coneut Seas limit the exlotion to 27 an area close We tha source ‘Tha aqupment is designed so shot only! cool-greae ae tllonad Yo vert to the urrounang Nexsroo area ‘Sealing figs are designed to be file wth a chemical compound after the wies have been ple. As the compound hardens, seals passageways for dst and ‘gases. As show nthe figure below, each condut ran entering an enclosure for snes, creut breakers, fses,reles, resistors, o other apparatus which may Produce ac, spars, or high temperatures within ass I estos, condst Seals shall be placed as cee as practicable and no case more than 18 Inches (257 Fon fom such endcsures, Agen, consul te Code for specie us forthe use of seas SeatingEreloeure * seating Rigorous standards for hazardous lcation equipment have been set. Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories canduct acl expo tests under laboratory Concer. For each less 1 endosute they experiment wi dferere motures of gas anda fom very lean madres (a srallpercetage of e350 very rch matures (ahh perentage af as) unt they And te one that creates the greatest expos pressure. Topas Inspection, the equipment must net oly prevent he Ignitan ofthe suroundng atmosphere, but also beable to withstand a hytostat test where olf pumped io the endosure at high presse t est the ents of Erength. The device wil pot pass ures can resist rplre at four tenes the maximum pressure (ound i the exposion tests For example, explosion testing shons a maxima pressure fora junction box of 250 pounds per square inch (ps) fo get approval, Ue box mest beable to wiser 1,000 pio hydrostatic pressure = FOUR TIMES the masirum artipted pressure of 250 ps Summary Ragardess ofthe cause of 2 hazardous location iis necessary that evry precaution be taken in gard agains igtion ofthe atmosphere Electrical equipment can bea potertial source af ignition through one of hee ways: 1. Aes and spars 2. High emperetres 5. Beevieal equipment fale Hazardous locaton equipment is desired and constructed to firnate the potent fr ignition of the atshere “The Natal Becca Code isthe “Bble" of the Elaccal Industry, and the primary source of referees for hazardous locations. The RECs also the basis for OSHA stancaré 1026.40, Fazardous (Clase) Locators. Thee ae several OSHA standard hat requre the insalston of electra ing and equoment in hazardous (classe) leeaton according to the requrements of Subpart K acral. The NEC should be consulted 3s a supplement to the OSHA standards for adatonal tackground information concersingPazardos loatone US. Department of Labor | Occupational ety & Heath Admtration | 209 Coston Ave, NW, Washington, 9 20210 | “Teephone: 800-321 0558 (6782) | TV: 8779895527 WwaLOSHA.gov