Selection of Explosion Protected

Equipment for Hazardous Locations

Pieter Coetzee
Explosion Prevention Consultant
South African Flameproof Association

MIE wor
 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 60079-14IEC/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,
Unofficially a leak of gas.
14Killed
• damage to plants Many Hospitalized
February 7, 2008
• Environmental impact Sugar Involved
Reynosa Mexico reported the death of 30
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)
I (mines) energized Very high “0” Ma Same as
Ga
I (mines) de- High 1 Mb Same as
energized Gb
in
presence
of Ex
atmospher
e
Very high
II (gas) explosive 0 Ga ia, ma
atmospher
e > 1000
hrs/yr
High
II (gas) explosive 1 Gb ib, mb, px,
atmospher py, e, o,
e between q, d
10 and
1000
hrs/yr
II (gas) explosive Low 2 Gc nA, ic, pz
atmospher
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

utilized by this equipment:‘ia’ indicates In
STEP 2 Gas Groups - Ex d IIC T4 Gb
Industry Gas Group Selection of equipment
Substance MIE
Mining Industry
Group I
I Methane 200µJ Equipment only suitable
for mines unless it is
additional approved for
surface: Marked I/IIC
Surface Industry
Group II
IIA Propane 180 µJ IIA; IIB and IIC certified
and equipment may be use in
higher an IIA area.
IIB Ethylene 60 µJ IIB and IIC certified
-180 µJ equipment may be used
in an IIB area.
IIC Hydrogen 20 µJ – Only IIC certified
60 µJ equipment is allowed to
be used in an IIC area.
According to in the table are typical gases for each group.)
(The gases noted
SANS 60079-0,ignition energy
MIE – Minimum
2009,
Gas Group IIC is the most severe gas group
equipment
group for dust
Verification of gas groups:

NOTE: The above shows clear reference of II and IIC together.

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. Maximum surface temperature
T- Ignition temperatures of
The maximum surface of temperature
the equipmentmust remain below the ignition temperature of the all
Class
flammable substances at all times. combustible substances
T1 equipment
The 450°C requirements rise from T1 to T6. > 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 4EMR9(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

Energy Intrinsic Ex ia
Ex ib
Zone o
Zone 1
Instrumenta
Limiting Safety Ex ic Zone 2 tion;
Ex iaD Zone 20 control gear
Containmen Flameproof Ex d Zone 1 & 2 Switchgear;
t motors;
pumps
Refined Increase Ex e Zone 1 & 2 Motors;
Mechanical Safety Light
design fittings
Refined Non- Ex nA (ec) Zone 2 Motors;
Mechanical sparking Light
design fittings
Segregation
(Isolation)
Pressurizati Exp;
Ex pD
Zone 1& 2
Zone 21
Motors; analysers;
control rooms
on
Segregation
(Isolation)
Encapsulati Ex ma
Ex m;
Zone 0
Zone 1& 2
Solenoids;
on Ex mD Zone 20 fuses;
relays
Sand filling Ex q Zone 1 & 2 Strip
EMR9(2) Selection of Explosion Protected Equipment (EPE)

EPE for use in EPL’ Hazardo

different zones s us area
divided
into
zones
and EPE
allowed
in these
 Verification of EPE for hazardous locations
Zone 1; Gas Group IIB; Temp: T4 Ex d IIC T5 Gb - 20 to 40°C

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
Equipment Hazardous Yes/N
(EPE) Location o
Information
Classificatio Chemical Gas Tem
n Gro p.
up Clas
Y s N
Example:
Y N
Ex nA IIB T2 Zone 1 N Illuminating IIA Y T3 N N
Paraffin
N N
Comments:
EPE
N N
protection
type (nA)
not Y Y
applicable
to the
Classificatio
n Zone 1.
Equipment
Practical Exercise: Memorandum
Equipment Hazardous Yes/N
(EPE) Location o
Information
Classificatio Chemical Gas Tem
n Gro p.
up Clas
s
Example:
Ex nA IIB T2 Zone 1 N Illuminating IIA Y T3 N N
Paraffin
Comments:
EPE
protection
type (nA)
not
applicable
to the
Classificatio
n Zone 1.
Equipment
(EPE)
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).