BASIC PRINCIPLES OF

EXPLOSIVE PROTECTION
IEC 60079

Ex – Explosive protection

PRESENTER

• Name: Mr. Trần Công Quốc Huy

• Email: huy.tran@tcatech.org

• Tel: 0908 920 602

• Certificate No: IECEx CP TRNR20.0044

Ex 001
https://www.iecex-certs.com/deliverables/CERT/47847/view

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Cause of Explosion
• Ignition source:
- Electrical spark
- Mechanical spark
- Hot surface
- Static electricity
- Chemical reaction

• Flammable Material
- Flammable gas
- Flammable vapour
- Flammable mist
- Conductive dust

Explosive range

LEL: Lower explosive limit

LEL=LFL: Lower flammable limit

UEL: Upper explosive limit

UEL=UFL: Lower flammable limit

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 Explosive range
TCVN5507:2002 : HOÁ CHẤT NGUY HIỂM – QUI PHẠM AN TOÀN
PHỤ LỤC C: CÁC CHỈ SỐ NGUY HIỂM DỄ CHÁY NỔ

Giới hạn cháy dưới(% Giới hạn cháy trên (%

TT Nhiên liệu
thể tích) thể tích)

1 Propane 2,31 9.53

2 Butane 1,8 8,0

3 Khí than 4,0 29,0

4 Khí than ướt 5,0 46,0

5 Hydro 4,0 75,0

6 Acetylene 2,5 80,0

7 Xăng 0,5 7,0

Hazardous area (EPL)

Frequency & Duration

of Explosive atmosphere
Equipment Protection Level

Zone 0, 20 (Ga, Da): continuously or for long

periods frequently

Zone 1, 21 (Gb, Db): likely to occur in normal

operation occasionally

Zone 2, 22 (Gc, Dc): Not likely to occur in

normal operation. If it dose occur, will persist
for a short period only

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 Hazardous area

Zone map

Zone 0 Zone 20

Zone 1 Zone 21

Zone 2 Zone 22

Hazardous area

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 Ex marking

Ex d IIB T6 Gb

Type of Protection Temperature Class

Explosive Protection Gas Group Equipment Protection

Level

Equipment group
• Divide into 3 groups
- Group II: base on MIC and MESG
- Group III: base on dust properties

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 Gas group II
Base on:
• MIC: Minimum Ignition Current
• MESG: Maximum Experimental Safe gap

Dust group III

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 Temperature class
Just for Gas

Gas group and T class

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 Method of Explosion protection
• Exclusion
Ex m, Ex p, Ex o, Ex t, Ex nR
• Containment
Ex d, Ex q, Ex nC
• Energy limitation
Ex i, Ex nL
• Dilution
Ex v
• Avoidance of Ignition sources
Ex e, Ex nA

Exclusion
• Ex p: use higher inside enclosure than surrounding atmosphere to
prevent explosive atmospheres to come in contact with internal
ignition sources. (zone 1, 2, 21, 22)

• Ex t (tD): Solid and tight enclosure prevents dust from entering

ignition source within the enclosure. (zone 21, 22)

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 Containment
• Ex d (flameproof): withstand explosion pressure inside enclosure.
(Zone 0, 1, 2) No IP requirements
Flamepaths

• Ex q (powder filled): Excludes larger amount of gas inside enclosure,

and the powder, such as granulated quaz, quenches any flames.
(zone 1, 2)

Energy limitation

• Ex i, iD (Intrinsic safety): Limit the energy of any sparks in the circuit

to values below the MIE (Minimum Ignition Energy) value of the gas
present. (zone 0, 1, 2, 20, 21, 22)

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 Dilution
VENTILATION

Natural Artificial ventilation:

ventilation fan, extractor

Degree of ventilation: VH, VM. VL

Availability of ventilation: Good, fair, poor

Avoidance of Ignition source

• Ex e (Increase safety): Avoid Ignition source. (zone 1, 2)

No spark,
Certificate terminals
Internal and external Temperature class
Excludes Dust and water, minimum IP54

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 Ex n – zone 2 protection

Simplified version of the other method.

- Ex nA non sparking (Ex e)
- Ex nC enclosed (Ex d, q)
- Ex nR restricted breathing
- Ex nL limit Energy (Ex i)
- Ex nP simple overpressure (Ex p)

Tighs joints and seals

Type of protection (Normally)

Type of protection
Equipment
Gas Dust
Ex d; Ex de
Motor Ex t (tb)
Ex nC (zone 2)

Ex d
Panel Ex t (tb)
Ex p
Ex d; Ex de
Lighting Ex e…… Ex t (tb)
Ex nR (zone 2)
Ex d; Ex de
Socket and plug Ex t (tb)
Ex n (zone 2)
Ex d; Ex de
Switch Ex t (tb)
Ex n (zone 2)
Ex e
Junction box Ex t (tb)
Ex i

Instrument Ex i (ia) Ex iD

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 Sample

Ex d Ex e

Ex p
Ex d e Ex d e i mb op is

Ingress Protection (IP)

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 Main Ex Certification

• ATEX (Atmosphères Explosibles): Europe Certification

EU 1999 / 92 / EC; EU 2014 / 34 / EU (94 / 9 / EC)
• IECEx: International Certification (Global)

• NEC (500/505): North American Certification

• ANZEx: Australian/New Zealand Certification

ATEX Marking

II 2 G II 2 G d IIB T6
ATEX
symbol G: Gas
Type of Temperature
D: Dust
Protection Class
Equipment Group
I: coal mines
II: everywhere Gas Group

Equipment Category
1: use in zone 0
2: use in zone 1
3: use in zone 2

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 IECEx Marking
Gas

Ex d II T6 Gb
Old
Ex db IIB T6

Present Ex db IIB T6 Gb
From 2018

IECEx Marking
Dust

2004-2007 Ex tD A21 IP65 T120°C

A: standard test Maximum surface
B: Bespoke test temperature
21: zone 21

2007-2017 Ex tb IIIC T120°C Db

Present Ex tb IIIC T 120°C

xxx Db
From 2018

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 Certificate
Year of
certification special conditions for
X safe use

PTB 09 ATEX 1042 U Component

Name of certifying
Certificate
R Recertified
body
Number

IECEx NEM 13.0021U

Nameplate

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 Installation

Installation-Ex d

Flamepath

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 Junction box-Ex e, Ex d

No “NPT

Aluminium-Ex e Stainless Steel-Ex e GRP- Ex e

Aluminium - Ex d Aluminium - Ex e Max. 6sq.mm

Ex I (Intrinsic safety)

Ex ia IIC T6 Ga

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 Alloy products

THANK YOU!

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