Guide to Explosive Atmospheres

Area Classification Protection Concepts ATEX Marking (European)

Code /
Standard Flammable Material
Present
Continuously (1)
Present
Intermittently
Present
Abnormally
Type of Protection
Symbol
Division / Zone Market Standard Concept of Protection
0598 II 2 G Ex db IIB T4 Gb
Electrical Equipment for Flammable Gas, Vapours and Mist
IEC / EN 60079-10-1 Gas / Vapour Zone 0 Zone 1 Zone 2 CE Marking Surrounding Explosion Equipment
IEC / CENELEC Combustible Dust or Ex db Zone 1 IECEx / ATEX IEC / EN 60079-1 Protected
Flameproof atmosphere: Protection
IEC / EN 60079-10-2 Zone 20 Zone 21 Zone 22 G - Gas
Ignitable Fibers Level of Protection Ex db Zone 1 Canada CAN/CSA-C22.2 No. 60079-1 Contain the Identification of the Level
D - Dust Type of Protection:
“db” explosion and Notified Body responsible
Gas / Vapour Zone 0 Zone 1 Zone 2 AEx db Class I, Zone 1 US ANSI / UL 60079-1 “db” - Flameproof
for EX Quality System
ATEX Directive 99/92/EC Combustible Dust or prevent flame approval.
“db eb” - Flameproof with increased
Gas group
Zone 20 Zone 21 Zone 22 safety terminal box
Ignitable Fibers (XP) Class I, Division 1 Canada CSA-C22.2 No. 145 / No. 30 propagation e.g. 0598 is the
Equipment Category:
“eb” - Increased Safety - Zone 1 Temp. Class:
Explosion Proof identification number for
1 for Zone 0 or 20 “ec” - Increased Safety - Zone 2 T1, T2, T3,
ANSI/NFPA 70 National (XP) Class I, Division 1 US UL 674 / UL 1203 2 for Zone 1 or 21 “nA” - Non-sparking T4, T5 or T6
SGS Fimko
NEC 501 Gas / Vapour Class I, Division 1 Class I, Division 1 Class I, Division 2 3 for Zone 2 or 22 “tb” - By Enclosure - Zone 21
Electrical Code Article 501 Ex eb Zone 1 IECEx / ATEX IEC / EN 60079-7
Increased Safety “tc” - By Enclosure - Zone 22
The European Commission M1 - Mines: Required “pxb” - Pressurized - Zone 1 Dust group
ANSI/NFPA 70 National Level of Protection Ex eb Zone 1 Canada CAN/CSA-C22.2 No. 60079-7 mark for explosion protection “pyb” - Pressurized - Zone 1
NEC 505 Gas / Vapour Class I, Zone 0 Class I, Zone 1 Class I, Zone 2 to remain functional Max. surface
Electrical Code Article 505 “eb” “pzc” - Pressurized - Zone 2 temperature:
AEx eb Class I, Zone 1 US ANSI / UL 60079-7 in the presence of an
Equipment group: explosive atmosphere T125ºC
ANSI/NFPA 70 National Combustible Dust or Ex ec Zone 2 IECEx / ATEX IEC / EN 60079-7 II Surface Industry M2 - Mines: Must Gas group:
NEC 502 Class II, Division 1 Class II, Division 1 Class II, Division 2 Increased Safety I: Mining
Electrical Code Article 502 Ignitable Fibers I Mines (underground be de-energized in Mines group
Level of Protection Ex ec Zone 2 Canada CAN/CSA-C22.2 No. 60079-7:16 No arcs, sparks or industries) the presence of an IIA: Propane max. surface
ANSI/NFPA 70 National Combustible Dust or “ec” hot surfaces explosive atmosphere IIB: Ethylene temperature
NEC 506 Zone 20 Zone 21 Zone 22 AEx ec Class I, Zone 2 US ANSI / UL 60079-7 IIC: Acetylene, Hydrogen is limited to
Electrical Code Article 506 Ignitable Fibers
Ex nA Zone 2 Canada CAN/CSA-C22.2 No. 60079-15 150°C.
Non-sparking Dust group:
CSA C22.1 Canadian “nA”
Gas / Vapour Class I, Zone 0 Class I, Zone 1 Class I, Zone 2 AEx nA Class I, Zone 2 US ANSI / UL 60079-15 - IIIA: combustible flyings
Electrical Code Section 18 - IIIB: non-conductive dust
CEC Sec. 18 (NI) Class I, Division 2 Canada CSA-C22.2 No. 0 / No. 213 - IIIC: conductive dust
CSA C22.1 Canadian Combustible Dust or Nonincendive (Div.2)
Class II, Division 1 Class II, Division 1 Class II, Division 2 (NI) Class I, Division 2 US UL 674 / ISA 12.12.01
Electrical Code Section 18 Ignitable Fibers
(1)
Electric motors are not allowed in Zone 0/20 locations; Pressurized
Ex pxb Zone 1 IECEx / ATEX IEC / EN 60079-2
IECEx Marking (Global)
Level of Protection Ex pxb Zone 1 Canada CAN/CSA-C22.2 No. 60079-2
“pxb”
AEx pxb Class I, Zone 1 US ANSI / UL 60079-2 Ex db eb IIC T4 Gb
Ex pyb Zone 1 IECEx / ATEX IEC / EN 60079-2
Atmosphere Groups Temperature Classes
Pressurized
Level of Protection Ex pyb Zone 1 Canada CAN/CSA-C22.2 No. 60079-2 Explosion Protected Equipment
Protection Level
“pyb”
AEx pyb Class I, Zone 1 US ANSI / UL 60079-2 Keep flammable Type of Protection: Gas group:
ATEX “db” - Flameproof I: Mining
North America IEC / CENELEC NEC 500 / CEC Maximum Surface Ex pzc Zone 2 IECEx / ATEX IEC / EN 60079-2 gas out “db eb” - Flameproof with increased IIA: Propane Gas group Temperature Class:
IECEx NEC 505 / CEC SECTION 18 Annex J Temperature Pressurized T1, T2, T3, T4, T5 or T6
safety terminal box IIB: Ethylene
Substance Level of Protection Ex pzc Zone 2 Canada CAN/CSA-C22.2 No. 60079-2 “eb” - Increased Safety - Zone 1 IIC: Acetylene, Hydrogen
NEC / CEC NEC / CEC “pzc”
(3) T1 T1 450 °C (842 °F) AEx pzc Class I, Zone 2 US ANSI /UL 60079-2 “ec” - Increased Safety - Zone 2
Group Class Division Zone “nA” - Non-sparking Dust group
System System (3) T2 T2 300 °C (572 °F) Type X Class I, Division 1 Canada / US NFPA 496 “tb” - By Enclosure - Zone 21 Max. surface temperature: 125ºC
Methane “tc” - By Enclosure - Zone 22 Dust group:
I - Gaseous Mines (2) T2A 280 °C (536 °F) Pressurized Type Y Class I, Division 1 Canada / US NFPA 496 “pxb” - Pressurized - Zone 1 - IIIA: combustible flyings
(Fire damp) “pyb” - Pressurized - Zone 1 - IIIB: non-conductive dust Mines group max. surface
T2B 260 °C (500 °F) Type Z Class I, Division 2 Canada / US NFPA 496 “pzc” - Pressurized - Zone 2 - IIIC: conductive dust temperature is limited to 150°C.
Propane IIA Group D IIA
T2C 230 °C (446 °F) Electrical Equipment for Combustible Dusts
Ethylene IIB Group C IIB T2D 215 °C (419 °F)
Hydrogen IIC
I
Group B IIC T3 T3 200 °C (392 °F)
Protection by
Enclosure
Ex tb Zone 21 IECEx / ATEX IEC / EN 60079-31
NEC/CEC Marking (North American)
Ex tb Zone 21 Canada CAN/CSA-C22.2 No. 60079-31
Level of Protection
T3A 180 °C (356 °F) Division System
Acetylene IIC Group A IIC “tb” AEx tb Zone 21 US ANSI/UL 60079-31

Fibers and Flyings IIIA III - IIIA

T3B 165 °C (329 °F) Protection by Ex tc Zone 22 IECEx / ATEX IEC / EN 60079-31 Class I, Division 1, Group C & D, T4
T3C 160 °C (320 °F) Enclosure
Ex tc Zone 22 Canada CAN/CSA-C22.2 No. 60079-31
Grain Dust IIIB Group G IIIB Level of Protection Gas group:
T4 T4 135 °C (275 °F) “tc” AEx tc Zone 22 US ANSI/UL 60079-31 - A: Acetylene
Explosive atmosphere: Area classification: Temperature code:
Coal Dust IIIB II Group F IIIB T4A 120 °C (248 °F) Keep combustible - B: Hydrogen
(DIP) Class II, Division 1 Canada CSA-C22.2 No. 25 - Class I (Gas or vapour) - Division 1
- C: Ethylene
- T1, T2, T2A, T2B ... T4A,
Dust Ignition Proof dust out - Class II (Dust) - Division 2 T5 or T6
T5 T5 100 °C (212 °F) (DIP) Class II, Division 1 US UL 1203 - D: Propane
Metal Dust IIIC Group E IIIC - Class III (Flyings)
- E: Metal dusts
T6 T6 85 °C (185 °F) (NI) Class II, Division 2 Canada CSA-C22.2 No. 25 - F: Carbonaceous dusts
(2)
Not within scope of NEC or CEC. Mining applications Dust Protected - G: Combustible dusts
under jurisdiction of MSHA (Mine Safety & Health (NI) Class II, Division 2 US ANSI/UL 1604
Association). (PX) Class II, Division 1 Canada / US NFPA 496 Zone System (6)
(3)
Equipment with Gas Group marking IIC, covers also Pressurized (PY) Class II, Division 1 Canada / US NFPA 496
the Groups IIA and IIB.
(PZ) Class II, Division 2 Canada / US NFPA 496
Class I, Zone 1, AEx db IIC T4 Gb
Equipment with Dust Group marking IIIC, covers also
the Groups IIIA and IIIB. Explosive atmosphere: Explosion Protected approved Gas group Equipment
Equipment Group, Category, Zone and Protection Level (EPL) - Class I (Gas or vapour) (4) to U.S. Standards (5) Temp. Class: Protection

The values shown are subject to change without prior notice.

T1, T2, T3, Level
Type of Protection:
Gas group:
T4, T5 or T6
Equipment Category Equipment “db” - Flameproof - IIA: Propane
Equipment Protection
When it comes to HAZARDOUS AREAS,
Area classification: “db eb” - Flameproof with increased - IIB: Ethylene
(acc. ATEX Directive Zone Protection Atmosphere Use - Zone 1 (Gas or vapour) - IIC: Acetylene, Dust group
Group Level safety terminal box
2014/34/EU) Level Max. surface

Cod: 50042119 | Rev: 09 | Date (m/y): 07/2019

- Zone 2 (Gas or vapour) “eb” - Increased Safety - Zone 1 Hydrogen
- Zone 21 (Dust) “ec” - Increased Safety - Zone 2
temperature:
I M1 - Ma Methane Very High Operable in Ex atmosphere T125ºC
- Zone 22 (Dust) “nA” - Non-sparking
(Mines) M2 - Mb (Fire damp) High De-energised in Ex atmosphere “tb” - By Enclosure - Zone 21
“tc” - By Enclosure - Zone 22 Dust group:
0 Ga Zones 0, 1 and 2

We make it SAFE!
“pxb” - Pressurized - Zone 1 - IIIA: combustible flyings
1 Very High “pyb” - Pressurized - Zone 1 - IIIB: non-conductive dust
20 Da Zones 20, 21 and 22 “pzc” - Pressurized - Zone 2 - IIIC: conductive dust
1 Gb G - Gas, Zones 1 and 2
II
2 Vapours High (4)
(All other) 21 Db Zones 21 and 22 For Dust environments (Zone 21 or 22) the Class of the hazard (Class II) shall not be mentioned in the marking
D - Dust
e.g. Zone 21, AEx tb IIIC T125ºC Db
2 Gc Zone 2
3 Enhanced
www.weg.net
(5)
22 Dc Zone 22 For Canadian Standards letter “A” shall not be mentioned in the marking e.g. Class I, Zone I, Ex db IIC T4 Gb
(6)
Zone System is recommended for new installations in Canada. For United States, the installation, Zone System is
optional.