Oven and Furnace Classes

The final major section of the NFPA 86 guidelines highlights four different classes of
furnace. Each class is rated for specific operating conditions and must be labeled
accordingly. These classes are simply referred to as A, B, C, and D.

Class A furnaces are those that operate at approximately atmospheric pressure and
have the potential for explosion or fire hazards. The explosion or fire hazards could be
caused by the presence of flammable or combustible materials heated in the furnace.
That means the primary basis for the Class A rating is dependent on what type of
materials the furnace is meant to heat.

Class B furnaces also operate at approximately atmospheric pressure. However, they

are not used to heat flammable or combustible materials.

Class C furnaces differentiate themselves from Class A and B furnaces due to their
use of a special atmosphere. For these furnaces, the atmosphere itself is what is
flammable, not the materials being used.

Class D furnaces also have special uses. These furnaces can include special
atmospheres, but that is not necessarily their defining trait. Instead, their defining
characteristic is that they are vacuum furnaces. Their temperatures can also range
from slightly above natural ambient temperatures to over 5000°F