Chapter 8

Electrical Equipment for

NEC Class II, Group F
Locations

A. GENERAL

Electrical equipment in an NEC Class II, Group F location must either be

installed in dust-ignition-proof or dust-tight enclosures or in enclosures that
minimize the entrance of dust. Dust-ignition-proof enclosures are normally used
in NEC Class II, Div. 1 locations. Dust-tight enclosures or enclosures that mini-
mize the entrance of dust are normally used in NEC Class II, Div. 2 locations.
Division 2 locations are not permitted for electrically conductive dust having a
resistance of less than 100 megohm centimeters. Therefore, these dusts are not
considered. Most coal, coke, or carbon black dusts in Group F have resistances
greater than 100 megohm centimeters and are considered not to be electrically
conductive.
Dust-ignition-proof enclosures will exclude the entrance of dust and also
prevent arcs or sparks from igniting combustible dust in the air surrounding the
enclosure. Dust-ignition-proof enclosures allow electrical equipment in the enclo-
sure to operate at full capacity without developing surface temperatures that can
cause ignition of exterior accumulation of specific combustible dust. Explosion-
proof electrical equipment is not acceptable in NEC Class II locations unless
approved for the location. Only a few electrical items for NEC Class II, Group F
locations are highlighted herein to provide basic information on the type of
enclosures to be used in Div. 1 and Div. 2 locations.

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186 Electrical Safety in Flammable Gas/Vapor Laden Atmospheres

B. CLASS II, DIVISION 1 LOCATIONS

Arcing devices such as switches, circuit breakers, fuses, push-button sta-

tions, relays, etc., must be enclosed in dust-ignition-proof enclosures when the
electrical equipment is to be located in NEC Class II, Div. 1 locations. Electrical
equipment of the non-arcing type (such as isolating switches containing no fuses
and which are not intended to interrupt current, and where the dust is not conduc-
tive), shall be provided with tight metal enclosures that minimize the entrance of
dust and no openings that allow the escape of sparks or burning material. Electrical
rotating equipment in NEC Class II, Div. 1 locations shall be approved for Class II,
Div. 1 locations and must be of the dust-ignition-proof type or be of the totally
enclosed pipe ventilated type with temperatures not exceeding 150°C when oper-
ating normally and temperatures not exceeding 200°C when operating under
overload condition.
The wiring method for an NEC Class II, Div. 1 location shall consist of
fittings and boxes that are designed to minimize the entrance of dust and are
provided with threaded bosses for connections to threaded rigid metal conduits or
Type MI cable with approved terminal fittings or dust-tight flexible connections
approved for the location. The fittings and boxes shall have no opening through
which dust might enter or through which sparks or burning material might escape.
Fittings and boxes in which taps, joints, or terminal connections are made shall be
approved for NEC Class II locations.

C. CLASS II, DIVISION 2 LOCATIONS

In NEC Class II, Div. 2 locations, dust-tight enclosures are required for
arcing devices. Devices not intended to interrupt current, such as isolating switches,
may be installed in enclosures that minimize the entrance of dust. The wiring
method for NEC Class II, Div. 2 locations, including wire ways, fittings, and
boxes, those provided with terminals, splices, and taps, also requires a design that
minimizes the entrance of dust.
Electrical rotating equipment for NEC Class II, Div.2 locations shall be:
totally enclosed non-ventilated; totally enclosed fan-cooled; totally enclosed pipe
ventilated; or dust-ignition-proof for which the maximum full load current exter-
nal temperatures shall not exceed 150°C when operating under normal operation
in free air and the enclosures are without dust blankets, and 200°C when operating
under overload condition. Standard open type motors without arcing devices may
be used in NEC Class II, Div. 2 locations if dust accumulation is light, the motor
can easily be cleaned and has a surface temperature not exceeding 150°C under
normal operation. Standard open motors may be used with arcing devices in dust-
tight enclosures. If dust accumulation is heavy, any type of electrical motor may be
used in separate dust-free rooms.
Chapter 8: Electrical Equipment for NEC Class II, Group F Locations 187

A cloud of coal dust, for example, can be ignited by a temperature of 610°C,

but a layer of coal dust can be ignited by 170°C, which is less than the maximum
operating temperature of 180°C of a motor which is provided with Class H
insulation. Dust blankets on the motor housing will increase the motor surface
temperature. Depending on the thickness of the blanket, the motor surface tem-
perature may exceed the ignition temperature of a coal dust layer, especially
when the motor operates at elevated temperatures because of its higher class of
insulation.