NUMBER E02-E02

REV. No. 3
ENGINEERING STANDARD DATE JUN 2017
PAGE 1 OF 6

Selection of Electrical Equipment in Hazardous

Area (NEC)

This document is issued by PE&S, SABIC E&PM, Jubail Industrial City, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The information
contained in this document is the confidential property of SABIC. It cannot be disclosed, copied or used for any purpose
without approval from SABIC. If you are not authorized to possess this document, please destroy it immediately.
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Equipment in Hazardous Area DATE JUN 2017

ENGINEERING STANDARD
(NEC) PAGE 2 OF 6

CONTENTS

1. SCOPE ............................................................................................................................... 3
2. REFERENCES ................................................................................................................... 3
3. DEFINITIONS ..................................................................................................................... 3
4. GENERAL ........................................................................................................................... 3
5. EQUIPMENT ...................................................................................................................... 4
5.1 Equipment and Protection Techniques ....................................................................... 4
5.2 Restrictions to Tables I and II ..................................................................................... 4
5.3 Approval for Class and Properties .............................................................................. 5
5.4 Marking and certification ............................................................................................. 5
6. WIRING SYSTEMS ............................................................................................................ 6
7. REVISION HISTORY ......................................................................................................... 6

Table I Class I Locations, Acceptable Protection Techniques .............................................. 4

Table II Class Ii Locations, Acceptable Protection Techniques ............................................. 4
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1. Scope
This standard provides a work process and other guidelines for selection of Electrical Equipment
in Hazardous Areas.

2. References
Reference is made in this standard to the following documents. The latest issues, amendments,
and supplements to these documents shall apply unless otherwise indicated.
SABIC Engineering Standards (SES – NEC Based)
E02-G01 Electrical System Design Criteria
E11-E03 Static Electricity
E21-G01 Wiring Systems Application for Various Environmental Classifications.
S02-E05 Hazardous Area Classification
E06 Series Motors
R01-E02 Hazardous Area Instrumentation Protection
American Petroleum Institute (API)
RP 505 Recommended Practice for Classification of Locations for Electrical
Installations at Petroleum Facilities Classified as Class I, Zone 0, Zone 1, and
Zone 2
RP 500 Recommended Practice for Classification of Locations for Electrical
Installations at Petroleum Facilities Classified as Class I, Division 1, and Division
2.
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
NFPA 70 National Electrical Code (NEC)
High Commission of Industrial Safety (HCIS)
SAF-03 Plant Buildings
SAF-06 Plant Layout, Spacing and Access

3. Definitions
For “Terms and Definitions” used in this Standard, refer to S02-E05.

4. General
4.1 For general requirements, and electrical system design guidance refer to SES E02-G01.
4.2 For hazardous area classification refer to S02-E05.
4.3 When possible, locate electrical equipment in a reduced or unclassified area
4.4 For areas containing heavier-than-air gases, locating electrical equipment at least 610 mm
above grade shall be considered to reduce the risk of ignition.
4.5 Any conflict(s) between this standard, SES and industry standards, engineering drawings,
and contract documents shall be resolved at the discretion of SABIC.
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5. Equipment
5.1 Equipment and Protection Techniques
a Electrical and electronic equipment installed in hazardous (classified) locations, shall
comply with the requirements of NFPA 70 (NEC), Chapter 5 - Special Occupancies.
For protection of instrumentation in hazardous area, refer to SES R01-E02.
b Table I and Table II given below provide summary requirements of NEC 500.7, 505.8,
and 506.8 “Protection Techniques” for equipment selection. In case of any discrepancy
NEC shall prevail.

Table I
Class I Locations, Acceptable Protection Techniques
Protection Method Protection Division Zone
Techniques 1 2 0 1 2
Explosion Proof Equipment XP  
Purged and Pressurized p    
  
Intrinsic safety i  
ia ib ic
Non-incendive NI 
Oil Immersion o   
Hermetically Sealed 
Flame Proof d  
Non-Sparking n 
Increased Safety e  
  
Encapsulation m
ma m, mb mc
Powder Filling q  

Table II
Class II Locations, Acceptable Protection Techniques
Protection Method Protection Division Zone
Techniques 1 2 20 21 22
Dust Ignition proof DIP     
Dust tight NI  
Purged and Pressurized p    
p, pb, pD
Intrinsic safety i     
ia, iad ib, ibD ic
Non-incendive NI  
Hermetically Sealed 
Encapsulation m
  
ma, maD mb, mbD mc
Protection by Enclosure t
  
ta Tb, tD tc

5.2 Restrictions to Tables I and II

Following exceptions and restrictions apply to equipment protection techniques:
a Zone 1 areas:
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i. MV motors (601-15,000 V range) and all sparking equipment (equipment with

contact) such as switchgear, control gear shall have type of protection “d”.
ii. “de” type MV motors (flameproof motor with increased safety terminals) can be
used.
iii. Increased safety “e” type MV motors are not permitted.
iv. LV motors and all non-sparking equipment (such as: junction boxes, terminal boxes,
luminaires, etc.) shall as a minimum have type of protection “e”.
b Zone 2 areas:
i. Motors and non-sparking equipment shall as a minimum have type of protection “n”,
ii. Sparking equipment (equipment with contact) shall have type of protection “d”.
iii. MV motors where:
 the motor voltage exceeds 4.8 kV,
 the motor drives a centrifugal/screw hydrocarbon and/or hydrogen compressor
shall have type of protection as in “Zone 1” above or “p” (with SABIC written
approval). Type of protection “n” or “e” are not permitted.
c These restrictions and exceptions are also valid when using “Zone Equipment” in
Division Areas and “Division Equipment” in Zone Areas. Refer to clause 11.4.d.
d Refer to SES E06 Series for performance and other features of motors.
e Enclosure requirements for motors (in addition to hazardous area protection
requirements):
i. TENV, TEFC or TEAAC up to 5000 HP,
ii. TEAAC or TEWAC larger than 5000 HP.
5.3 Approval for Class and Properties
a Approval for “Class and Properties” shall be as per requirements of NEC Chapter 5.
Equipment shall be identified not only for the class of location but also for the explosive,
combustible, or ignitable properties of the specific gas, vapor, dust, or fibers/flyings that
will be present.
b Class I equipment shall not have any exposed surface that operates at a temperature
in excess of auto-ignition temperature of the specific gas or vapor.
c Class II equipment shall not have an external temperature higher than specified in NEC
Article 500.8 (Class II Temperatures).
5.4 Marking and certification
a Equipment shall be marked as per requirements of NEC, Chapter 5, Articles 500.8, and
505.9.
b Equipment and materials installed in hazardous (classified) areas shall have markings
as per NEC, Chapter 5, and shall be listed, labeled or certified by “Nationally
Recognized Testing Laboratories (NRTL)” recognized by OSHA. Other
accredited agencies are subject to SABIC written approval.
c Certificates from NRTLs shall be submitted to SABIC.
d As per SES E02-G01 ambient temperature shall be taken as +50C (in shade). Since
this value is outside the range of -25C to +40C the marking shall specify the special
range of ambient temperatures the product is certified for, in degrees Celsius.
Note: The equipment is only certified in ambient temperatures indicated on the
certification. If exposed to higher temperatures the stated T-Class temperature may be
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exceeded, and safety components within the equipment could fail to an unsafe
condition.
e Requirements and restrictions for use of “Zone Equipment” in Division Areas, and
“Division Equipment” in Zone Areas shall be as per NEC Article 501.5, 505.9, and
506.20.
f Assembled equipment and materials (such as switch-racks, control and distribution
panels) in hazardous area shall be certified and labeled (marked) as a complete unit.
This will be in addition to each component having required certification for the area of
installation.

6. Wiring Systems
Wiring systems shall be as per SES E21-G01 requirements.

7. Revision History
Revision 2, June 2014 Complete Revision for PIP ELEHA01 is adopted.
Revision 3, June 2017 Complete Revision for this standard for
Selection of electrical equipment in Hazardous Area