A Zones

R
E
SUB-
STANCE
(SANS /IECEx /
EPL
Levels
North
America
Rule of Thumb Examples Classification of Hazardous Locations GROUP
Minimum
Ignition
NORTH
A ATEX) AREA (GAS / VAPOUR) AMERICA EXAMPLES
Energy
(SANS / IECEx / ATEX) APPROACH
Zones and EPL Levels

Gas/Vapours atmosphere (MIE)

Gas Groups
continuously present or Zone 0 is not found in open air.
0
Ga for long periods in the Inside vessels
(ATEX Category 1) GROUP A
Class 1 explosive concentration And pipes.
1000 Hrs. + per year S 20µJ - = Acetylene Hydrogen,
Division 1 IIC
S U 60µJ GROUPB Acetylene
U (May NOT Typically small volumes around R = Hydrogen
Intermittently present dur-
R be used in specific point / sources of re- F
GASES 1 ing normal operations in 60µJ –
Gb Zone 0 ) lease. Sample points regularly A
F AND (ATEX Category 2) the explosive concentration
opened (e.g. once a day) inside
IIB Group C Ethylene
C 180µJ
A VAPOURS 10 to 1000 hrs. per year
enclosed spaces. E
C 180µJ and
IIA Group D Propane
E higher
Gas/Vapour atmospheres
present in the explosive 80% of hazardous locations Firedamp/
2 Class 1 concentration during ab- Flag Sample points Irregularity MI- Methane
Gc I 200µJ -
(ATEX Category 3) Division 2 normal circumstances 0.1 opened ( e.g. once in two NING and coal dust
to 10 hrs. per year weeks) in mines
(0.5 hr. per event)

M Coal Mine hazardous location. Typically 180m from working face, return airways and battery charging rooms
I Zone 1 area when the gas concentration does nor exceeds 1.4% methane/firedamp in air. (EPL = Mb)
N NAME
Zone 0 area when the gas concentration exceeds 1.4% methane/firedamp in air. (EPL = Ma) / STANDARDS SYMBOL ZONE EXAMPLE
DESCRIPTION
I Gas concentration in excess of 0.5 Gas (methane/ firedamp) in general body of air. (EPL = Mb) (PRINCIPLE) (TYPICAL)
N Hard Rock mine hazardous location: in excess of 0.5% gas (methane/ firedamp) in general body of air. (EPL = Mb) FLAMEPROOF A robust enclosure with specifi-
G NB. Gases/ vapours other than firedamp / methane that may be present are to be additionally considered. Protection of switch-
IEC/SANS 60079-0/1 cally designed joints to prevent
“d” 1,2 gear motors, control
EN 50014/18 the internal ignition transmitting
Electronics etc.
(Containment) to the outside gas / vapour
(EPL)
Temperature Classification II = Surface
I = Mining II 2 G Ex d IIA T4 Gb Equipment
Increased Safety
IEC/SANS 60079-0/7 Luminaries, junction A technique with strict require-
Protection Level EN 50014/19 Boxes, connection ments for construction and
MINING (No sparking and
“e” 1,2
facilities of motors limitation of surface tempera-
Methane / Firedamp (537°C) limitation of hot and switches etc. ture.
Group I Category
Coal Dust (150°C) Temperature Class surface temp.)
1, 2, 3 (Surface)

Description of Ex Techniques
SURFACE INDUSTRY T1—T6 (Surface) NON SPARKING
M1, M2 (Mining) IEC/SANS 60079-15 Luminaries, junction
A technique with strict
Ignition temperature of Maximum applicable surface “N, n, nA, requirements for construction
Classification (No sparking and 2 boxes motors,
GAS / VAPOUR Temperature of certified EQUIPMENT Gas Group: nC, etc. and limitation of surface
limitation of hot electronics etc.
T1 Ignition Temp. ≤ 450°C 300°C ≤ Surface temperature < 450°C Environment I = Mining surface temp.)
temperature.
T2 300°C < Ignition Temp. < 450°C 200°C ≤ Surface temperature < 300°C G = Gas IIA = Propane A technique restricting the level
T3 200°C < Ignition Temp. < 300°C 135°C ≤ Surface temperature < 200°C D =Dust Type of IIB = Propane to Ethylene INTRINSIC SAFETY Process control of energy in circuits to below
T4 135°C < Ignition Temp. < 200°C 100°C ≤ Surface temperature < 135°C Ex = Explosion Protection IIC = Propane to Hydrogen / IEC/SANS 60079- “la” 0,1,2 instrumentation, the ignition energy of the gas. It
0/11 EN 50014/20 handheld equip- achieves this even under
T5 100°C < Ignition Temp. < 135°C 85°C ≤ Surface temperature <100°C Protected E.g. d, ia etc. Acetylene “lb.” 1,2
defined faults in the electron-
(Energy limited ment e.g. gas
T6 85°C < Ignition Temp. < 100°C Surface temperature < 85°C “ic” 2 ics. Surface temperatures of
sparking and limita- sensors, multi
tion of surface temp) meters etc. components are also
considered.
SURFACE INDUSTRY
IP (Ingress Protection Ratings Guide) Allowed AREA A process by which the gas/
Selection of Equipment

PRESSURIZATION
1st Numeral: Protection Against Solid Bodies

Equipment CLASSIFICATION vapour is excluded from the

IEC/SASNS 60079- enclosure when the flammable
Only intrinsic safety “ia” (and double protected) Zone 0 0/2 EN 50014/16 gas surrounds the enclosure.
“p,pX, Analyser houses
2nd Numeral: Protection Against Water

(Exclusion of gas 1,2

pY pZ” Analyser panels OR
from incentive com-
Zone 0 equipment d, e, m , p, q, ib Continuously diluted to a
ponents
Zones Any equipment with multiple Certification of Zone 1 concentration below the LEL,
above technique. e.g. Ex de when internally released

Zone 1 equipment ENCAPSULATION

Zone 2 IEC/SANS 60079-
n (e.g. n, nR, nC, nL, nZ, etc.) “m” 1,2 Mostly Electronic A technique with typically no
0/18
I - Not for surface application “ma” 0, 1, 2 circuits e.g. Ballasts internal free space separating
EN 50014/28 the gas atmosphere and the
IIA,IIB,IIC (A, B, C,D) IIA “mb” 1, 2 in luminaries, power
Gas (Exclusion of gas ignition source
“mc” 2 supplies etc.
Groups IIB,IIC (A,B,C) IIB from incentive com-
(A for acetylene, ponents)
IIC IIC
B for Hydrogen) SAND FILLING
T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6 T1 IEC/SANS 60079-0/5
T2, T3, T4, T5, T6 T2 EN 50014/17 Mostly Electronic A technique with typically no
Temper- T3, T4, T5, T6 T3 (Exclusion of gas circuits e.g. Ballasts internal free space separating
ature “q” 1,2
from in luminaries fuses the atmosphere and the igni-
classes T4, T5, T6 T4
incentive compo- etc. tion source.
T5, T6 T5
nents
T6 T6
restricting explosion)
If no ambient temperature is indicated on the
equipment, it may be used in -20°C to 40°C A sand filled power
Double Protection
Ambient (default) ambient. supply with in-
Temper- Limiting ambient as defined IEC/SANS 60079- The use of multiple (two)
creased safety
ature The equipment must be specifically approved in area classification docs 0/26 (Surface) e.g. techniques to protect a single
1st numeral and 2nd numeral for this “other” ambient. See marking / certifi- connections located
EN 50303 (Mining) Ex d l / 0,1,2 part of the circuit to make it
cate of equipment. in a flameproof box
combined to identify levels of Two independent Ex qe[ia] I giving out intrinsi-
suitable for zone 0 (high gas)
application.
ingress protection, e.g. dust means of prevention cally safe energy
explosion
tight, protected from high pow- (marking left)
Contact: Francoius du Toit Contact: Roelof Viljoen
er water jets / heavy seas. Contact Number: 012 653 2959
E-mail: info@masc-ex.co.za Contact Number: 012 653 7594
Cell Number: 083 477 8000 Cell Number: 083 235 5256