Hazardous Area Classification

in North America and Europe

Presentation Outline
What is a Hazardous Area Classification (HAC)?
Factors affecting HAC
Existing Systems
- Class-Divisions
- Zones
How different these system are?
Examples of HAC in both systems
Summary

The Presenter Andrew Kusmierz

Andrew Kusmierz
Chilworth Technology, Inc.
Senior Process Safety Specialist
Process Safety experience:
Safety Consulting Engineers, Inc.
Chilworth Technology, Inc.
Process Safety - combined 21 years of experience

Education
M.S., Mechanical Engineering
Warsaw University of Technology (WUT), PL

Partial Membership list

ASHRAE
ASTM

The Presenter Andrew Kusmierz

Chilworth Technology Inc.

The Global Experts in Explosions and Process Safety

113 Campus Drive

Princeton, NJ 08540

Tel: 1-609-799-4449
Fax: 1-609-799-5559
http://www.chilworth.com
Email: andrew.kusmierz@dekra.com

About Chilworth Technology.Globally Positioned

Chilworth Technology was first established in the UK in 1986
Since then we have expanded and are now providing explosion and process
safety services through our facilities in:

Chilworth Technology was acquired by DEKRA SE August 2011

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Objectives

To gain a better understanding of North American (NFPA,NEC

based) and European (ATEX, IEC based) Hazardous Area
Classification systems.

Hazardous Area Classification

Where it belongs?
Basis of Safety
Preventing Ignitible Mixtures
Minimizing Ignition Sources
Mitigating the Consequence of Fire/Explosion

Hazardous area classification (HAC) is performed to identify places where,

because of the potential for the presence of a flammable atmosphere,
special precautions are needed to prevent electrical devices from causing
an ignition source.

Typical Ignition Sources

Hot Work [ welding; cutting; grinding;

soldering; brazing]
Open Flames [ torches; heaters]
Electric Arcs [ sparks at motor brushes,
switches, and receptacles; power tools]
Electrostatic discharges
Mechanical friction [ bearings]
Hot surfaces and equipment [motors]
Thermal decomposition

Factors Affecting Area Extent and Classification

The flammable materials that may be present;

The physical properties and characteristics of each of the flammable
materials;

The source of potential releases of the materials and how they can
form explosive atmospheres or accumulate on equipment allowing heat
to build up;
Prevailing operating temperatures and pressures;
Presence, degree and availability of ventilation (forced and natural) to
maintain the concentration of released vapors and dusts to below
flammable limits;
The likelihood of each release scenario.

HAC Regulatory Information

North America
Class-Division system.
The Class (3) and Group (7) designations are based on
the explosibility and ignitibility characteristics of the
material with the Division (2) designation being based on
the likelihood of fire or explosion that the material
presents.
Guidance in NFPA 497 (gas) and NFPA 499 (dust).
Current NFPA 497 incorporates alternatively Zone
system.

HAC Regulatory Information

Europe
Zone system
Three (3) Zones for gas, three (3) Zones for dust.
Four (4) material groups for gas, no Groups for dusts.
Guidance in:
IEC 60079-10-1-2008 Explosive atmospheres - Part 10-1:
Classification of areas - Explosive gas atmospheres
and
IEC 60079-10-2-2009 Explosive atmospheres - Part 10-2:
Classification of areas - Combustible dust atmospheres

HAC Regulatory Information

HAC Regulatory Information

Differences between Class-Divisions and Zones

The most significant difference in the Zone system is that the

likelihood of presence of a flammable atmosphere is divided into
three Zones as opposed to two Divisions.
The abnormal conditions of occurrence, or lower risk areas, in the
Zone and Division system are basically identical.

The Zone system deals with highest risk areas separately.

Differences between Class-Divisions and Zones

The Division system tends to be less specific in its consideration of

Division 1. The Division system treats all areas where a hazard is expected
to occur in normal operation the same.

Additionally, the Division system requires that locations, where breakdown

or faulty operation of equipment or processes might release ignitable
concentrations of flammable gases or vapors and might also cause
simultaneous failure of electrical equipment to become a source of ignition,
be also classified as Division 1.

Differences between Class-Divisions and Zones

Differences between Class-Divisions and Zones

Differences between Class-Divisions and Zones

Zone system considers three types of releases: continuous, primary,

secondary.
Zone system defines three levels of ventilations: high, medium, and
low.
Division system defines only adequate ventilation (6 exchanges
per hr or 1 CFM p.er 1 sq ft of the area in consideration)

Examples of Class-Division vs. Zone Classification

Pump Leak - Zone Classification ~3 ft up, 10 ft around

Examples of Class-Division vs. Zone Classification

Pump Leak Division Classification 3ft around plus 18 high 10 ft around.

Examples of Class-Division vs. Zone Classification

Vent - Zone Classification ~10 ft of Zone 1, 15 ft around of Zone 2

Examples of Class-Division vs. Zone Classification

Breathing valve or vent from a process vessel (NFPA 497-12)

Vent Division Classification Div1 3ft around plus Div2 5 ft around

Examples of Class-Division vs. Zone Classification

Examples of Class-Division vs. Zone Classification

Almost the same for both systems except for the bubble around the vent

Summary

Both systems provide effective solutions for electrical

equipment used in hazardous locations.
Division system probability of flammable atmosphere 2
divisions.

Zone system - probability of flammable atmosphere 3

zones.
Different approach to define quality of release and level of
ventilation.
Slight differences in hazardous area extents.

Thank you!

Problems

Contact:
Chilworth Technology, Inc.
113 Campus Drive
Princeton, NJ 08540
Phone: 609 799 4449
Fax: 609 799 5559
Email: safety-usa@chilworthglobal.com
Website: www.chilworthglobal.com