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Special Report

Hazardous Location
RatingsBreaking
Down the Facts

Hazardous Location Ratings

Breaking Down the Facts
Sometimes electrical equipment must be installed in areas where
combustible vapors and gases are used or may be present. These
are commonly referred to as hazardous locations, and are defined
by the National Electrical Code (NEC) in the US. When equipment
must be installed in these locations, there are strict requirements for
the construction of the installation, including materials and design
requirements. Electrical equipment intended for use in a factory or
refinery is designed either to contain any explosion within the device,
or is designed not to produce sparks with sufficient energy to trigger
an explosion. We will break down the ratings so you can decide what
equipment will be safe in your environment.
An area such a home or office is classified as a Non Hazardous or
Safe Area. The only release of an explosive would generally come
from an aerosol can. A common flammable liquid would be paint
thinner or brush cleaner. These are a very low risk of causing an
explosion, and are more likely to cause a fire. Non Hazardous areas
in a factory or chemical plant are those areas where its absolutely
certain that the gases or vapors are diluted to a level below its
flammability limit.
Hazardous locations are broken into 3 Classes. Each class defines
the type of substances that may be ignitable or explosive in the atmosphere. Class I areas are those locations that have gases, vapors or
liquids present. This includes acetylene, hydrogen, fuels and solvents. Class II areas have dust hazards. Class III covers fibers and
shavings, types of combustibles that could be found in textile manufacturing or woodworking environments.
Each of the three classes listed above are further divided into 2 divisions. This is determined by the likelihood the hazardous material
being present in flammable concentrations. Division 1 is which ignitable concentrations of the hazards exists under normal operation
conditions and/or where hazard is caused by frequent maintenance
or repair work or frequent equipment failure. Division 2 is where
ignitable hazards are handled, processed or used, but which are normally in closed containers or closed systems from which they can
only escape through accidental rupture or breakdown of such containers or systems. In other words, in a Division 2 environment, the
hazards are occasionally present.

Hazardous Location RatingsBreaking Down the Facts

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Since 1973 Larson Electronics

has manufactured industrial
lighting and power distribution products. Our products
are used by refineries, military
bases, paint spray booths, oilfield operations, shipyards and
manufacturing facilities around
the world. Larson Electronics
continues to develop custom
solutions while maintaining an
extensive inventory of established products for immediate shipping. Learn more by
browsing our collection of
information and products at
www.larsonelectronics.com.

Sponsored by

Since 1973 Larson Electronics

has manufactured industrial
lighting and power distribution products. Our products
are used by refineries, military
bases, paint spray booths, oilfield operations, shipyards and
manufacturing facilities around
the world. Larson Electronics
continues to develop custom
solutions while maintaining an
extensive inventory of established products for immediate shipping. Learn more by
browsing our collection of
information and products at
www.larsonelectronics.com.

Class I and Class II Divisions are further subdivided into Groups A,

B, C, and D. Group A is considered the most hazardous, with Group
D being the least hazardous for gases and vapors. The explosive
characteristics of the air mixtures of gases, vapors, or dusts vary with
the specific material involved. The Groups define substances by
rating their flammable nature in relation to other known substances.
Each material has been placed in a Group based on its ignition temperature and explosion pressure. Group A covers atmospheres containing acetylene. Group B is areas containing hydrogen or gases.
Group C is defined as an atmosphere containing ethyl-ether vapors
or ethylene. Finally, Group D defines areas containing gasoline,
hexane, benzene, butane, propane, alcohol, acetone, lacquer solvent
vapors, or natural gas (methane).
So now that we have listed the Classes, Divisions and Groups, we
can explain the areas in a little more detail. A Class I, Division 1 area
can be applied to 3 different situations:
1. When the atmosphere of an area or location is expected to
contain explosive mixtures of gases, vapors, or liquids during
normal working operations. (This is the most common Class I,
Div. 1)
2. An area where ignitable concentrations frequently exist
because of repair or maintenance operations.
3. The release of ignitable concentrations of gases or vapors due
to equipment breakdown, while at the same time causing electrical equipment failure.
Next, one of the following scenarios must exist in order for an area to
be considered a Class I, Division 2 location.
1. Areas where flammable liquids and gases are handled, but not
expected to be in explosive concentrations. However, there
could be a level of concentration should an accidental rupture
or other unexpected incident.
2. An area where ignitable gases or vapors are normally prevented from accumulating by positive mechanical ventilation
yet could exist in ignitable quantities if there was a failure in
the ventilation.
3. Areas next to a Class I, Division 1 location where it is possible
for ignitable concentrations of gas/vapors to come into this
area because there isnt proper ventilation.

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If the following conditions exist, an area will be defined as a Class II,

Division 1 location:
1. Where combustible dust is present in the air under normal
operating conditions in such a quantity as to produce explosive
or ignitable mixtures. This could be on a continuous, intermittent, or periodic basis.
2. Where an ignitable and/or explosive mixture could be produced if a mechanical failure or abnormal machinery operation
occurs.

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3. Where electrically conductive dusts in hazardous concentrations are present.

A Class II, Division 2 locations exist due to one of the following
conditions:
1. Combustible dust is present but not usually in the air in concentrations high enough to be explosive or ignitable.
2. If the dust became suspended in the air due to an equipment
malfunction and when the dust accumulations may become
ignitable by abnormal operation or failure of electronic
equipment.
Class III ratings are the least stringent in the system.
1. Class III, Division 1: This defined as a location or area where
easily ignitable fibers or items that produce ignitable flyings are
handled, manufactured or used in some kind of a process.
2. Class III, Division 2: A location or area where easily ignitable
fibers are stored or handled.
The NECs ratings are very specific and detailed. Yet, not following
these guidelines could be costly, or even deadly. Researching your
equipment, application, location, hazards that are present is essential
to providing a safer environment for all involved.

10 Tips to Implementing a Lockout/Tagout Program

Since 1973 Larson Electronics

has manufactured industrial
lighting and power distribution products. Our products
are used by refineries, military
bases, paint spray booths, oilfield operations, shipyards and
manufacturing facilities around
the world. Larson Electronics
continues to develop custom
solutions while maintaining an
extensive inventory of established products for immediate shipping. Learn more by
browsing our collection of
information and products at
www.larsonelectronics.com.