27/07/2016

HazardousAreaClassificationGuidelines|ProcessandHSEEngineering

ProcessandHSEEngineering
AProfessionalBlogforHSE,ProcessandSafetyengineer
Home
About:
COMAH
LOPALayerofProtectionAnalysis
DOWsFire&ExplosionIndexGeneralGuidelines(Part1)
ResourcesDatabase&Training
Books:
HazardousAreaClassificationGuidelines

Typetexttosearchhere...

HazardousAreaClassificationGuidelines
LeaveacommentGotocomments
Purpose:
ThescopeofthisguideistodrawntheguidelinesofseveraldifferentRecommendedpractice(s)fortheArea
Classificationofaprocessplant.Theareaclassificationisrequiredfortheinstallationoftheelectrical
equipmentwiththerelatedspecificprotectionkindwithinaprocessarea.Thebasicdefinition,andthe
followingmodificationsisbasedmainlyonthe1996NFPA70,ThenationalElectricalCode(NEC)andtheAPI
505RecommendedPractice(APIRP505).Oncethatalocationhasbeenclassified,requirementsforelectrical
equipmentandassociatedwiringshouldbedeterminatefromapplicablepublications(e.g.NFPA70andAPI
RecommendedPractice14F(APIRP14F)andlocalregulations.
Thefinalscopeofthedocumentistoachievetheclassificationofbothpermanentlyandtemporarilyinstalled
electricalequipment.Theapplicationisdesignedinrelationtotheirpotentialriskofignitionsourceinpresence
ofanignitablemixtureoffuel,oraflammable/ignitiblesubstance,andOxygen(Air)undernormal
atmosphericconditions.

ReferenceAtmosphericConditions
Pressure
Temperature

101.3Kpa
20C(293.15K)

14.7Psia
68F

Thedocumentprovidesthatisnorelevantchangesrelatedtothechangeoftheatmosphericconditionsfromthe
referencepoint.Onthebasisprovidedearlier,theguideisdevelopedontherecommendedpracticebasedonthe
petroleumfacilityzones(whereignitableliquids,gases,andvaporsareprocessed,handledandloaded).

https://hseengineer.wordpress.com/hazardousareaclassificationguidelines/

1/26

27/07/2016

HazardousAreaClassificationGuidelines|ProcessandHSEEngineering

References,CodesandReferenceStandards:
Actually,therearemanyReferencestandardsandindustrialcodesasreferencefortheplantareaclassification.
Partofthemaredevelopedonthesamebasis,othersareveryparticularandappliedinspecificplanttype(e.g.
DrillingFacilities,Petroleumandpetrolchemicalplants).
TheHazardousAreaClassificationpresentsinthisguideisbasedonthefollowingitemsasreference:
API:
APIRP505RecommendedPracticeforClassificationofLocationsforElectricalInstallationatPetroleum
FacilitiesClassifiedasClassI,Zone0,Zone1andZone2(2002).

APIRP500RecommendedPracticeforClassificationofLocationsforelectricalInstallationatPetroleum
FacilitiesClassifiedasClassI,Division1andDivision2.

IEC:
IEC6007910ElectricalApparatusforexplosivegasatmospheresPart10:ClassificationsofhazardousArea.

IEC6007912ClassificationofMixturesofGasesorvaporswithairaccordingtotheirmaximumexperimental
Gaps(MEGs)andminimumignitioncurrentsratio(MIC).

IEC6007920ElectricalApparatusforexplosivegasatmospheresPart20:Dataforflammablegasesand
vapors,relatingtotheuseofelectricalapparatus.
https://hseengineer.wordpress.com/hazardousareaclassificationguidelines/

2/26

27/07/2016

HazardousAreaClassificationGuidelines|ProcessandHSEEngineering

NFPA:

NFPA30:FlammableandCombustibleLiquidsCode

NFPA70:NationalElectricalCode

Follow

Follow Process
and HSE
Engineering
Get every new post delivered to
your Inbox.

NFPA325:GuidetofireHazardPropertiesofFlammableLiquids,Gases,andvolatileSolids
Join 29 other followers

Enter your email address

NFPA497:RecommendedpracticefortheClassificationofFlammableLiquids,GasesorVaporsandof
Hazardous(classified)LocationsforElectricalInstallationsinChemicalProcessAreas. Sign me up

Build a website with WordPress.com

BasicDefinitions:

Thefollowinglistofdefinitionisbasedonthereferencecodesandpracticeguidelinelistedbefore.The
referencestandardisassignedtoeachdefinition.
BoilingPointThetemperatureofaliquidboilingatthereferenceatmosphericconditions.(IEC7910,Mod.)
AreaClassificationSeeFurtherparagraphnamed(AreaClassificationandDefinition).
ClassI,Zone0SeeFurtherparagraphnamed(AreaClassificationandDefinition).
ClassI,Zone1SeeFurtherparagraphnamed(AreaClassificationandDefinition).
ClassI,Zone2SeeFurtherparagraphnamed(AreaClassificationandDefinition).
CombustibleLiquid(s)SeeFlammableLiquid(s)definition.
EnclosedAreaAthreedimensionalspaceenclosebymorethantwothird(2/3)ofthepossibleprojectedplane
surfaceareaandofsufficientsizetoallowtheentryofpersonnel.Foracommonbuilding,thiswouldrequired
twothird(2/3)ofthewalls,ceiling,and/orfloorbepresent.
ExplosivegasatmosphereAmixturewithair,underthereferenceatmosphericconditions,ofaflammable
materialintheformofgasorvaporwhich,afterignition,combustionspreadsthroughouttheunconsumed
mixture.(API5053.2.20)
FlammableCapableofaneasyignition,burningintenselyorspreadingflamerapidly.
Flammable(Explosive)limit(s)Thelower(LFL)andupper(UFL)percentagesbyvolumeofconcentrationof
gasingasairmixturethatwillformanignitiblemixture.(NPFA325)
FlammableLiquid(s)SeeFurtherparagraphnamed(FlammableliquidClassification).
https://hseengineer.wordpress.com/hazardousareaclassificationguidelines/

3/26

27/07/2016

HazardousAreaClassificationGuidelines|ProcessandHSEEngineering

FlashPointTheminimumtemperatureofaliquidatwhichsufficientvaporisgiveofftoformanignitible
mixturewithair,nearthesurfaceoftheliquid,orwithinthevesselused,asdeterminatebythetestprocedure
andapparatusspecifiedinNFPA30.
GradeofReleaseTherearethreebasicgradeofrelease,aslistedbelow,inorderofdecreasinglikelihoodof
Follow
theexplosivegasatmospherebeingpresent.(1)
1Continuous
2Primary

Follow Process
and HSE
Engineering

3Secondary

Get every new post delivered to

your Inbox.
Othergradesofreleasemaybepossiblebycombinationofthebasiconeslisted.(IEC7910,Mod.)
Join 29 other followers

(1)Itisimportanttounderlinethatthereisntanyrelationshipwiththetypeofreleasediscussedearlierlike
puffandplume.
Enter your email address
GradeofRelease:ContinuousSeeFurtherparagraphnamed(AreaClassificationandDefinition).
Sign me up

GradeofRelease:PrimarySeeFurtherparagraphnamed(AreaClassificationandDefinition).
Build a website with WordPress.com
GradeofRelease:SecondarySeeFurtherparagraphnamed(AreaClassificationandDefinition).

GasGroup(s)FortheClassification,theignitiblegasesorvaporsareclassifiedinseveraldifferentgroups.
Thesubdivisionofthegasesisrelatedtothegasesphysicalandchemicalproperties.
Hazardous(classified)Location(s)Alocationwherefireandexplosionhazardsmayexistduetoflammable
gasesorvapors,flammableliquids,combustibledusts,orignitiblefibersofflyings.(API5053.2.10.5)
HeavierthanairGasesofVaporsFormallythosegasesofvaporswitharelativedensityabove1.2astobe
regardedasHeavierthanairgases.(IEC7910,Mod.)
Highlyvolatileliquid(s)(HVL)SeeFurtherparagraphnamed(FlammableliquidClassification).
Ignitible(Flammable)MixtureAgasairmixturethatiscapableofbeingignitedbyanopenflame,electric
arcorspark,ordeviceoperatingabovetheignitiontemperatureofthegasairmixture.(SeeFlammable
(Explosive)Limits)(API5053.2.32)
Ignition(Autoignition)Temperature(AIT)Thelowesttemperatureofaheatedsurfaceatwhich,under
specificconditions,theignitionofaflammablesubstance,ormixtureintheformofgasorvaporwilloccur.
(IEC7910,Mod.)
LighterthanairGasesorVaporsFormallythosegasesorvaporwitharelativedensitybelow0.8astobe
regardedasLighterthanairsubstances.(IEC7910,Mod.)
MaximumExperimentalSafeGap(MESG)Themaximumgapofthejointbetweenthetwopartsofthe
interiorchamberofatestapparatusthat,whentheinternalmixtureisignitedandunderspecificconditions,
preventstheignitionoftheexternalgasmixturebypropagatingthrougha25mm(984mils)longjoint,forall
concentrationsofthetestedgasorvaporinair.(API5053.2.38)
MinimumIgnitionCurrent(MIC)Theminimumcurrentthat,inaspecifiedsparktestapparatusandunder
specificcondition,iscapableofignitingthemosteasilyignitiblemixture.(API5053.2.39)
MinimumIgnitionCurrentRatio(MICRatio)Theminimumenergyrequiredfromacapacitivespark
dischargetoignitethemosteasilyignitiblemixtureofagasorvapordividedbytheminimumcurrentrequired
https://hseengineer.wordpress.com/hazardousareaclassificationguidelines/

4/26

27/07/2016

HazardousAreaClassificationGuidelines|ProcessandHSEEngineering

fromandinductivesparkdischargetoignitemethaneunderthesametestconditions.(NFPA497)
NormalOperation(s)Thesituationwhentheequipmentisoperatingwithinitsdesignparameters.(IEC7910,
Mod.)
Follow

ProtectedFireVesselAnyfiredvesselthatisprovidedwithequipment(suchflamearresters,stack
temperatureshutdown,forceddraftburners,withsafetycontrols,andsparkarresters)designedtoeliminatethe
Follow Process
airintakeandexhaustassourcesofignition.(API5053.2.48)

and HSE

Release,SourceofApointorlocationfromwhichaflammablegas,vapororliquidmaybereleasedintothe
Engineering
atmospheresuchthatanignitiblegasatmospherecouldbeformed.(IEV42603.06,Mod.)
Get every new post delivered to
ReleaseRateThequantityofflammablegasorvaporemittedperunittimefromthesourceofrelease.(IEC
your Inbox.
7910,Mod.)
Join 29 other followers

VaporPressureThepressureexertedwhenasolidorliquidisinequilibriumwithitsownvapor.Itisa
substancepropertieslinkedtotheenvironmentconditionanddeterminatebyASTMD32382.(IEC7910,
Enter your email address
Mod.)
VaportightBarrierIsawall,orbarrierthatwillnotallowthepassageofsignificantquantitiesofgasor
Sign me up
vaporatatmosphericpressure.(API5053.2.54)
Build a website with WordPress.com

VentilationNaturalorartificialmovementofairanditsreplacementwithfreshair.

Ventilation,AdequateVentilationthatissufficienttopreventtheaccumulationofenoughquantitiesofan
ignitiblemixtureintoaspecificlocation.
VolatileFlammableLiquidAflammableliquidwhosetemperatureisaboveitsflashpoint,oraClassII
combustibleliquidhavingavaporpressurenotexceeding276Kpa(40Psia)at37.8C(100F)whose
temperatureisaboveitsflashpoint.(API5053.2.58)

BasicConditionforFire(s)andExplosion(s):
Asdiscussedearlier,tooccur,afireand/orandexplosionneedsthreebasicelements,withoutanyofthem,or
specificconditionsforeachofthem,theeventcannotoccur.Thethreemainelementsare:(1)Afuel,not
necessaryancommoncombustible(e.g.Dust,orMillDust),(2)acombustible(e.g.AirorOxygen).(3)An
ignitersourcewithenoughenergytoignitetheflammablemixture(e.g.Electricalequipment,freeflames,orhot
surfaces).Otherthanthepresenceofeachoftheseelements,therearetwoadditionalconditionsneededto
obtainafireoranexplosion:(4)Theconcentrationofthefuelwithinthemixturemustbebetweenitsown
UpperandLowerFlammableLimit.(5)Thethreebasicelementsmustbeinsamelocation,ortheymusthavea
positionthatallowsthemtocompletetheirownrole.
Inclassifyingaparticularlocation,thelikelihoodofthepresenceofaflammablegasesorvaporisasignificant
factorindeterminatethezoneclassification(SeeFurtherparagraphnamedAreaClassificationand
Definition).Otherwiseadistinctionmustbemade:thepresenceoftheflammablemixturecouldbe
distinguishedbetweennormalconditionsandextraordinarycondition.Thetermextraordinarycondition
doesntmeanonlyacatastrophiceventlikeaviolentbreakageofanitemorsimilar,butalsoanordinary
maintenanceoperation.Thereisobviouslyanobjection:Ifanitem,oralocation,needsafrequentmaintenance,
theactitselfwillgounderthenormalcondition.(API505.4.2referstotheseconditionadoptingthephrase
NormalandAbnormalCondition).
Assaid,themixture,tooccurintoanexplosionand/orafire,musthaveaconcentrationwithinitsrangeof
flammability.Itisquiteimportanttoknowortoreachanapproximationofthequantitiesofflammablemixture
https://hseengineer.wordpress.com/hazardousareaclassificationguidelines/

5/26

27/07/2016

HazardousAreaClassificationGuidelines|ProcessandHSEEngineering

arepresentinsidethedifferentlocation,todeterminatetheextensionofthearea.Asmorethereleasedquantities
arehigh,asmoretheareaaffectedbythehazardiswide.
Anotherrelevantparametertotakeintoaccountistheventilation.Theventilationofaspecificlocationcan
reducesensiblythehazardconnectedtoaignitiblesubstancerelease,eveninmajorcase.Agoodventilation,
Follow
naturaland/orartificial),especiallyinsideenclosedlocation,isthefistmeasuretoadopttoreducetheriskof
Fires.

Follow Process
Especiallyforpreliminarystudies,evenbeforetheengineeringstarts,wheretheknowledgeoftheplantandthe
and HSE
areaisalmostunknown,foundevenandapproximateformoftheseparameters(Likelihood,Concentration,and
Engineering
Ventilationofaspecificarea)couldbereallyhard,andinthebestcasetheapproximationistotallyalooffrom
reality.Infact,thehazardousareaclassificationiscommonlymadeduringtheentiredevelopmentoftheplant,
Get every new post delivered to
fromthefirstplotplanrevisedbytheprocesscompanytothefinalgeneralplotplanoftheengineeringphase,
your Inbox.
reviewingcontinuouslythedataandtheareaclassification.
Join 29 other followers

SafetyPrinciples:

Enter your email address

Sign me up
Theareaclassificationmustbecarriedoutwhentheinitialprocessandinstrumentlinediagram(P&ID)are
availableandwillbefrequentlyupdatedtillthestartupoftheplant.Evenduringthelifeoftheplant,the
classificationmustbeperiodicallyupdated,totakeintoaccountpotentialchangestotheoriginalplat,ornew
Build a website with WordPress.com
releasesource(s).Thehazardousareaclassification,especiallyitsfirstapplication,duringtheprocessdesign,
mustbemainlyaffectedfromtheinhertlydesignprinciples.Tostarttheareaclassification,itmustbeidentified
thoseareacontaininghazardoussubstance,examiningthoseareaandidentifyingthepotentialsourcesorpoints
ofleakage.ThefirstquestiontheoperatorshouldaskhimselfisCanthesesourcesbereplaced?,avoiding
sourceoranyreleasepointitcouldbethebeststrategytoadopt,especiallywhentheengineeringoftheplant
evenhadstarted.Ifthesourcecannotbeavoided,therateoftherelease,oritsfrequency,oritslikelihoodcan
bereduced?thehazardarearelatedtoareleaseisaslowasthequantityreleased,thetimeofthereleaseand
itslikelihoodislow.

Flammableliquid(s)Classification:
Substanceshandledbyanyprocessfacilitiesincludeflammableandcombustibleliquids,flammablehighly
volatileliquids(HVLs)andflammablegasesandvapors.Whenclassifyinglocationsforelectricalinstallations,
theappropriateclassandgroup(s)shouldbedeterminateforallflammablesubstances.Eachgroup,andclass,
isrelatedtothephysicalandchemicalfeaturesofthesubstance.RefertoNFPA325or497forthepropertiesof
specificflammableliquids,gases,vaporsandvolatilesolids.Thevolatilityofflammableandcombustibleliquids
isdefinedinNFPA30.
Flammable(ClassI)Liquids,suchagasoline,aredefinedasanyliquidhavingaclosedcupflashpointbelow
thethresholdof37.8C(100F)andavaporpressurenotexceeding276Kpa(14Psia).Combustible(ClassII
andIII)liquidsaredefinedasliquidshavingaclosedcupflashpointatorabovethethresholdof37.8C
(100F)andbelow60C(140F).ClassIIIliquidsarethoseliquidshavingaclosedcupflashpointabovethe
thresholdof60C(140F).

https://hseengineer.wordpress.com/hazardousareaclassificationguidelines/

6/26

27/07/2016

HazardousAreaClassificationGuidelines|ProcessandHSEEngineering

FlammableandCombustibleLiquid(s)

Class

II

<37.8

37.860

FlashPoint
Range(C)

III

Follow Process
and HSE
Engineering
>60

Get every new post delivered to

your Inbox.

Vapor
Pressure(Kpa) >276

N.a.

Follow

N.a.

Join 29 other followers

Enter your email address

Sign me up

AcommonerroristoconfusetheseclassesandliquidsgroupwiththeClassesofTheNationalElectricalCode,
theyarenotsynonymous.(NFPA70).
Build a website with WordPress.com
ClosedCupFlashPointandAutoignitiontemperature:
AnotherspreaderroristoconfusetheFlashpointwiththeautoignitiontemperature.

FlashPointTheminimumtemperatureofaliquidatwhichsufficientvaporisgiveofftoformanignitible
mixturewithair,nearthesurfaceoftheliquid,orwithinthevesselused,asdeterminatebythetestprocedure
andapparatusspecifiedinNFPA30.

Theautoignitiontemperature(AIT)instead,isthetemperature,abovetheflashpoint,whichallowtheignition
oftheflammablemixturewithoutanyignitionsource.AdoptingthedefinitionoftheIEC:

Ignition(Autoignition)Temperature(AIT)Thelowesttemperatureofaheatedsurfaceatwhich,under
specificconditions,theignitionofaflammablesubstance,ormixtureintheformofgasorvaporwilloccur.
(IEC7910,Mod.)

ThetermClosedCupbehindtheflashpointdefinitionisreferredtothestandardapparatusadoptedforits
assessment.Therearetwobasictypesofflashpointmeasurement:opencupandclosedcup.
Inopencupdevicesthesampleiscontainedinanopencupwhichisheated,andatintervalsaflameisbrought
overthesurface.Themeasuredflashpointwillactuallyvarywiththeheightoftheflameabovetheliquid
surface,andatsufficientheightthemeasuredflashpointtemperaturewillcoincidewiththefirepoint.Thebest
knownexampleistheClevelandopencup(COC).
Therearetwotypesofclosedcuptesters:nonequilibrium,suchasPenskyMartenswherethevapoursabove
theliquidarenotintemperatureequilibriumwiththeliquid,andequilibrium,suchasSmallScale(commonly
https://hseengineer.wordpress.com/hazardousareaclassificationguidelines/

7/26

27/07/2016

HazardousAreaClassificationGuidelines|ProcessandHSEEngineering

knownasSetaflash)wherethevapoursaredeemedtobeintemperatureequilibriumwiththeliquid.Inboth
thesetypesthecupsaresealedwithalidthroughwhichtheignitionsourcecanbeintroduced.Closedcup
testersnormallygivelowervaluesfortheflashpointthanopencup(typically510C)andareabetter
approximationtothetemperatureatwhichthevaporpressurereachesthelowerflammablelimit(LFL).
Follow

Theflashpointisanempiricalmeasurementratherthanafundamentalphysicalparameter.Themeasuredvalue
willvarywithequipmentandtestprotocolvariations,includingtemperatureramprate(inautomatedtesters),
Follow Process
timeallowedforthesampletoequilibrate,samplevolumeandwhetherthesampleisstirred.

and HSE

Methodsfordeterminingtheflashpointofaliquidarespecifiedinmanystandards.Forexample,testingbythe
Engineering
PenskyMartensclosedcupmethodisdetailedinASTMD93,IP34,ISO2719,DIN51758,JISK2265and
AFNORM07019.DeterminationofflashpointbytheSmallScaleclosedcupmethodisdetailedinASTM
Get every new post delivered to
D3828andD3278,ENISO3679and3680,andIP523and524.
your Inbox.

Join 29 other followers

Flashpoint,andautoignitiontemperatureexamplesarereportedabove.ForfurtherinformationaboutFlash
pointtest,anddatarefertoNFPA30.

Enter your email address

FlammableHighlyVolatileLiquid(s):

Sign me up

TheHVLssuchbutane,propane,propylene,etc,arethoseflammableliquidsofthefirstclass,withavapor
Build a website with WordPress.com
pressureexceeding276Kpa(40Psia)at37.8C(100F).
Thoseliquids,haveahighvolatilityandalowFlashpoint,allowingthemtoproducealargevolumeofignitible
mixture.Alltheprecautionsmustbetakenifhandledinsidetheprocessplant,andtheymustbetreatedwithad
overconservativelymethod.Usuallythemixturegeneratedhasadensitylowerthanair,allowingquick
movementandwidedistancecovered.Thoseattitudesarethemostdangerousandresultintoawideprocess
areadesignedwithstrictlysafetyapplications.

ClassILiquids:
ClassIliquids,withthelowestFlashPointrange,areusuallyhandledattemperatureabovethesafetyrange,
consequentlycanproduceaflammableatmosphere.Especiallywhenreleasedintotheatmosphere,mayproduce
alargevolumeofvapors(rarelygases),especiallynearthesourceofrelease.EveniftheClassIliquidsare
generallyrelatedtothehighesthazard,thelessvolatileliquidsofthisclassreleasevaporsslowlyandthe
ignitionispossibleonlyiftheigniter(ortheignitionsource)isplacedneartheliquidpool(See.Poolfire).

ClassIILiquids:
WithclassIIliquids,thelikelihoodofignitionismuchlowerthanClassIliquids,dueto
theirhigherflashpoint,onlyfewofthemareusuallyhandledattemperatureabovetheirflashpoint.Theignition
ofaliquidoftheClassIIusuallyistakenintoaccountwhenexposedtoafire,inthiscasetheriskanalysisis
behindthecommonthresholdofOneemergencyonly.
Eveniftheygeneratevapors,themusuallyarequiteheavyandtheycannotmovetofarfromthesource.The
transitionstateoftheignitiblemixturefromHeavierthanairtolighterthanairisquiteslow.
https://hseengineer.wordpress.com/hazardousareaclassificationguidelines/

8/26

27/07/2016

HazardousAreaClassificationGuidelines|ProcessandHSEEngineering

APIRP505referstotheClassIIliquidsasDonotproducevaporsofsufficientquantitytobeconsideredfor
electricalclassification(5.2.3.2)

Follow

ClassIIILiquids:

Follow Process
SimilartotheClassIIliquids,theClassIIIhasalowerlikelihoodtoproduceanignitibleatmospheredueto
theirhighestflashpointandlowestvolatility.Ifheatedbeyonditsflashpoint,aClassIIIliquidproduceasmall
and HSE
amountofvapor,localizednearthepointofrelease.
Engineering

Apartiallistofflammableliquids,withtherelatedClass,groupsandcategoryarereportedintothefollowing
Get every new post delivered to
pages(NFPA4971997).
your Inbox.

Join 29 other followers

CrudeOils:

Enter your email address

Aspecificclassificationforthecrudeoilsisimpossible,itscompositionistoocomplexanddiversifiedthateven
itscommonphysicalpropertiesaregeneric.HowevercrudeoilisgenerallyclassifiedasClassIflammable
Sign me up
liquidanditsflashpointrange,generallyaccepted,is6.732.2C(2090F).
Build a website with WordPress.com

GasGroups:

Asdoneforthehazardousliquids,alsothegasesaredividedintoseveraldifferentgroupsandsubclasses.The
firstsubdivisionistheclassificationintotwogroups:(1)GroupIUndergroundGasesand(2)GroupII
AbovegroundGases.Thefirstclass,isreferredtodescribeatmospherescontainingfiredamp(amixtureofgases,
composedmostlybymethane,foundusuallyinmines).ForthisreasonthegroupIofflammablegasesarenot
usedduringtheHazardousareaclassification.Thesecondgroupisusedtodescribeallthegasesfoundabove
groundandissubdividedintoIICIIBandIIAaccordingtothenatureofthegasorvapor.Thelastthree
categoriesofgasesaredefinedbytwophysicalpropertiesofthesubstance:Maximumexperimentalallowable
gap(s)(MEGS)andtheMinimumIgnitionCurrentratio.

MaximumExperimentalAllowableGap:

TheMESGisdefinedasfollow:
MaximumExperimentalSafeGap(MESG)Themaximum Benzene
gapofthejointbetweenthetwopartsoftheinteriorchamber
ofatestapparatusthat,whentheinternalmixtureisignited
andunderspecificconditions,preventstheignitionofthe
EthylAlcohol
externalgasmixturebypropagatingthrougha25mm(984
mils)longjoint,forallconcentrationsofthetestedgasor
vaporinair.(API5053.2.38)
Gasoline
Themaximumexperimentalsafegapofflammablegasesand
vaporsisthelowestvalueofthesafegapmeasuredaccording NButane
toIEC6007911byvaryingthecompositionofthemixture
(flamepropagationinthemostignitibiemixture).Thesafe
gapisthegapwidthatwhichinthecaseofagivenmixture
NHexane
composition,aflashbackjustfailstooccur.Thetestprocedure
anditsparametersarefullydescribeinIEC6007911.
https://hseengineer.wordpress.com/hazardousareaclassificationguidelines/

FlashPoint

AIT

12

560

55

365

45

280

76

405

54

225
9/26

27/07/2016

HazardousAreaClassificationGuidelines|ProcessandHSEEngineering

IButane

117

462

MinimumIgnitionCurrentRatio(MICRatio):
Follow

TheMICRATIOisdefinedasfollow:

Follow Process
MinimumIgnitionCurrentRatio(MICRatio)Theminimumenergyrequiredfromacapacitivespark
dischargetoignitethemosteasilyignitiblemixtureofagasorvapordividedbytheminimumcurrentrequired
and HSE
fromandinductivesparkdischargetoignitemethaneunderthesametestconditions.(NFPA497)Forfurther
Engineering
informationabouttheMICRatiorefertoIEC600793.
Get every new post delivered to
your Inbox.

GasGroupIIA:

AtmospherescontainingAcetone,Ammonia,EthylAlchol,Gasoline,Methane,propaneorflammablegas,
Join 29 other followers
flammableliquidproducedvapor,orcombustibleliquidmixedwithairthatmayburnorexplodehavingeithera
MESGvaluegreaterthan0.90mmoraminimumignitingcurrentratio(MICRatio)greaterthan0.80(NFPA
Enter your email address
497orIEC6007910)

Sign me up

GasGroupIIB:

Build a website with WordPress.com

Atmospherescontainingacetaldehyde,hydrogen,offlammablegas,flammableliquidproducedvapor,or
combustibleliquidproducedvapormixedwithairthatmayburnorexplodehavingeitheramaximum
experimentalsafegape(MESG)greaterthanto0.50mm(20mils)andlessthanorequalto0.90mm(35mils)
oraminimumignitingcurrentratio(MICRatio)greaterthan0.45andlessthanorequalto0.80(NFPA497).

GasGroupIIC:
Atmospherescontainingacetylene,hydrogen,offlammablegas,flammableliquidproducedvapor,or
combustibleliquidproducedvapormixedwithairthatmayburnorexplodehavingeitheramaximum
experimentalsafegape(MESG)greaterthanorequalto0.50mm(20mils)oraminimumignitingcurrentratio
(MICRatio)lessthan0.45(NFPA497).

GroupII

IIA

MESG(mm) >0.90
MICRatio >0.80

IIB

IIC

0.50<<0.80 <0.50
<0.45
0.45<<0.80

ForthemostgasesandvapoursitissufficienttomakeonlyonedeterminationbetweentheMESGandMIC
Ratiotorelatethegastoitsowngroup.Therearesomecaseswhichbothdeterminationarerequired:
https://hseengineer.wordpress.com/hazardousareaclassificationguidelines/

10/26

27/07/2016

HazardousAreaClassificationGuidelines|ProcessandHSEEngineering

a)WhenMICRatioiswithintherange0.80.9.
b)WhenMICRatioiswithintherange0.450.5.
c)WhenMESGiswithintherange0.50.55

Follow

Inthosecases,thesecondparameterwillclassifythegasanditsgroup.TheIECprovidesacompletelistof
Follow Process
commonsubstanceswiththeirowngroupandpropertiesinsidetheIEC6007912(1978).

HazardousAreaClassification
GeneralCriteria:

and HSE
Engineering

Get every new post delivered to

your Inbox.
Join 29 other followers

Thechoiceofclassifyanareaisbasedontheassumptionthatflammablegas(es),vapor(s)orignitibleliquid(s)
maybepresent.Thechoicestartsfromtwobasicassumption:
Enter your email address
a)ThereisanHazardousSubstance.
b)ThereisapotentialSourceofRelease.

Sign me up

Build a website with WordPress.com

Possiblesourceofreleaseinclude:vents,flanges,controlvalves,pumpandcompressorsealing,fittings,and
floatingroofseals.Itisobviousthatthepresenceofthoseelementsinsideaprocessplatissospreadandwide
thatusuallynoteachofthemmustbeconsideredduringtheareaclassificationasapotentialsourceofignitible,
ogenerally,hazardoussubstances.Thefollowingparagraphswillexplainwhichofthemaresignificantand
havearelevanceinsidetheclassificationstudy.Oncethatthesubstancesareidentifiedandthepotentialsource
localized,beforetheareaclassification,otherfactorsmustbetakeninaccountlikethegradeofrelease,grade
ofventilationandthetopographyoftheplant.

Commonly,thegradeorreleaseisdistinguishedintothreedifferentcategory:
Continuous.
Primary.
Secondary
Eachofthesecategoriesleadsnaturallytoonespecifickindoflocation,butthereisnofirmrules(see
ClassificationPrecautions9.10.VI).Howeverthegradeofreleaseisstrictlyconnectedtothetimeofrelease:
Gradeof
Release

Continuous
Primary
Secondary

FlammableMixturetimeof
release

1000ormoreHours/year
10<Hours/year<1000
10<Hours/year

Oncethatthetypeofreleasehasbeenindentified,theventilationassessmentofthespecificareaisrequired.The
ventilationassessmentisthelaststeptoclassifyaspecificarea.Toevaluatetheextensionofaspecificareaa
greatnumberofinformationmustbegathered,especially:
https://hseengineer.wordpress.com/hazardousareaclassificationguidelines/

11/26

27/07/2016

HazardousAreaClassificationGuidelines|ProcessandHSEEngineering

Volatilityoftheflammableliquid
Flashpoint
LiquidTemperatureatrelease
LFLandUFL
Vaporandliquiddensity
Geometryofthesourceofrelease
QuantityReleased
PotentialReleaseRate

Follow

Follow Process
and HSE
Engineering
Get every new post delivered to
your Inbox.
Join 29 other followers
Enter your email address

Concentrationandstartingconditions
Ventilation
ProcessPlantTopography

Sign me up
Build a website with WordPress.com

ClimaticConditions

Lookingatthegreatnumberofinformationrequired,itissimplynoticethathaveanaccurateestimateofthe
hazardousareaisreallyhardtoget.ManycodesandRecommendedpracticesuggestseveraldifferentexamples
andsuggestionstoachieveacorrectsafetylevels,notunderestimatingthepotentialhazard(APIRP505or
NFPA497).

AreaClassificationandDefinition:
Theareaclassification,especiallytheareadefinition,isthesameforseveraldifferentcodesandstandardslike:
APIIEC.NFPA.NationalElectricalCode(NFPA70),etc.
ThefollowingparagraphisdevelopedontheAPIRP505basis,andtheareadefinitionarereportedfromit.

ClassI,Zone0:
ClassI,Zone0presentsthefollowingfeatures:
(1)Isalocationinwhichapresenceofignitibleconcentration,orflammablegases,orcombustibleliquidsis
continuous
Or
(2)Inwhichanignitibleconcentration,orflammablegases,orcombustibleliquidsispresentforalongtime.

https://hseengineer.wordpress.com/hazardousareaclassificationguidelines/

12/26

27/07/2016

HazardousAreaClassificationGuidelines|ProcessandHSEEngineering

Thislocationsusuallyincludeslocationsinsideventedtanksorvesselscontainingvolatileflammableliquids
thevolumebetweentheinnerandtheouterroofsectionofafloatingrooftankcontainingvolatileflammable
liquidsinsideopenvessels,tanksandpitsandinsideinadequatelyventilatedenclosurescontainingnormally
ventinginstrumentsutilizingoranalyzingflammablefluidsandventingtheinsideofenclosures.
Follow

ClassI,Zone1:
ClassI,Zone1presentsthefollowingfeatures:

Follow Process
and HSE
Engineering

(1)Isalocationinwhichapresenceofignitibleconcentration,orflammablegases,orcombustibleliquidsare
Get every new post delivered to
likelytoexistundernormaloperatingconditions
your Inbox.

Or

Join 29 other followers

(2)inwhichanignitibleconcentration,orflammablegases,orcombustibleliquidsmayexistsfrequently
Enter your email address
becauseofrepairorrepairmaintenanceoperationsorbecauseofleakage
Or

Sign me up

(3)Inwhichequipmentisoperatedorprocesscarriedon,ofsuchnaturethatequipmentbreakdownorfaulty
Build a website with WordPress.com
operationscouldresultinthereleaseofignitibleconcentrationsofflammablegasesorvaporsandalsocause
simultaneousfailureofelectricalequipmentinamodetocausetheelectricalequipmenttobecomesourceof
ignition.
Or
(4)IsadjacenttoaClassI,Zone0locationwhichignitibleconcentrationsofvaporscouldbecommunicated,
unlesscommunicationispreventedbyadequatepositivepressureventilationformsourcesofcleanairand
effectivesafeguardsagainstventilationfailurehasbeentaken.

Thisclassificationusuallyincludeslocationswhereflammableliquidsorliquefiedflammablegasesare
transferredfromonecontainertoanotherinadequatelyventilatedpumproomsforflammablegasorfor
volatileflammableliquidstheinteriorofrefrigeratorsandfreezersinwhichvolatileflammablematerialsare
storedintheopen,lightlystoppered,oreasilyrupturedcontainersandotherlocationswhereignitible
concentrationsofflammablevaporsandgasesarelikelytooccurinthecourseofnormaloperationbutnot
classifiedaszone0.

ClassI,Zone2:
ClassI,Zone2presentsthefollowingfeatures:
(1)Isalocationinwhichapresenceofignitibleconcentration,orflammablegases,orcombustibleliquidsare
notlikelytooccurundernormaloperatingconditionsandifthedooccurwillexistsforashortperiodoftime
Or
(2)inwhichanignitibleconcentration,orflammablegases,orcombustibleliquidsarehandled,loaded,
unloaded,processed,orused,butinwhichtheliquids,gases,orvaporsnormallyareconfinedwithinclosed
containersofclosedsystemfromwhichtheycanescapeONLYasaresultofaccidentalruptureorbreakdownof
thecontainersorsystem,orasresultoftheabnormaloperationoftheequipmentwithwhichthesubstancesare
https://hseengineer.wordpress.com/hazardousareaclassificationguidelines/

13/26

27/07/2016

HazardousAreaClassificationGuidelines|ProcessandHSEEngineering

handledorprocessed
Or
(3)Inwhichignitibleconcentrationsofflammablegasesorvaporsnormallyarepreventedbypositive Follow
mechanicalventilation,butwhichmaybecomehazardousasaresultoffailureorabnormaloperationofthe
ventilationequipment

Follow Process
Or
and HSE
Engineering
(4)IsadjacenttoaClassI,Zone1locationwhichignitibleconcentrationsofvaporscouldbecommunicated,
unlesscommunicationispreventedbyadequatepositivepressureventilationformsourcesofcleanairand
Get every new post delivered to
effectivesafeguardsagainstventilationfailurehasbeentaken.
your Inbox.

Join 29 other followers

Thezone2classificationusuallyincludeslocationswherevolatileliquids,orflammablegasesorvaporsare
Enter your email address
used,butthatwouldbecomehazardousonlyincaseofanaccidentorofsomeunusualoperatingcondition.

Sign me up

ZoneConsiderations:

Build a website with WordPress.com

ThewordNormalarecommonlyusedinsidethezonedefinitions,butisnotsynonymousofeverythingis
workingproperly.Forinstance,aprocessmaybesosensitivetocontrolthattheactivationofsafetyvalvesor
otherpressurereliefequipment,ogenerallysafetyequipment,isfrequently,andthatshouldbeconsidered
normal.
Thefrequencyofthemaintenanceorrepairisrelevanttodefinethenormalandabnormalsituation:ifthe
maintenanceisrequiredfrequentlytheoperationsaretoevaluateasNormal,howeverifthemaintenance
frequencyislow,itsoperationsareincludedintotheabnormalcategory.
Zone1locationareusuallyplacedasborderlineofeachZone0locationtoseparateZone0andZone2
locations(CalledTransitionzone(s)).TopreventtheextensionofanZone1locationasborderoftheZone0
location,itcanbeusedavaportightbarrier(seedefinitions)toavoidthespreadingofthehazardous
substances.
ClassI,Zone2locationsarethoseareawhenabnormalconditionswillgeneratearelease.Forinstance,a
leakagefromasealingisquiterare,andcanbeconsideredabnormal.Alsothesimultaneousruptureofthe
equipmentandtheelectricalinstallationisquiterare.
Zone2locationareusuallyplacedasborderlineofeachZone1location(CalledTransitionzone(s)).To
preventtheextensionofanZone2locationasborderoftheZone1location,itcanbeusedavaportightbarrier
(seedefinitions)toavoidthespreadingofthehazardoussubstances.
ClassificationPrecautions:
Thereisanaturalrelationshipbetweenthegradeofreleaseandthetypeofzone.
Zone

Flammable
Mixture
presence

(Hour/year)GradeofRelease0

https://hseengineer.wordpress.com/hazardousareaclassificationguidelines/

14/26

27/07/2016

HazardousAreaClassificationGuidelines|ProcessandHSEEngineering

1000ormore
Continuous1
101000
Primary2
110
SecondaryUnclass.
Lessthan1

Follow

Follow Process
and HSE
Engineering
Get every new post delivered to
your Inbox.
Join 29 other followers

Thegradeofrelease,andthekindofzonearenotsynonymous,infactacontinuousgradeofreleasenaturally
Enter your email address
leadstoaconstantpresenceoftheflammablemixtureinthearea.Butaspecificassessmentshouldbetakenfor
eachspecificplace.
Sign me up

UnclassifiedZones:

Build a website with WordPress.com

Manyprocessplantlocationsmayremainsunclassifiedattheendoftheclassification,why?Becausethe
experiencehasshownthat,regardlessthegradeofventilationofthelocation,thelikelihoodofanaccidental
leakageandtheconsequentreleaseofhazardousmaterialarequiterare.
Inthoseareacategoryareincluded:
1)Locationswhereflammablesubstancesarecontainedinallweldedclosedpipingsystemswithoutvalves,
flangesorsimilardevice.
2)Locationswhereflammablesubstancesarecontainedincontinuousmetallictubingwithoutvalves,flanges
orsimilardevice.
3)Adequateventilatedlocationsurroundedbyprocessitemswithcontinuousflamesources(e.g.flaretips)
4)Locationswithanynonelectricignitionsources(flaretips,freeflame,etc).
Ventilation:
Inthemajorpartofthecases,theventilationisoneofthemostimportantparameterfortheclassificationofan
area.Eventuallygasorvaporsleakedtotheatmospherecanbedilutedbydispersionordiffusionintotheair
droppingtheirconcentrationbelowtheLFLconcentrationthreshold.Theventilation,naturalorartificial,leads
tothecontinuousreplacementoftheairofaspecificzonewithfreshair.Thefreshairmustcomefroman
unclassifiedorZone2locationtobeefficientandpositive.
Suitableventilationratescanalsoavoidpersistenceofanexplosivegasatmosphere,thusinfluencingthetypeof
zone(IEC6007910.Mod.).
AnAdequateVentilationisdefinedasventilation(naturalorartificial)thatissufficienttopreventthe
accumulationofaconcentrationofflammablesubstancesoverthetwentyfivepercent(25%)ofthe
concentrationLFLthreshold.RefertoNFPA30foradditionaldetails.
VentilationAssessment:
https://hseengineer.wordpress.com/hazardousareaclassificationguidelines/

15/26

27/07/2016

HazardousAreaClassificationGuidelines|ProcessandHSEEngineering

Theassessmentoftheventilationsystem(s)canbedoneevaluatingthehypotheticalvolumereleasedandthe
timeofresidencyofthesame.Thefollowinganalyticalmethodissubjecttoseverallimitations,butadopting
suitablesafetyfactors,theerrorresultedisonthesideofsafety.
Tostarttheassessment,itmustbeknowthemaximumreleaserateofthesubstance(G)

Follow

Thefirststepistoevaluatetheminimumvolumetricflowoffreshair(Vair)neededtodilutethehazardous
Follow Process
mixture:

and HSE
Engineering

Where:

k=0.25(SafetyFactor)forprimaryandcontinuousgradeofrelease,0.50forsecondarygradeofrelease.
Get every new post delivered to
LFL=LowerFlammablelimitofthemixture
T=AmbientTemperature(inKelvins)

your Inbox.
Join 29 other followers

Enter your email address

3
GenerallyLFLareexpressedas(Vol%),toconvertitto(Kg/m )usethefollowingformula:

Sign me up

Where:
MW=MolecularMassofthesubstance(Kg/mol).

Build a website with WordPress.com

Nowweneedtosetthenumberofcyclesofchange,fortheair,pertimeunitC(S1),andthepotential
hazardousvolumearoundthesourcecanbeestimated:
Where:
Vz=PotentialHazardousVolumenearthereleasesource(m3).
f=isanadditionalsafety(andquality)factorequalto15thatdenotesthequalityoftheventilationsystem.
Thegreatestvalue(5)meansthattheairflowisnotfreshorisimpeded.
OncethatVzisestimated,itidentifythevolumewithintheignitiblemixtureconcentrationisatleast25or50%
(relatedtothekvalueadopted)ofitsownLFL.
ForanEnclosedArea(which2/3oftheoutsidesurfaceofthevolumeiscovered)thenumberofcyclesof
changesofairperunitoftimeisdefinedbythefollowingformula:
Vtot=isthetotalvolumeoftheairflowrate.
Vo=isthetotalvolumeoftheenclosedarea.
Inanopenairsituation,evenwiththelowestwindspeed,thenumberofcyclesofchangeairarehigh.Usuallyis
adoptedaCequalto0.03s1(relatedtoawindspeedof0.5m/s).However,thismethodisquiteconservative,
oversizingthehazardousarea.
Oncethatthehazardousvolumehasbeendefined,thenextsteptoestimatethegradeofventilationistoachieve
thePersistenceTime(t)oftheflammablemixture.Thetimerequiredfortheaverageconcentrationtofallfrom
thestartingvalueofXototheLFLmultipliedbykafterthereleasehasstoppedcanbeestimatedfrom:
tisestimatedinthesametimeunitofC.AparticularattentionmustbeadoptedfortheXovalue:insidethe
hazardousvolume,theconcentrationoftheflammablesubstancevarysensiblybetweenthe100%(inthewhole
areanearthesourceofrelease)andthe25%oftheLFL.HoweverthepropervalueofXoshouldbeestimated
https://hseengineer.wordpress.com/hazardousareaclassificationguidelines/

16/26

27/07/2016

HazardousAreaClassificationGuidelines|ProcessandHSEEngineering

foreachcase.
Theresidencetimeestimated,isntaquantitativevaluefortheareaclassification,itgivesadditionalinformation
abouttheabnormalprocess,andmustbecomparedtothetimescaleofthespecificprocess.Anacceptabletime
ofdispersiondependsbythetimeandfrequencyoftherelease.
Follow
ThevolumeVzcanbeusedtoprovideameansofratingtheventilationas:High,Medium,orlow.The
Follow Process
persistencetimecanbeusedtoprovideameansofratingtheventilationrequiredtocomplywiththedefinition
and HSE
ofArea0,1or2.

Engineering

Inparticularventilationcanberatedas:

Get every new post delivered to

your Inbox.

HighwhenVzissmall,almostnegligible.

Join 29 other followers

Enter your email address

MediumwhentheVzvolumecanbecontrolled.
LowwhentheVzvolumecannotbecontrolled.

Sign me up

ThecodeIEC6007910relatethevalueofVztotherateoftheventilation:

Build a website with WordPress.com

VentilationRate
High
Vz(m3)

<0.1

Medium
0.1<Vz<Vo

Low(2)
>Vo

2)LowVentilationcannotoccurinopenspacecases.
WithHighVentilationGrade,theventilationissoefficientthattheHazardousvolumecanbeconsidered
negligibleandtherelatedareamyremainunclassified.AnhighgradeofVentilationcanbeassignedonlyin
casesofArtificialVentilation,intosmallenclosedarea.
AnotherrelevantparametertoconsideristheVentilationavailability.Theavailabilityneedstobetakeninto
accountduringtheareaclassificationthetypeofzone.Thelevelofavailabilityarethefollowing:

AGoodVentilationispresentvirtuallycontinuously.
BFairVentilationispresentduringnormaloperation.
CPoorDoesntmetthefeatureofgoodandFair,butdiscontinuitiesarenottobeexpectedtooccurfor
longperiodsoftime.
Inopenspacecases,thewindactionisincludedundertheGoodcategoryevenatthelowestspeed(0.5m/s).
Theeffectoftheventilationtotheareaclassificationissummarizedinthefollowingtable.
https://hseengineer.wordpress.com/hazardousareaclassificationguidelines/

17/26

27/07/2016

HazardousAreaClassificationGuidelines|ProcessandHSEEngineering

Gradeof
Release

Degree
Medium

High

Primary
Secondary

Follow Process
and HSE
Engineering
Low

Get every new post delivered to

your Inbox.

Availability
Continuous

Follow

Ventilation

Good
Fair
Poor
Good Fair
(Zone0NE) (Zone0NE) (Zone0NE) Zone0 Zone0
+2
(Zone1NE) (Zone1NE) (Zone1NE) Zone1 Zone1
+2
(Zone2NE) (Zone2NE) Zone2
Zone2 Zone1

Join 29 other followers

PoorEnter your
Good,Fair,Low
email address
Zone0
Zone0
+1
Sign me up
Zone1
Zone1or0
+2
Build a Zone1andeven
website with WordPress.com
Zone2
0

TheZonedefinitionNEindicatesatheoreticalzonethatwouldbenegligibleextentundernormaloperating
conditions.Thesymbol+adoptedmeansSurroundedby.
Multiplesource:
Anenclosedarea,oingeneral,aspecificzonecouldhaveseveraldifferentreleasesources.HowcanIassess
theventilation?IEC6007910presentsasimplemethodtoevaluatetheventilationinamultisourcezone.The
valueoftoadopt,duringthecalculation,dependsfromthegradeofrelease.Thefollowingtableshowsthe
valuetoadoptforeachgradeofreleasecategory.

GradeofRelease

Actiontobetakenwith

Continuously
Primary

Summateallvaluesforeachsourceandusetheresult.
Inaccordancetothefollowingtable,summatetherequisitenumberofthelargest
valueofandapplytheresultingtotal.
Secondary
Useonlythelargestvolumeofthesourcesofthesamearea.
NOTE:Differinggradeofreleasearenotrequiredtobesummated.

Numberofprimary

Numberofprimary

https://hseengineer.wordpress.com/hazardousareaclassificationguidelines/

18/26

27/07/2016

HazardousAreaClassificationGuidelines|ProcessandHSEEngineering

gradereleases

gradesreleasestobe
usedinaccordance
withtheprevious
table
Follow

3to5

6to9

Follow Process
and HSE
Engineering
Get every new post delivered to
your Inbox.
Join 29 other followers
Enter your email address

10to13

14to18

19to23

24to27

28to33

34to39

10

40to45

11

46to51

12

Sign me up
Build a website with WordPress.com

9.11.IIICalculationExamples:

ExampleN1:
Characteristicsofthe
release

https://hseengineer.wordpress.com/hazardousareaclassificationguidelines/

19/26

27/07/2016

FlammableMaterial
SourceofRelease
LEL
Gradeofrelease
SafetyFactor,k
ReleaseRate,G

HazardousAreaClassificationGuidelines|ProcessandHSEEngineering

Propane(gas)
Canfillingnozzle
0.0039[Kg/m3]
Primary
0.25
0.005[kg/s]

Minimumvolumetricflowrateoffreshair:
EstimationofHypotheticalVolumeVz:
Timeofpersistencet:

Follow

Follow Process

Ventilation

Characteristics and HSE
Indoorsituation

Engineering
Numberofair
20perhour
changes,C Get every new post delivered to
your Inbox.
Qualityfactor,f
1
Ambient
followers
35C(308K)
Join 29 other
Temperature,T
Enter your email address

Conclusion:ThehypotheticalvolumeVzissignificantbutitcanbecontrolled.ThedegreeofventilationIs
consideredasmediumwithregardtothesourcebasedonthiscriterion.Withapersistencetimeof0.26h,the
Sign me up
conceptofClassI,Zone1maynotbemetiftheoperationisrepeatedfrequently.
Build a website with WordPress.com

ExampleN2:
Characteristicsofthe
release
FlammableMaterial
SourceofRelease
LEL
Gradeofrelease
SafetyFactor,k
ReleaseRate,G

Ammonia(gas)
EvaporatorValve
0.105[Kg/m3]
Secondary
0.50
[kg/s]

Ventilation

Characteristics
Indoorsituation

Minimumvolumetricflowrateoffreshair:
Numberofair
15perhour
changes,C
EstimationofHypotheticalVolumeVz:
Qualityfactor,f
1
Ambient
20C(293K)
Timeofpersistencet:
Temperature,T
Conclusion:ThehypotheticalvolumeVzisnegligible.Howevertheitemsadjacenttothevalveshouldbe
classifiedasZone2.

ExampleN3:
Characteristicsofthe
release
FlammableMaterial
SourceofRelease
LEL
Gradeofrelease

Toluen(vapor)
Flange
0.046[Kg/m3]
Continuos

https://hseengineer.wordpress.com/hazardousareaclassificationguidelines/

20/26

27/07/2016

SafetyFactor,k
ReleaseRate,G

HazardousAreaClassificationGuidelines|ProcessandHSEEngineering

0.25
[kg/s]

Minimumvolumetricflowrateoffreshair:
EstimationofHypotheticalVolumeVz:
Timeofpersistencet:

Ventilation

Characteristics
Follow
Indoorsituation

Numberofair
onceperhour
Follow
Process
changes,C
Qualityfactor,f
5
and HSE
Ambient
20C(293K)
Engineering
Temperature,T

Get every new post delivered to

your Inbox.
Thetimeofpersistencecannotbeestimateforcontinuousrelease.Conclusion:ThehypotheticalvolumeV
zis
Join 29 other followers
negligible.HowevertheitemsadjacenttotheflangeshouldbeclassifiedasZone2.

Enter your email address

AdjacentArea:

Sign me up

Fortheareaadjacenttotheclassifiedone,particularattentionmustbeadopted.Therethreedifferentcases:

Build a website with WordPress.com

1)Anonclosedadequatelyventilatedareathatisadjacenttoaclassifiedarea,andthatisNOTseparated
fromtheclassifiedareabyvaportightbarrier,shouldbeclassifiedtotheextentdesignated.

2)Aenclosedareathatisadjacenttoaclassifiedarea,thatisseparatedfromtheclassifiedareabyavapor
tightbarrier,isunclassified,consideringonlytheexternalsources.

3)Anenclosedareathatisadjacenttoaclassifiedarea,andthatisNOTseparatedfromtheclassifiedarea
bythevaportightbarrier,shouldbeclassifiedthesameasthehighestclassificationincluded.(APIRP505).

Extentofthehazardousarea:
Theextentofaparticularzone,isfunctionofseveralfactorsandparameters.TheAPIRP505suggeststhe
extentofareageneratedbydifferentpotentialreleasesources(e.g.Vents,Rupturedisk,etc.).
RefertoAPIRP505,NFPA497forthesinglesource.Inthosecases,theextentofthesingleareaisdetermined
onlybythelocationofpotentialsourcesofreleaseofflammableliquids,gasesorvapors,andnotbythe
locationoftheigniters(electricalandnonelectrical).
Toestimatetheextentofthespecificarea,especiallyforparticularcasesnotrevisedbythecommonstandards,
therearemanydispersionmodel,evensoftwaresuitable.

AnalternativemethodfortheareaClassification:
https://hseengineer.wordpress.com/hazardousareaclassificationguidelines/

21/26

27/07/2016

HazardousAreaClassificationGuidelines|ProcessandHSEEngineering

APIRP505suggestsanalternativemethodfortheareaclassification.Themethodisbasedontheconceptof
PointSource,involvingthecreationofspecificboundariesforeachindividualsource.Attheendofthe
specificclassification,anextendedareaclassificationismadebythecompositionoftheadjacentdifferentarea.
Theextentoftheareaisrelatedto:1)thegradeandvelocityoftherelease2)andthevolatilityofthesingle
Follow
substances.(thevolatilityofamixtureisequaltothehighestvolatilityofitscomponents).

Follow Process
TheHazardRadiusisadirectfunctionofvolatilityandrateofrelease,thatmeansthatasoneofthelast
parameterisreduced,theextentofthehazardousareatendtobereduced.
and HSE
Engineering
Therateorthespeedoftherelease(thequantityreleased)isdividedintothreedifferentcategories:High,
MediumandLow.

Get every new post delivered to

your Inbox.

Join 29 other followers

ReleaseVelocity
Low

Medium

10ft/s

10<<50ft/s

3m/s

3<<15m/s

Enter your email address

High
Sign me
up
Build a website with WordPress.com

50ft/s

15m/s

AreleasewithHighspeedflowhasagreaterhazardradiusduetothemistingtransition.Amist,orspray,has
usuallyadensitylighterthanair,thatmeansthatevenatlowwindspeedthedispersionisquickandcovera
widearea.
Thesecondparameteradoptedinthismethodisthesubstancevolatility.Thevolatilityofthemostcommon
flammableliquidsandflammablegasesorvapors,arepresentintoNFPA30:Flammableandcombustible
liquidCode.Theprocessgroupsallhazardoussubstancesintofivedifferentvolatilitycategories.

CategoryG:FlammablesubstanceshandledandprocessedasGasesandvapors.
Category1:Materials,includingLPGs,withavaporpressure,attheoperatingtemperature,above70psia
(0.483MPa).Thosematerial,oncereleased,vaporizeinaveryshorttime,evenifprocessedliquefied.
Category2:MaterialsareallClass1AFlammableliquidswithavaporpressureoforlessthan70psiaandall
otherflammableandcombustibleliquidswithavaporpressurebetween14.7psiaand70psiaatoperating
conditions.
Category3:MaterialsareallClass1BFlammableliquidswithavaporpressureoforlessthan14.7psiaand
allotherflammableandcombustibleliquidswithavaporpressurelessthan14.7psiawhentheoperating
conditionsareabovetheirownflashpoint.
https://hseengineer.wordpress.com/hazardousareaclassificationguidelines/

22/26

27/07/2016

HazardousAreaClassificationGuidelines|ProcessandHSEEngineering

Category4:MaterialsofClassIIandheaviermaterialsthatareoperatedbelowtheirflashpoint
Forfurtherinformationaboutthevolatility,andflashpointrefertoNFPA30,325and497
Follow

Oncethatthematerialcategoryhasbeenfound,itshazardradiusisonlyfunctionofthematerialreleaserate
Follow Process
andthedispersionrateofgasesandvapors.

and HSE
Engineering

ApplicationtoNonEnclosedadequatelyventilatedlocationscontainingHeavierthanairgasesorvapor:
Get every new post delivered to
your Inbox.
Theextentofthehazardradius,foreachpotentialsource,canbeestimatedbythefollowingmatrix.Those

method,basedonAPIRPexperience,isusuallyadoptedforthosetypeofsourceusuallynotrevisedbythe
Join 29 other followers
standardsandcodes.
Enter your email address

Foreachsubstancecategory(G4),andforaspecificrateofrelease,theradiuscanbeestimated.The
applicationofthoseradiusshallbedonewiththefollowingprecautions.Wheretheextentofanhazardradius
hasbeenindentified,itmustberevisedbythegoodengineeringsafetyjudgment.Thepresenceofphysical
Sign me up
barrier,insidethehazardradiusestimated,shallbeconsideredtomodifytheareaextent.Inmanyparticular
cases,thedispersion,especiallyformixtures,mustbeevaluatedusingsuitablesoftwareormodels.Inthose
Build a website with WordPress.com
cases,whichthedispersionisntsubjectatanyexternalinfluence(e.g.Wind,Internalventilation,etc.)thecloud
dispersionistobeconsideredsymmetricanduniformly.
HazardRadius
Category1
Category2
Category3
Category4

525

2550

50100

35

525

2550

35

525

n.a.

n.a.

n.a.

Low

Medium

High

<10Gal(US)/min

1050Gal(US)/min

50100Gal(US)/min

MassRelease
Forexample,acategory2fluid,withamassreleaseof13gal(US)/min(0.82litri/s),thehazardradiusis
estimatedwithintherangeof525ft(1.57.6m),withanadequateknowledgeofthesource,anditsarea,the
specificvaluecanbeestimated.

https://hseengineer.wordpress.com/hazardousareaclassificationguidelines/

23/26

27/07/2016

Sharethis:

Twitter

HazardousAreaClassificationGuidelines|ProcessandHSEEngineering

Facebook

Follow

Like
Onebloggerlikesthis.

Comments(0)Trackbacks(0)LeaveacommentTrackback
1.Nocommentsyet.

Follow Process
and HSE
Engineering
Get every new post delivered to
your Inbox.

1.Notrackbacksyet.

Join 29 other followers

LeaveaReply

Enter your email address

Enteryourcommenthere...

Sign me up
Build a website with WordPress.com

RSSfeed

Tag(s)

Articles

CrudeOilEnergyEngineeringEUExxonGreenEngineeringHazard
HazardousAreaClassificationHSELeakageLOPAOilPipingPumpSafetyShellSIL TankUkUSUSAVessel
BiofuelsBPCCS

Quotes:
"Thereisnosuchthingaszerorisk.Thisisbecausenophysicalitemhasazerofailurerate,nohumanbeing
makeszeroerrorsandnopieceofsoftwaredesigncanforeseeeverypossibility."DavidJ.Smith

Search:
Search

QuickFacts

https://hseengineer.wordpress.com/hazardousareaclassificationguidelines/

24/26

27/07/2016

HazardousAreaClassificationGuidelines|ProcessandHSEEngineering

Follow

CopyrightNotice

Follow Process
and HSE
Engineering
Get every new post delivered to
your Inbox.

AlltheImages,MaterialandSiteContent,postedareoftheirownauthorsandspecified.

Join 29 other followers

Calendar
July2016
M T W T F S S

1 2 3
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
25 26 27 28 29 30 31
May

Enter your email address

Sign me up
Build a website with WordPress.com

Toomanysignsdoesntmeanasaferoffice.Mythofthemonth2007(HSE)

LatesArticles,WhatsUp?
https://hseengineer.wordpress.com/hazardousareaclassificationguidelines/

25/26

27/07/2016

HazardousAreaClassificationGuidelines|ProcessandHSEEngineering

Shellsstanceonwindpowerrevealsaprofoundtruthofcapitalism
181
Once,menabusedslaves.Nowweabusefossilfuels
Tightenfrackingregulations,scientistsurgeUSofficials
Leakeddata:Palmbiodieselasdirtyasfuelfromtarsands
Follow
RestrictionOrificeSizing
NigeriasoildisastersaremetbysilenceTheglobalmediahavehadlittletosayonNigeriaslatestoil
Follow Process
spillandthehundredsofothersthathavedestroyedsomanylives
and HSE
Talktotheexpert:FelixRedmillabouttheuse(andabuse)ofSILanalysis.
BPseeksspillcostsfromHalliburton
Engineering

Authorities
EUOsha
EuropeanProcessSafetyCentre
HealthandSafetyExecutive(Uk)
Nebosh
Osha(USA)
TheInstitutionofOccupationalSafetyandHealth(Uk)

Certification

Get every new post delivered to

your Inbox.
Join 29 other followers
Enter your email address

Sign me up
Build a website with WordPress.com

DerNorskeVeritas

Editors
TNO

Magazine
EngineerLive
TheEngineer

QRA
TNO
Top
CreateafreewebsiteorblogatWordPress.com.TheINoveTheme.

https://hseengineer.wordpress.com/hazardousareaclassificationguidelines/

26/26