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Location: ATEX

Equipment Categories Associated with the ATEX Directive

This explanatory page is focusing on the gas side of the ATEX (Explosive Atmospheres) directive as being more relevant to the products which we sell

EQUIPMENT GROUPS

The ATEX directive identifies two GROUPS of equipment

GROUP 1 equipment is intended for use in mining, or underground applications. Divided into categories M1 and M2. M1 identifies equipment that must continue to operate when a potentially explosive atmosphere is present. M2 identifies equipment that does not operate when a potentially explosive atmosphere is present

GROUP 2 equipment is intended for all other above-ground applications. Divided into CATEGORIES 1,2 and 3

EQUIPMENT CATEGORIES

CATEGORY 1 equipment is intended for use in ZONE 0 situations
CATEGORY 2 equipment is intended for use in ZONE 1 situations
CATEGORY 3 equipment is intended for use in ZONE 2 situations

ZONED areas are areas where there is a risk of flammable material being released to atmosphere

ZONES FOR GASES

ZONE 0 is the highest risk zone where an explosive atmosphere is expected to exist continuously or for very long periods of time
ZONE 1 is an area where an explosive atmosphere is expected to exist for short periods of time, but during a year the accumulation of such events is not in excess of 1000 hours
ZONE 2 is an area where an explosive concentration of flammable material is not expected and should it be released it will only exist for a very short period of time and where the accumulation of events over a year does not exceed much in excess of 10 hours

It is mandatory for manufacturers to obtain an EC Type Examination Certificate from a notified body if they are manufacturing electrical equipment in Categories M1, M2, 1 and 2 or diesel engine protection systems in Category 2. In all other cases manufacturers are free to certify their own equipment

EXPLOSIVE ATMOSPHERE

GasG
DustD

EUROPEAN STANDARD - Identified as letter 'E' in the Designation

EXPLOSION PROOFNESS - Identified as letters 'Ex'in the Designation, usually found following the above 'E' and thus marked as 'EEx'

RANGE OF APPLICATION

Fiery Mine AreasI
Other Hazardous AreasII

EXPLOSION GROUPING OF GASES

Gases and dusts are classified according to their ignition properties. For Gases and Vapors the EXPLOSION GROUP, (Under Range II above) is called the GAS GROUP, and is determined according to;

  • MESG - Maximum experimental safe gap (IEC 60 079-1A)
  • MIC - Minimum ignition current ratio relative to methane (IEC 60 079-3)
GAS GROUPMESGMIC
IIA>0.9 mm>0.8
IIB0.5 - 0.9 mm0.45 - 0.8
IIC<0.5 mm<0.45

The danger levels of gases increases from GAS GROUP IIA to IIC

TEMPERATURE CLASSING

Temperature classing is based upon the auto-ignition temperature of a given substance, it is not relevant to flash points as many people think. The temperature class increases as the auto-ignition temperature decreases, from TEMPERATURE CLASS T1 to T6, therefore Temperature Class T6 offers the highest level of protection

Temperature Class IEC/EN & NEC 505-10Max. Sfc. Temp. of Equipment (Celcius)Auto Ignition Temperature of Substance
T1450>450
T2300>300 to <450
T3200>200 to <300
T4135>135 to <200
T5100>100 to <135
T685>85 to <100

EXAMPLES OF SUBSTANCE GROUPING

GAS GROUPT1T2T3T4T5T6
IMethane     
IIAAcetoneEthanolDiesel FuelAcetyldehyde  
 EthaneCyclohexaneAircraft Fuel   
 PetroleumButaneFuel Oil 1,2 & 3   
 PropaneN-Butyl AlcoholKerosene   
 MethanolPropan-2-olGasoline   
 TolueneCumeneTurpentine   
 Benzene N-Hexane   
 Acetic Acid Heptane   
 Xylene     
 Ammonia     
IIBCoal Gas (Town Gas)EthyleneEthylene GlycolEthyl Methyl Ether  
  Ethylene OxideHydrogen Sulphide   
  Propan-1-olTetrahydrofuran   
IICHydrogenAcetylene   Carbon Disulphide

STANDARDS FOR METHODS OF PROTECTION

The method of protection refers to the standard to which the device has been produced to. There are ELECTRICAL PROTECTION CONCEPTS, and MECHANICAL PROTECTION CONCEPTS

PROTECTION CONCEPTS

Protection ConceptPermitted Zone of Use in The UKCode Letter IEC, EX, CENELEC, EEXStandard IEC/EN
General Requirement--

60079-0 (Electrical)

13463-1 (Mechanical)

Control of Ignition Sources1b13463-6
Constructional Safety1c13463-5
Flameproof Enclosure

1, 2

1

d

60079-1 (Electrical)

13463-3 (Mechanical)

Increased Safety1, 2e60079-7 (Electrical)
Flow Restriction2fr13463-2 (Mechanical)
Intrinsic Safety0, 1, 2ia60079-11 (Electrical)
Intrinsic Safety1, 2ib60079-11 (Electrical)
Liquid Immersion1k13463-8 (Mechanical)
Encapsulation1, 2m60079-18 (Electrical)
Encapsulation0ma60079-18
Encapsulation1mb60079-18
Non Incendive2n (used locally in the UK)60079-15 (Electrical)
Energy Limited2nL60079-15 (Electrical)
Non Sparking2nA60079-15 (Electrical)
Restricted Breathing2nR60079-15 (Electrical)
Enclosed Break2nC60079-15 (Electrical)
Pressurisation

1, 2

1

2

p

p

np

60079-2 (Electrical)

13463-7 (Mechanical)

60079-15 (Electrical)

Oil Immersion2o60079-6 (Electrical)
Powder Filling2q60079-5 (Electrical)
Special1, 2s 

INGRESS PROTECTION

Hazardous area equipment typically requires a minimum IP rating of IP54, but may be assessed and tested to higher ratings as detailed in the charts below. For full definition of IP Ratings, see IEC/EN 60529

DUST 
IP5xDust Protected
IP6xDust Tight

 

WATER 
IPx4Splashing Water
IPx5Water Jets
IPx6Powered Water Jets
IPx7Temporary Immersion
IPx8Continuous Immersion
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