Explosion Protection Guide

Classifications Inside North America

Classes
Class I Flammable gases or vapors are present in the air in quantities sufficient to produce explosive or ignitable mixtures.
Class II Combustible or conductive dusts are present.
Class III Ignitable fibers or flyings are present, but not likely to be in suspension in sufficient quantities to produce ignitable mixtures. (Group classifications are not applied to this class.)
Divisions
Division 1 The substance referred to by class is present during normal conditions.
Division 2 The substance referred to by class is present only in abnormal conditions, such as a container failure or system breakdown.
Groups
Group A Acetylene
Group B Hydrogen (or gases of equivalent hazard)
Group C Ethylene (or gases of equivalent hazard)
Group D Gasoline (or gases of equivalent hazard)
Group E Metal Dust
Group F Coal Dust
Group G Grain Dust

Classification Outside North America

Zones
Zone 0 Area in which an explosive gas-air mixture is continuously present or present for long periods.
Zone 1 Combustible or conductive dusts are present.Area in which an explosive gas-air mixture is likely to occur in normal operation.
Zone 2 Area in which an explosive gas-air mixture is not likely to occur, and if it occurs it will only exist for a short time.
Protection Types
Zone
d Flameproof (Explosion proof) Enclosure 1,2
e Increased Safety 1,2
ia Intrinsic Safety 0,1,2
ib Intrinsic Safety 1,2
o Oil Immersion 2
p Pressurized Apparatus (Purged Apparatus) 1,2
q Powder Filling (Sand Filling) 2
m Encapsulation 1,2
n Normally Nonsparking and/or Nonincendive Circuits) 2
Temperature Codes
°F °C
T1 842 450
T2 572 300
T3 392 200
T4 275 135
T5 212 100
T6 185 85
Groups
Group I For application in below ground installations (mines) where methane (firedamp) and coal dust may be present.
Group IIA For application in above ground installation where hazards due to propane may exist. This group most closely matches the North American Group D.
Group IIB For application in above ground installations where hazards due to ethylene may exist. This group most closely matches the North American Group C.
Group IIC For application in above ground installations where hazards due to hydrogen or acetylene may exist. This group most closely matches the North American Groups A and B.