Hazardous Areas - EXPLOSIONPROOF SOLENOIDS

SOME HISTORY
The classification of hazardous areas into zones established the level of protection required for electrical equipment installed in
explosive gas atmospheres (IEC 60079-10). Since this approach proved successful, it was applied to explosive dust atmospheres
(IEC-EN 61241-10).
The new edition of IEC 60079-0 (2007) [EN 60079-0 (2009)] progressively replaces IEC-EN 60079-10 and IEC-EN 61241-10 by the
two following standards:
IEC-EN 60079-10-1: Classification of areas, explosive gas atmospheres
IEC-EN 60079-10-2: Classification of areas, combustible dust atmospheres (dust groups/EPL)
The selection and erection of electrical installations is defined by standard EN 60079-14.

DEFINITION OF A PLACE WHERE A POTENTIALLY EXPLOSIVE ATMOSPHERE MAY OCCUR

The classification of an installation into distinct zones has two objectives (according to ATEX 1999/92/EC):
- To define the categories of equipment used in the zones indicated, provided they are suitable for gases, vapours or mists and/or
dusts.
- To classify hazardous places into zones to prevent ignition sources and be able to select the correct electrical and non-electrical
equipment accordingly. The zones are defined on the basis of the occurrence of explosive gaseous or dusty atmospheres.

GAS GROUPS
Group II : Equipment intended for use in places with an explosive gas atmosphere other than mines susceptible to firedamp.
Group I :
Equipment intended for use in mines susceptible to firedamp.

Zone Category (ATEX 2014/34/EU) Presence of explosive atmospheres

zone 0 1 G (1) Continuous, frequent or for long periods
Group II zone 1 2G Intermittent in normal operation (likely)
zone 2 3G Occasional or for short periods (never in normal operation)
Group I M1 (1)
Presence (methane, dust)
(mines) M2 Risk of presence (methane, dust)
DUST GROUPS (IEC 60079-0)
Group III : Equipment intended for use in places with an explosive dust atmosphere other than mines susceptible to firedamp.
Zone Category (ATEX 2014/34/EU) Presence of explosive atmospheres
zone 20 1 D (1) Continuous, frequent or for long periods (air/cloud of combustible dust)
Group III zone 21 2 D Intermittent in normal operation
zone 22 3 D Occasional or for short periods
The classification of the installation is the responsibility of the user. He must individually evaluate each installation to determine the
differences between them.
Separate assessments must be made for places with potentially explosive atmospheres caused by gases or vapours and
for those caused by dusts.

EQUIPMENT PROTECTION LEVELS - EPLs

Availability, design and specifications are subject to change without notice. All rights reserved.
In normal circumstances the effect of the EPLs will be to retain the normal zone/equipment protection relationship. If, however, the
risk is considered especially severe, then the required EPL for the zone may be increased. Similarly, if the risk is deemed to be
especially small or negligible, the EPL may be reduced from the norm.
The following table shows the normal relationship between EPL and zone/category (without supplementary risk assessment).
Equipment Protection Level (EPL) Normal Applicable Zone(s) Category (2014/34/EU)
Ga 0 (and 1 and 2) 1G
Gb 1 (and 2) 2G
Gc 2 3G
Da 20 (and 21 and 22) 1D
Db 21 (and 22) 2D
Dc 22 3D
Ma / Mb mines M1 / M2
G = gas ; D = dust ; M = mines
(1)
00129GB-2016/R02

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IV - Explosionproof equipment
 Hazardous Areas - EXPLOSIONPROOF SOLENOIDS

Zone 0

Zone 1

Zone 2

zone 22
Availability, design and specifications are subject to change without notice. All rights reserved.

zone 21
B

Filter bag
zone 20
Dust separator

EXAMPLES OF A CLASSIFICATION INTO ZONES

Drawing A of an explosive atmosphere caused by gas: Zone 0 Zone 1 Zone 2
00129GB-2016/R02

Drawing B of an explosive atmosphere caused by dust: Zone 20 Zone 21 Zone 22

Above drawings A and B are an example only and must not be used as a model for an actual plant whose design is, in every
case, the responsibility of the constructor and operator.

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Explosionproof equipment - V
 Identification - EXPLOSIONPROOF SOLENOIDS
HOW CAN ATEX, EN-IEC 60079-0 OR EN 13463-1 APPROVED APPARATUS FOR USE IN EXPLOSIVE ATMOSPHERES
BE IDENTIFIED?

Specific symbol for explosion-proof protection ac-

Epsilon x marking for equipment for use in explo-

cording to EN / IEC

Categories : 1 (zone 0) - 2 (zone 1) - 3 (zone 2)

Identification number of the Notified Body
issuing the EC type-examination certificate

TYPES OF PROTECTION
Conformity to the European Directives,

Electrical apparatus, gas atmospheres:

"d" : Flameproof enclosure EN 60079-1
II : Surface industries

"e" : Increased safety EN 60079-7

"i": Intrinsic safety EN 60079-11 (ia/ib/ic)
"m" : Encapsulation EN 60079-18 (ma/mb/mc)
(Example: 0081 = LCIE).

"n" : Non-incendive EN 60079-15 (nA/..)

Electrical apparatus, dust atmospheres:
sive atmospheres.

"t": Protection by enclosures EN 60079-31 (ta/tb/tc)

Mines : M1 M2

"m": Protection by encapsulation EN 61241-18

CE marking.

(ma/mb/mc)
"i": Protection by intrinsic safety EN 60079-11 (ia/ib/ic)
Dusts : D
I : Mines

Gas : G

Non-electrical apparatus:
"c" : Protection by constructional safety EN 13463-5

0081 q II 2 G Ex d IIC Gb T4

0081 q II 2 D Ex tb Db T135°C

0081 q II 2 D c T85°C T6
Ex d IIB Gb T6
Ex t IIIC Db IP67 T85°C

ma or ia = for use in
Maximum
zone 0 gas (D = Dusts)
surface
mb or ib = for use in
Availability, design and specifications are subject to change without notice. All rights reserved.
temperature
zone 1 gas (D = Dusts)

Temperature class

Enclosure ingress
protection (IP)
rating for dust
(EN 60529)

Equipment groups Equipment

(IIA, IIB, IIC, Protection Level
IIIA, IIIB, IIIC) (EPL)
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VI - Explosionproof equipment
 Equipment Groups and Temperature Classes - EXPLOSIONPROOF SOLENOIDS
CLASSIFICATION OF GASES INTO EXPLOSION GROUPS
Group I : Electrical equipment intended for use in the underground parts of mines, and to those parts of surface installations of
such mines, likely to become endangered by firedamp and/or combustible dust.
Group II : Electrical equipment intended for use in other places likely to become endangered by explosive atmospheres (surface
industries).
For the types of protection "d" and "i", group II is subdivided into IIA, IIB, IIC. Electrical apparatus certified for IIB may be used in
applications requiring apparatus to be certified for group IIA. Electrical apparatus certified for IIC may be used in applications requiring
apparatus to be certified for groups IIA and IIB.
For example the "d" and "i" types of protection are respectively subdivided according to the Maximum Experimental Safe Gap (MESG)
and to the Minimum Igniting Current (MIC).
Electrical apparatus certified for IIB may be certified for use with a gas belonging to group IIC. In this case, the identification is sup-
plemented with the chemical symbol or the name of the gas (example: Ex d IIB + H2 according to EN 60079-0 and EN 60079.1).
The table below indicates the groups to which some gas mixtures belong:
Temperature class
Groups Gas Ignition temperature (1) (°C)
T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6
I methane (firedamp)
acetone 540 ●
acetic acide 485 ●
ammonia 630 ●
ethane 515 ●
methylene chloride 556 ●
methane (CH4) 537 ●
carbon monoxyde 605 ●
A propane 470 ●
n-butane 365 ●

II n-butyl 370 ●
n-hexane 240 ●
acetaldehyde 140 ●
ethyl ether 160 ●
ethyl nitrite 90 ●
ethylene 425 ●
B ethyl oxyde 429-440 ●
hydrogen sulfide 270 ●
acetylene (C2H2) 305 ●
C carbon disulphide (CS2) 102 ●
hydrogen (H2) 560 ●
Temperature of a hot surface able to ignite a gas mixture.
(1)

The ignition temperature of the gas mixture must be higher than the maximum surface temperature. In practice, a 10 to 20% safety margin is
observed between the ignition temperature and the rated nameplate temperature.
The ignition temperature of a cloud of dust is generally between 300 and 700°C. At 150 to 350°C, the ignition temperature of a layer of dust is far
below that of a dust cloud. A burning dust layer can initiate a dust explosion if brought in contact with a combustible dust cloud, so these values
must be taken into account to limit the risk.

TEMPERATURE CLASS
The temperature classification is based on the maximum surface temperature of equipment. That is the highest temperature any part
Availability, design and specifications are subject to change without notice. All rights reserved.

of or the entire surface of an electrical device can reach under the most unfavourable operating conditions capable of igniting a sur-
rounding explosive atmosphere.
Group I : Temperature ≤ 150°C or ≤ 450°C according to coal dust accumulation on equipment
Group II : Equipment must be classified and marked:
- preferably with the temperature class (T classification)
- defined by the surface temperature or,
- limited to the specified flammable gases or dusts for which it is approved, if necessary (and marked accordingly).

Temperature class Maximum surface temperature (°C) Ignition temperature (1) (°C)
T1 450 > 450
T2 300 > 300
T3 200 > 200
T4 135 > 135
T5 100 > 100
T6 85 > 85
00129GB-2016/R02

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Explosionproof equipment - VII
 Equipment Groups - EXPLOSIONPROOF SOLENOIDS

CLASSIFICATION OF DUSTS INTO EXPLOSION GROUPS (IEC 60079-0)

Group III : Electrical equipment intended for use in places with an explosive dust atmosphere other than mines susceptible to
firedamp.
Group III is subdivided into IIIA (combustible flyings), IIIB (non-conductive dust) and IIIC (conductive dust).
Combustible dust: Finely divided solid particles, 500 µm or less in nominal size, which may be suspended in air, may settle out of
the atmosphere under their own weight, may burn or glow in air, and may form explosive mixtures with air at atmospheric pressure
and normal temperatures.
Non-conductive dust: Combustible dust with electrical resistivity greater than 103 Ω.m
Conductive dust: Combustible dust with electrical resistivity equal to or less than 103 Ω.m
Ignition temperature (1) Self-ignition temperature
Combustible dust
(°C) of dust layers (1) (°C)
Starch 440 290
Aluminium 530 280
Cotton 560 350
Cereals 420 290
Magnesium 610 410
Soybean 500 245
Sulphur 280 280
Tabacco 450 300
The maximum surface temperature must be identified and suitable for the specified type of dust present (equipment marked for zone 21).
(1)

In order to prevent the ignition of dusty atmospheres, the maximum surface temperature needs to be limited. It must not exceed:
- 2/3 of the auto-ignition temperature of the specified cloud of dust,
- the auto-ignition temperature of a 5 mm layer of dust minus 75°C.

TYPE EXAMINATION CERTIFICATES SELECTION OF PRODUCTS

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Availability, design and specifications are subject to change without notice. All rights reserved.

Certificates issued by the IECEx Certified Equipment Program are issued as “Electronic Certificates” and are
live on the IECEx Website. This enables full public access for viewing and printing. Visit the IECEx “On-Line
Certificate” System.
00129GB-2016/R02

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VIII - Explosionproof equipment