6/25/2020 Hazardous Areas – IEC and NEC/CEC Comparison

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Hazardous Areas – IEC and NEC/CEC Comparison

By Steven McFadyen (/user-profile/userid/3)on March 9th, 2012

Why use catalogues

(https://myelectrical.com/notes/entryid/123/why-use-

catalogues)

I'm a fan of using manufacturers catalogues. There are two

myelectrical.com/Portals/0/SunBlogNuke/2/WindowsLiveWriter/HazardousAreasIECandNECCECComparison_CC45/SasolSA_2.jpg)
main reasons for this. Firstly, if your involved in the
Sasol, South Africa
purchase of equipment, you will likely...

Depending on where in the world you work, you are likely following one of two standards

Back to Basics - Ohm’s Law

International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) (https://myelectrical.com/notes/entryid/97/back-to-

National Electrical Code/Canadian Electrical Code (NEC/CEC) basics-ohms-law)

The different nature of the two systems makes a direct comparison almost impossible. Electrical engineering has a multitude of laws and theorems.

It is fair to say the Ohm's Law is one of the more widely

If you do need to work with both systems or transition from one to the other, hopefully, the following will make this easier. known; it not the most known. Developed...

Since July 2003, Ex products in Europe must also be certified to the ATEX directive (ATEX 94/9/EC). Paths of Flight

(https://myelectrical.com/notes/entryid/63/paths-of-

flight)
Contents [hide]
GE have put together a time-lapse video shown flight take-
1. Zones & Divisions
off and landings at some airports. An interesting view:
2. Temperature & Explosion Groups

3. Equipment & Protection Levels

4. Degrees of Protection Dielectric loss in cables

5. Product Markings (https://myelectrical.com/notes/entryid/241/dielectric-

1. Typical IEC Type Marking loss-in-cables)

2. Typical NEC/CEC Type Marking Dielectrics (insulating materials for example) when

6. Finally subjected to a varying electric field, will have some energy

loss. The varying electric field causes...

Calculating Cable Fault Ratings

Zones & Divisions (https://myelectrical.com/notes/entryid/242/calculating-

cable-fault-ratings)

IEC Classification IEC 60079 ANSI/NFPA 70 NEC Article 500 When selecting a cable, the performance of the cable under

fault conditions is an important consideration. It is important

that calculations be carried...

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6/25/2020 Hazardous Areas – IEC and NEC/CEC Comparison

Gas and Vapours Class (nature of the material) Network Theory – Introduction and Review

(https://myelectrical.com/notes/entryid/179/network-
Zone flammable atmosphere highly likely to be present - Class I hazardous because flammable gases or vapors
theory-introduction-and-review)
0 may be present for long periods or even are present in the air in quantities sufficient to
In electrical engineering, Network Theory is the study of
continuously produce explosive or ignitable mixtures
how to solve circuit problems. By analyzing circuits, the
Zone flammable atmosphere possible but unlikely to be Class II hazardous because combustible or conductive
engineer looks to determine the various...
1 present for long periods dusts are present

Zone flammable atmosphere unlikely to be present except Class hazardous because ignitable fibers or flying's are Introduction to Traction Substations

2 for short periods of time - typically as a result of a III present, but not likely to be in suspension in (https://myelectrical.com/notes/entryid/118/introduction-

process fault condition sufficient quantities to produce ignitable mixtures. to-traction-substations)

Following on from my post on railway electrification

Dusts Division (probability of material being present)
voltages, I thought an introduction to traction substations
Zone dust cloud likely to be present continuously or for Division the substance referred to by class is present
would be a good idea. Traction substations...
20 long periods 1 during normal conditions

Zone dust cloud likely to be present occasionally in normal Division the substance referred to by class is present only Electrical Engineering

21 operation 2 in abnormal conditions, such as a container (https://myelectrical.com/notes/entryid/4/electrical-

failure or system breakdown engineering)

Zone dust cloud unlikely to occur in normal operation, but

22 if it does, will only exist for a short period Electrical engineering is a field that covers a wide variety of

sub-fields, including electricity and electronics. It is a field

that goes back to the...

Temperature & Explosion Groups

Voltage Levels – Confused?

(https://myelectrical.com/notes/entryid/11/voltage-level-
Explosion Groups Temperature Class
confusion)
IEC NEC/CEC Temperature IEC NEC/CEC
o
I was having a conversation the other day about voltage
C
Inflammable material Zone Group Class Division Group
levels. While everyone was in agreement that low voltage
85 T6 T6
Gas and Vapours was 1000 V and less, there was more confusion...

100 T5 T5
Acetylene 0,1 or 2 II C I 1 or 2 A
Why is electricity so hard to understand?
120 T4 T4A
Hydrogen 0,1 or 2 II B+H2 I 1 or 2 B
(https://myelectrical.com/notes/entryid/64/understanding-
135 T4 T4
Propylene oxide electricity)
160 T3 T3C
Ethyl oxide 0,1 or 2 II B I 1 or 2 B It's been a busy few months on different projects or busy
165 T3 T3B
Butadiene couple of decades depending on how I look at it. I can say
180 T3 T3A
that on the odd (frequent) occasion...
Cyclopropane
200 T3 T3
Ethly ether 0,1 or 2 II B I 1 or 2 C
215 T2 T2D
Ethylene
230 T2 T2C
Acetone
260 T2 T2B
Benzene
280 T2 T2A
Butane
0,1 or 2 II A I 1 or 2 D 300 T2 T2
Hexane
450 T1 T1
Paint solvents

Natural gas

Dusts

Metal dust III C II E

Coal dust III C II F

Grain dust III B II G

Wood

Paper III A III

Cotton

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6/25/2020 Hazardous Areas – IEC and NEC/CEC Comparison

Gas Group / Temperature Class Ignition Temperatures for Common Flammable

Dusts and Fibers

Group T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6

Ignition Temperature
I Methane

Material Cloud Layer

IIA Acetone Ethanol Diesel fuel Acetaldehyde

Methane Cyclohexane Aircraft fuel Coal Dust 380°C 225°C

Ethane Propanol 2 Fuel oil

Polythene 420°C (melts)
Benzene N-Butyl N-Hexane
Methyl Cellulose 420°C 320°C
Methanol alcohol Heptane

Toluene N-butane Kerosene Starch 460°C 435°C

Flour 490°C 340°C

Propane
Sugar 490°C 460°C
Acetic

Acid Grain Dust 510°C 300°C

Ammonia
Phenolic Resin 530°C > 450°C

Aluminium 590°C > 450°C

IIB Coal Gas Ethylene Ethylene glycol Ethyl Methyl

Ethylene Hydrogen Ether PVC 700°C > 450°C

oxide Sulphide Soot 810°C 570°C

Propanol 1 Tetrahydrofuran

Methyl Ethyl

Ketone

IIC Hydrogen Acetylene

Equipment & Protection Levels

IEC/ATEX Equipment Protection IEC Equipment Classification

Level (EPL)

IEC 60079 94/9/EC (ATEX) Code Description EPL Type of Protection

Protection Ex e Increased safety Gc Intended to prevent a

EPL Zone(s) Group Category Level potential ignition arising

Ex n Type - n protection Gc

Gas/Vapours
Ex ia Intrinsic safety 'ia' Ga

Ga 0,1,2 II 1 G very high

Ex ib Intrinsic safety 'ib' Gb Intended to limit the ignition

Gb 1,2 II 2 G high energy of the equipment

Ex ic Intrinsic Safety 'ic' Gc

Gc 2 II 3 G increased
Ex n Type - n protection Gc

Dusts
Ex p Purge/pressurized protection Gb

Da 20,21,22 III 1 D very high

Ex px Purge/pressurized protection Gb

Db 21,22 III 2 D high 'px'

Dc 22 III 3 D increased Ex py Purge/pressurized protection Gb

'py'
Methane, Coal Dust

Ex pz Purge/pressurized protection Gc
Ma Mining I M1 very high Intended to prevent the
'pz'
explosive atmosphere
Mb Mining I M2 high
Ex m Encapsulation Gb contacting the ignition

source
Ex Encapsulation Ga

ma
NEC/CEC Equipment Classification

Ex Encapsulation Gb

Method of Protection Division mb

Intrinsic Safety, IS 1 or 2 Ex o Oil immersion Gb

Explosion-Proof, XP 1 or 2 Ex n Type - n protection Gc

Pressurization, X,Y,Z 1 or 2 Ex d Flameproof protection Gb

Intended to prevent an

Non-incendive equipment 2 Ex q Sand / powder (quartz) filling Gb ignition from escaping outside

the equipment
Specifically assessed equipment 2 Ex nC Type - n protection Gc

Ex s Special protection Refer to equipment marking and documentation

Degrees of Protection

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6/25/2020 Hazardous Areas – IEC and NEC/CEC Comparison

Ingress Protection Codes NEMA Enclosure Types (& IEC IP Equivalent)

IPxx (IEC 60079)

x 1st 2nd Numeral 3rd Type Area Description IP

Numeral Liquids (optional)

1 Indoor General Purpose 10
Solid Impact
2 Indoor Drip proof protection against falling water and dirt 11
Bodies

3 Indoor Dust & rain tight protection against windblown dust, rain, 54
0 No No protection No
Outdoor and sleet & damage from formation of ice
protection protection

3R Outdoor Rain proof & ice/sleet proof protection against falling rain & 14
1 Objects > Vertically 0.225
damage from formation of ice
50 mm dripping water Joule

dia. 3S Outdoor Dust tight, rain tight, & ice/sleet proof protection against 55

sleet and damage from formation of ice

2 Objects > Angled 0.375

12.5 mm dripping water Joule 4 Indoor Water tight & dust tight 66

dia. (up to 15o) Outdoor

3 Objects > Spraying 0.5 Joule 4X Indoor Water tight, dust tight, & corrosion resistant protection from 66

2.5 mm water (up to Outdoor corrosion, hose directed water and damage from formation

dia. 60o) of ice

4 Objects > Splashing 2.0 Joule 5 Indoor Dust tight & drip tight protection against dust, fibres, falling 52

1.0 mm water (all dirt, and dripping non-corrosive liquids

dia. directions)
6 Indoor Temporary submersion protection against falling dirt, dust, 67

5 Dust Low pressure 6.0 Joule Outdoor fibres, hose directed water and temporary submersion in

protected water jets water

6 Dust tight High pressure 20.0 6P Indoor Prolonged submersion protection against falling dirt, dust, 67

water jets Joule Outdoor fibres, hose directed water and prolonged submersion in

water
7 Temporary

immersion 7 Indoor Class I, Division 1, Groups A, B, C, and D hazardous

locations, air-break equipment

8 Continuous

immersion 8 Indoor Class I, Division 1 Groups A, B, C, and D hazardous

Outdoor locations, oil-immersed equipment

9 Indoor Class II, Division 1, Groups E, F, and G hazardous

locations, air-break equipment

10 Mining Mining applications

12 Indoor Dust tight & drip tight protection against dust, fibres, falling 52

dirt, and dripping non-corrosive liquids (enclosure without

knockouts)

12K Indoor Dust tight & drip tight protection against dust, fibres, falling 52

dirt, and dripping non-corrosive liquids (enclosure with

knockouts)

13 Indoor Dust tight & oil tight protection against dust, spraying of 54

water, oil, and noncorrosive coolant.

Product Markings

Typical IEC Type Marking

(http://myelectrical.com/Portals/0/Images/PostImages/hzIECMarking.jpg)

Typical NEC/CEC Type Marking

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6/25/2020 Hazardous Areas – IEC and NEC/CEC Comparison

As a general rule equipment should be marked as follows:

Company/Manufacturers name

Class I, II and/or III

Division 1 and/or 2

Group A, B, C, D, E, F and/or G

Approving NRTL (Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory) logo

Product identification

Serial number

Other relevant safety information

Enclosure Type Rating

Finally
Finally the end... When I started this post I thought it would be one of the easier ones - reproduce and sort a few tables and

I'm done. Well, it took a lot longer than I had anticipated and quite a bit more work. Anyhow now that it's finished I relieved.

Having said that, if anyone notices any errors or has suggestions to improve the post, please add them below and I'll update

the post as necessary.

Hazardous Areas (https://myelectrical.com/notes?tag=hazardous+areas), Standards

(https://myelectrical.com/notes/tag/standards), Safety (https://myelectrical.com/notes/tag/safety)

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Steven McFadyen (/user-profile/userid/3)

Steven has over twenty five years experience working on some of the largest construction projects.

He has a deep technical understanding of electrical engineering and is keen to share this

knowledge.

About the author

(/user-profile/userid/3)

(http://myelectricalengineering.co.uk)

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Rupak • 6 months ago

Thanks for sharing
△ ▽ • Reply • Share ›

Orkhan Hagverdiyev • 3 years ago

Hello. The offshore plant build under IEC standard. New turbine water wash system has ATEX
certification and fit for use in Zone 2. But the junction box which is the part of whole package has
not Ex certification only label where stated " c UL US INDUSATRIAL CONTROL PANEL
ENCLOSURE TYPE 12,4,4X. The question is does this box is fit to be used at zone 2 and why?
Thanks
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Emil John Candelario • 5 years ago

Good day. We are procuring a submersible pump together with a separate terminal box and the
area classification for the equipment is Zone 1 Group IIA T1. Our vendor is suggesting that a T6
rated equipment is superior to a T1 rated equipment. I have seen the T-class table for explosive
atmospheres and there is a big difference between the two. Is our vendor correct in saying that a
T6 rated equipment is superior to a T1 rated equipment? If possible, can you also please send to
me the regulation, preferably IEC, which shows how to interpret the T-class for such an equipment.
Thank you so much and your help is very much appreciated.
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RattawutC > Emil John Candelario • 2 years ago

A very late reply but i think it might be at least benefit someone who came across this post.
Temp. class T6 (85 degC) equipment is better than T1 (450 degC) because it can limit the
surface temperature which expose to flammable atmosphere to just 85 degC. meaning that
if your area is classified as T1 you can use the equipment for T2, T3, T4 and so on but this
will come with the higher cost.
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