OVERVIEW OF HAZARDOUS AREA

Hazardous Area
A hazardous area is an area in which an explosive atmosphere is present or may be
expected to be present in quantities such as to require special precautions for the construction,
installation and use of electrical equipment. (AS/NZS 4761.1:2008)
Types of Hazards
The type of hazard will be in the form of either a gas or vapor.
Hazardous areas are classified by gas groups and zones.

Zones are used to define the probability of the presence of flammable materials.
Groups classify the exact flammable nature of the material.

Protection Types are used to denote the level of safety for the device. Equipment approved
receives a temperature code indicating the maximum surface temperature of the equipment.

Flameproof (Explosion proof) Enclosure

All electrical circuits are enclosed in a house strong enough to contain any explosion or fire
that may take place on the inside.
Increased Safety
Electrical circuits incorporate special measures to reduce the probability of excessive
temperatures and the occurrence of arcs and sparks in normal service.
Intrinsically Safety
The electrical energy available in circuits and equipment is limited to a level to low to
ignite the most easily ignitable mixtures in a hazardous area.
Intrinsically safe barriers, as Zener, are installed in the circuit to limit current and voltage
in the hazardous areas to avoid sparks or hot spots under fault conditions.

Zones
The zone defines the probability of hazardous material being present in an ignitable
concentration in the surrounding atmosphere.
Gas

Hazardous Area Characteristics

Zone 0

A hazardous atmosphere is highly likely to be present and may be present

for long periods of time (>1000 hours per year) or even continuously

Zone 1

A hazardous atmosphere is possible but unlikely to be present for long

periods of time (>10<1000 hours per year)

Zone 2

A hazardous atmosphere is not likely to be present in normal operation or

infrequently and for short periods of time (<10 hours per year)

Temperature Code
A mixture of air and hazardous gases may ignite by coming in contact with a hot surface.
An ignition depends on surface area, temperature and the concentration of the gas.
Certified equipment is tested for maximum temperature ratings by approval agencies.
Equipment for Group II receives a temperature code indicating the maximum surface
temperature.
Group II Temperature Class
T Code

Maximum Surface Temperature

Ignition Temperature

T1

450C

>450C

T2

300C

>300C450C

T3

200C

>200C 300C

T4

130C

>130C 200C

T5

100C

>100C 135C

T6

85C

>85C 100C

Groups

Electrical equipment is divided into two groups where Group I covers equipment used in
mines and Group II covers all other applications. Group II is subdivided into three subgroups
where the specific hazardous materials within each group can be found in CENELEC EN 50014.

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.

Group
IIB

For application in above ground

installations where hazards due to
ethylene may exist.

Group
IIC

For application in above ground

installations where hazards due to
hydrogen or acetylene may exist.

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Auto Ignition Temperature or T Rating
The hazard level of the gases increases from gas group IIA to IIC with group IIC being the
most severe.
Apparatus Groups and Temperature Classes for Common Flammable Gases and Vapors
Group II