MARKING OF

EXPLOSION PROTECTED
EQUIPMENT
Presented by
Dr Johannes Auret
INTRODUCTION
• Uniform marking system by
International Electrotechnical
Commission (IEC)
• Changes and Improvements
• Non-electrical (Mechanical) Ex
equipment
• Safe and Correct Usage
 STANDARDS
• SANS 80079-36 Explosive Atmospheres – Part 36: Non-electrical
equipment for explosive atmospheres – Basic method and requirements
• SANS 80079-37, Explosive Atmospheres – Part 37: Non-electrical
equipment for explosive atmospheres – Non-electrical type of protection
❖ constructional safety "c",
❖ control of ignition source "b",
❖ liquid immersion "k“
• SANS 60079-1, Explosive atmospheres – Part 1: Equipment protection by
flameproof enclosures "d"
• SANS 60079-2, Explosive atmospheres – Part 2: Equipment protection by
pressurized enclosures "p“
• SANS 60079-31, Explosive atmospheres – Part 31: Equipment dust
ignition protection by enclosure "t"
• The nature and ignition sources of non-electrical equipment shall be
considered when applying types of protection "d", "p", or "t" on
non-electrical equipment.
History of South African
Ex Standards
• Own with assistance of SABS
specialists
• IEC and ISO Membership
Marking for first standards for
Ex certification
• Major changes
• Example: A statement that the equipment is for use in hazardous
locations, sometimes whether it is intrinsically safe, explosion
proof (flameproof) for class I division 1 and 2 or non-incendive
(non-sparking) for class I division 2 only.
MARKING BASED ON THE FIRST
GENERATION IEC STANDARDS
• Example Gas and Vapour
Ex d IIA T3
Where Ex is short for explosion protected equipment, d is short for
flameproof equipment, IIA is the equipment gas group and T3 the
temperature class.
The gas group is IIA if minimum ignition energy is above 180µJ .
Temperature class is T3 if auto ignition temperature is above 200°c.
See also the European marking below (not used in other countries).
MARKING BASED ON EXPLOSION
PROTECTION LEVEL(EPL)
CONCEPT
Example: Electrical equipment, utilizing type of protection increased
safety “e” (EPL Gb) for use in Explosive gas atmospheres other than
mines susceptible to firedamp with gas of subdivision IIC and ignition
temperature greater than 85 °C.

Manufacturer: JP & Co A.G.

JP Ex e IIC T6 Gb
MNF Serial Number: No. 1847
IA number: HYD 04.0947
 ZONE EPL WAY OF PROTECTION
0 Ga/Ma “Ex ia” – “Ex ma”

1 Gb/Mb “Ex d” – “Ex e” – “Ex ib” – “Ex mb” – “Ex p” – “Ex o”

– “Ex q”

2 Gc “Ex d” – “Ex e” – “Ex ic” – “Ex mc” – “Ex p” – “Ex o”

– “Ex q” – Type “n”

20 Da “Ex ta” – “Ex ia” – “Ex ma”

21 Db “Ex tb” – “Ex ib” – “Ex mb” – “Ex pD”
22 Dc “Ex tc” – “Ex ic” – “Ex mc” – “Ex pD”
Note: Gas group, Material group and Temperature class should
also be taken into account.
MARKING OF ELECTRICAL EX
EQUIPMENT
Example
Explosive gas atmospheres other than mines susceptible to
firedamp, with gas of ignition temperature greater than 125°C
and with specific conditions of use indicated in the certificate.

Model: TYPE 250 JG 1

Ex e px IIC 125 °C (T4) Gb alternative Ex eb pxb IIC 125 °C (T4)
Serial number: No. 56732
IA number: GHI 02.0076 X
Manufacturer: JP MNF
MARKING OF NON-ELECTRICAL
EX EQUIPMENT
History

These standards(80079-36/37) were 1st adopted back in September

2016 by the IECEx for certification of equipment and later adopted by
SANS in 2018. These standards(80079-36/37) will be enforced slowly
into the South African market, this will cost industry both money and
time.

So why do we need these standards in South Africa?

MARKING OF NON-ELECTRICAL
EX EQUIPMENT
So why do we need these standards in South Africa?

A study done by a Germany company (BIA) has shown that electrical

protection in hazardous areas alone is not sufficient, the study
concluded that ignition by electrical equipment was only about 3%
while ignition by static discharge was about 8%, this tells us that the
biggest cause of ignition was caused by non-electrical ignition
sources accounting for about 88%, It is thus a necessity to ensure
these standards are integrated and enforced in South Africa to ensure
that safety is improved in the industry on a continuous basis.
Examples of non-electrical equipment:
• Couplings between motors and mechanical equipment
• Brakes used on motors and cranes and mobile equipment
• Pneumatic motors
• Fans (Blades)
• Gearboxes
• Bearings
• Engines
These are just a few examples to mention.
The designer/manufactures of the equipment will then be required
to look at all possible sources of ignition when designing of
components.
MARKING OF NON-ELECTRICAL
Major changes
EX EQUIPMENT
Non-electrical equipment being certified as explosion protected.
Pump motors and other mostly mechanical equipment refer.
At least the following information is required on the equipment
itself:
a) name of the manufacturer or its registered trade mark;
b) manufacturer’s type identification(model);
c) symbol "Ex“;
d) Letter “h”
NOTE: A level of Protection is not applied to the letter “h”.
MARKING OF NON-ELECTRICAL
EX EQUIPMENT
Type of protection Protection Principle
Ignition protection where constructional
measures are applied so as to protect against
Constructional
the possibility of ignition from hot surfaces,
safety “c”
sparks and adiabatic compression generated
by moving parts
Type of protection where potential ignition
Liquid sources are made ineffective or separated
immersion “k” from the explosive atmosphere by immersing
them in a protective liquid
Ignition protection where mechanical or
electrical devices are used in conjunction with
nonelectrical equipment to manually or
Control of
automatically reduce the likelihood of a
ignition source
potential ignition source from becoming
“b”
an effective ignition source
 Symbol Main
Type of protection Zone Standard
Standard Application

Couplings,
0, 1, 2 SANS
Constructional pumps,
h 20, 80079-37
safety “c” gear drives,
21, 22
conveyor belts
0, 1, 2 Submerged SANS
Liquid
h 20, pumps, gears 80079-37
immersion “k”
21, 22

Control of 0, 1, 2
Pumps, SANS
ignition source h 20,
conveyor belts 80079-37
“b” 21, 22
MARKING OF NON-ELECTRICAL
EX EQUIPMENT
Examples
a) Non-electrical equipment conforming to SANS 80079-36/37
for EPL Gb for use in explosive gas atmospheres of Group IIB
and ignition temperature greater than 135 °C.

Ex h IIB T4 Gb
Type of protection

Gas Group Temperature Class Equipment category and

equipment protection level
(EPL)
 CONCLUSION
• Progress on marking revised (SABS, IEC, EPL)
• Non-electrical equipment: Major changes
• Two mechanical ignition scenarios:
• Failure (bearings)
• Normal operation (brakes)
• Protective measures depending on EPL, sparks and heat