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CLASS I & II

IEC/CENLEC (European) Area Classifications

Hazardous Area Approvals and Standards for Europe and other countries

The Standards used in most countries outside the United States:

IEC/CENELEC for all countries that are members of the EC (European Community)

IEC / CEC / NEC depending on the country and standards

IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) has set broad standards for equipment and classification areas.

CENELEC is a rationalizing group that uses IEC standards as a base and harmonizes them with all member countries’ standards. The CENELEC mark is accepted in all EC countries. All countries within the EC also have governing bodies that set standards for products and wiring methods. Each member country of the EC has either government or third party laboratories that test and approve products to IEC and CENELEC standards. The rest of the countries of the world have adopted the following standards:

CEC/NEC (North American)

IEC/CENLEC to British wiring methods (B.S.I.)

IEC/CENLEC to German wiring methods (VDE)

IEC/CENLEC to French wiring methods (NFC)

It should be noted that there is no CENELEC standard for hazardous dust. Each country in the EC has either their own standard or adopt the IEC general standard. The accepted symbol for the IEC/CENELEC certification is an Epsilon “Ex” followed by the protection standard symbol. The testing agencies in Europe have variety of trade marks and symbols to indicate their approval of listed products. Area classifications used by IEC are not directly compatible with current CEC/NEC area classifications.

The IEC divides hazardous areas into “Zones” and lists product construction style suitable for

those zones. CEC/NEC defines an area based on the level of the hazard and type. Together with

the approval agencies, they then set minimum construction standards for products to be used in

hazardous areas.

The philosophy used to determine a zone area and enclosure acceptability is based on the term:

normal operation. The CEC/NEC standards assume that abnormal conditions can and will

occur and products must be designed under these conditions. (For this reason a product that is

suitable of Zone 1 in CENELEC country cannot be used in countries following CEC.NEC

standards.)

Zones In general, this method of classification follows the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC) standards. This zone system of classification is currently only applicable to locations with Class I gases and vapors. Similar to the subdivisions under Class I locations of Divisions 1 and 2 and for the same reason, (area classification and equipment testing) hazardous locations are classified by zones instead of divisions.

Zone 0 is locations in which ignitable concentrations of flammable gases or vapors are present continuously or for long periods of time. (i.e., explosive gas is continuously present)

Zone 1 are locations that are almost the same as Class I, Division 1 locations in the class, division system except they do not include those locations defined as Class I, Zone 0, where ignitable concentrations are present all or most of the time. (i.e., explosive gas is often present)

Zone 2 is locations that are the same as Class I, Division 2 locations in the class, division system. (i.e., explosive gas may be accidentally present)

Class I, Groups IIC, IIB and IIA In the International system of classification, Group I gas grouping is reserved for classification and equipment intended for use in underground mines. For information on electrical equipment in underground mines, see the Federal Register, regulations of the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA).

Group IIC This group is the equivalent of Class I, Groups A and B of gases and vapors in the Division system. In the International system, only the gap between machined flat mating surfaces, plus the igniting current, directly related to ignition energy, is considered in grouping materials. Explosion pressure is not one of the considerations. Thus Groups A and B in the “class division” can be grouped together in the international system.

Group IIB is the equivalent to the Class I, Group C gases and vapors in the Division system.

Group IIA is the equivalent to the Class I, Group D gases and vapors in the Division system.