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Hazardous Area Zone and Gas Group Table
Hazardous area zone table linking IEC zones, equipment protection levels, ATEX categories and North American divisions, plus gas and dust groups.
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- 12 rows of reference data
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Zones, EPL and equivalents
| Zone | Definition | Presence | EPL | ATEX category | NEC equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 0 | Gas present continuously or for long periods | Over 1000 h per year (guide) | Ga | 1G | Class I Division 1 |
| Zone 1 | Gas likely in normal operation | 10 to 1000 h per year (guide) | Gb | 2G | Class I Division 1 |
| Zone 2 | Gas not likely; if present only briefly | Under 10 h per year (guide) | Gc | 3G | Class I Division 2 |
| Zone 20 | Dust cloud present continuously | Da | 1D | Class II Division 1 | |
| Zone 21 | Dust cloud likely in normal operation | Db | 2D | Class II Division 1 | |
| Zone 22 | Dust cloud not likely; if present only briefly | Dc | 3D | Class II Division 2 |
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Gas and dust groups
| Group | Typical substance | NEC group | MESG (gas) |
|---|---|---|---|
| IIA | Propane, methane (mines are Group I) | D | Over 0.9 mm |
| IIB | Ethylene | C | 0.5 to 0.9 mm |
| IIC | Hydrogen, acetylene | B (hydrogen), A (acetylene) | Under 0.5 mm |
| IIIA | Combustible flyings | Class III | |
| IIIB | Non conductive dust | Class II Group G | |
| IIIC | Conductive dust | Class II Group E |
About this Table
Hazardous area zone table linking IEC zones, equipment protection levels, ATEX categories and North American divisions, plus gas and dust groups.
Basis: IEC 60079 10 1 and 10 2 area classification, IEC 60079 0 equipment groups and EPL, ATEX 2014/34/EU categories, NEC Articles 500 and 505.
How to use
- Get the zone and group from the area classification drawing.
- Pick equipment with an EPL at least equal to the zone and a group at least equal to the gas.
- Check the temperature class as well.
Notes
- Hour figures are common guidance, not part of the definitions.
- IIC equipment may be used in IIB and IIA areas; not the reverse.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Zone 1 and Zone 2?
Zone 1 gas is likely in normal operation; Zone 2 only in abnormal conditions and briefly.
Can IIB equipment be used for hydrogen?
No. Hydrogen is IIC; IIB equipment is not suitable.
What EPL is needed for Zone 1?
Gb or better (Ga).
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Hazardous area classification zones
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