What is Temperature Class?
Temperature class is the maximum surface temperature of electrical equipment in a hazardous area, coded T1 to T6.
Temperature Class Explained
Equipment must not get hot enough to ignite the gas present. The T class of the equipment must be lower than the autoignition temperature of the gas.
Process heat also matters: a sensor head on a hot pipe can exceed its marked class through conduction.
Temperature Class: Typical Values
| T1 | 450 °C |
| T2 | 300 °C |
| T3 | 200 °C |
| T4 | 135 °C |
| T5 | 100 °C |
| T6 | 85 °C |
Calculators for Temperature Class
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Temperature Class?
Temperature class is the maximum surface temperature of electrical equipment in a hazardous area, coded T1 to T6.
Is T6 better than T4?
T6 means a lower maximum surface temperature, so it suits more gases; T4 is enough for most hydrocarbons.
Where is T class marked?
On the Ex marking, for example Ex db IIC T4 Gb.
Learn more on the blog
Temperature classes in hazardous areas
A practical guide on instrumentationblog.in with more detail on temperature class and how it is applied on real plants.
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