Matching equipment to the area classification
From zone to required EPL, from gas to group and temperature class, then the right protection concept: Ex d, Ex e, Ex i and others.
01 · LT-101 · Hazardous areas
Hazardous-area equipment, selected right under ATEX and IECEx
Selecting and specifying explosion-protected equipment for oil and gas sites in Basra and Iraq: zone, gas group, temperature class and EPL, with a careful read of the Ex marking.
In a refinery or a gas station, any electrical device can become an ignition source. A wrong choice never shows on the invoice; it shows on the day of the incident. My work today is specifying and supplying ATEX- and IECEx-certified equipment: I match the site classification (zone and gas) to the device marking and check that the protection concept and installation fit before the device reaches site.
What I do
Reading Ex markings and checking certificates
Breaking down the ATEX and IECEx marking on the nameplate and checking the certificate number and its specific conditions (the X suffix) before purchase.
Specifying and supplying certified equipment
Lighting, junction boxes, cable glands, control stations and explosion-protected instruments for oil and industrial sites.
Installation notes per IEC 60079-14
Choosing the right cable and gland, and avoiding the common mistakes that defeat a device’s protection during installation.
Standards
ATEX 2014/34/EUIECExIEC 60079-0IEC 60079-1 (Ex d)IEC 60079-7 (Ex e)IEC 60079-11 (Ex i)IEC 60079-10-1IEC 60079-14
Technologies & skills
Zone 0 · 1 · 2EPL Ga · Gb · GcIIA · IIB · IICT1 – T6Cable glandsHART
Try it yourself
Related articles
Terms
FAQ
What is the difference between ATEX and IECEx?
ATEX is a mandatory European directive for equipment placed on the EU market; IECEx is an international certification scheme built on the IEC 60079 series. The technical requirements are very close but the certificates differ, and in Iraq clients ask for one or both depending on the project specification.
How do I choose a device for Zone 1?
Zone 1 needs equipment protection level Gb or better (Ga). Then pick the gas group IIA, IIB or IIC for the gas present, and a temperature class whose maximum surface temperature is below that gas’s auto-ignition temperature.
What does T4 on the nameplate mean?
The device’s maximum surface temperature does not exceed 135 °C, so it suits any gas that auto-ignites above 135 °C.
Can a IIC device be used where the gas is IIB?
Yes. IIC is the most severe group and equipment certified for it also covers IIB and IIA. Not the other way round.
Can I decode an Ex marking myself?
Yes. Open the Ex decoder in the workshop, paste the marking exactly as printed and it explains each part and the permitted zones.
Have a project in this area?
Write a few lines about the site and what you need; your request reaches me immediately.