Glossary · EPL
What is Equipment Protection Level (EPL)?
The equipment protection level states how safe a device is as an ignition source, and maps directly to the zones where it may be used.
For gas: Ga (very high, suits Zone 0), Gb (high, Zone 1), Gc (enhanced, Zone 2). For dust: Da, Db and Dc for Zones 20, 21 and 22. For mining: Ma and Mb.
The rule: the zone sets the minimum acceptable EPL. A Gb device suits Zone 1 and Zone 2, but not Zone 0.
Related terms
- Hazardous-area zones (Zone 0, 1, 2)
- Dividing a site by the likelihood of an explosive atmosphere: Zone 0 continuously or for long periods, Zone 1 likely in normal operation, Zone 2 rarely and briefly.
- Intrinsic safety (Ex i)
- A protection concept that limits the electrical energy in a circuit so it cannot produce an igniting spark or heat, even under fault conditions.
- Flameproof protection (Ex d)
- A protection concept that lets an explosion happen inside the enclosure, which withstands it and cools the escaping flame through its gaps so the surrounding atmosphere does not ignite.