General information DIRECTIVE 1999/92/EC on minimum requirements for improving the safety and health protection of workers potentially at risk from explosive atmospheres.
‘Explosive atmosphere’ means a mixture with air, under atmospheric conditions, of flammable substances in the form of gases, vapors, mists, or dust in which, after ignition has occurred, combustion spreads to the entire unburned mixture.
The directive gives information regarding the ‘Classification of places where an explosive atmosphere may occur’.
The classification of hazardous places in zones shows the customer whose working centers and activities contain or place such dangers or not.
The safety against explosion can reached with the contribution, and the mutual information exchange, both the manufacturer and the final users.
INDICATIONS REGARDING CLASSIFICATION OF PLACES WHERE EXPLOSIVE ATMOSPHERES MAY OCCUR For the classification of the areas reference to the relative harmonized technical norms regarding the specific fields:
- EN 60079-10 (IEC 60079-10) Electrical apparatus for explosive gas atmospheres.
Part 10: Classification of hazardous areas.
- EN ISO/IEC 80079-20-2 Electrical apparatus for use in the presence of combustible dust
Part 10: Classification of areas where combustible dusts are or may be present.
Zone 0
A place in which an explosive atmosphere consisting of a mixture with air of flammable substances in the form of gas, vapor, or mist is
present continuously or for long periods or frequently.
Note: In general, said conditions, when they present, they interest the inside of tanks, tubes and containers, etc.
Zone 1
A place in which an explosive atmosphere consisting of a mixture with air or flammable substances in the form of gas, vapor, or mist is
likely to occur in normal operation occasionally.
Note: such zone can also comprise:
– places in the immediate vicinities of zone 0;
– places in the immediate vicinities of the feeding openings;
– places in the immediate vicinities of the filling openings and emptying;
– places in the immediate vicinities of apparatuses, systems of protection, and fragile components of glass, ceramics and analogous materials;
– places in the immediate vicinities of glands not sufficiently sealing, as an example on pumps and valves with glands.
Zone 2
A place in which an explosive atmosphere consisting of a mixture with air of flammable substances in the form of gas, vapor, or mist is
not likely to occur in normal operation but, if it does occur, will persist for a short period only.
Note: such zone can also comprise, surrounding places zones 0 or 1
Zone 20
A place in which an explosive atmosphere in the form of a cloud of combustible dust in the air is present continuously, or for long periods
or frequently.
Note: In general, said conditions, when they present, they interest the inside of tanks, tubes and containers, etc.
Zone 21
A place in which an explosive atmosphere in the form of a cloud of combustible dust in the air is likely to occur in normal operation
occasionally.
Note: such zone can also comprise, for example, places in the immediate vicinities of loading points and powder emptying and places in which powder
layers are formed or that, during normal operation, could produce on explosive combustible powder concentration in a mixture with the air
Zone 22
A place in which an explosive atmosphere in the form of a cloud of combustible dust in the air is not likely to occur in normal operation but, if it does occur, will persist for a short period only.
Note: such zone can also comprise, places in proximity of apparatuses, systems of protection, and components containing powders, from which the powders can leak out because of losses and to form Iayers of powders (for example salt from milling, in which the powder leak from the mills and it is deposited).
All types of Rael Ex motors can be a reliable option for you to use electric motor power in these areas.
