Explosion Proof Equipment Installations

An area classified as "hazardous" is an area in which the atmosphere contains, or may contain, flammable or explosive gases, dusts, or fibers. In this type of area, fire or explosion could occur when all three basic conditions are fulfilled:
 

• Flammable gas, vapor, dust or fibers must be present.
• The combustible material must be mixed with air in the proportions required to produce a flammable mixture.
• A source of ignition must act to ignite the mixture. The source under consideration is any portion of the instrumentation system that could release sufficient energy to cause ignition. A spark or hot surface may release the incendiary energy.

Commercial Electrical Systems has extensive experience working on control systems and electrical installations for hazardous equipment.  Call us early in your project and we can help plan the equipment installation so code compliance is easy to implement.  For explosion proof installations a good plan is critical to insure locations and and equipment orientation can comply with regulations.

There are multiple degrees of hazard:

Zone 0: explosive gas-air mixture continuously present, or present for long periods.

Zone 0/1 or Class I, Division 1: hazardous concentrations of flammable gases or vapors continuously, intermittently or periodically present under normal operating conditions.

Zone 1: explosive gas-air mixture is likely to occur in normal operation.

Zone 2: explosive gas-air mixture not likely to occur and, if it occurs, it will exist only a short time.

Zone 2 or Class I, Division 2: volatile flammable liquids or flammable gases present, but normally confined within closed containers or systems, from which they can escape only under abnormal operating or fault conditions.

Call CESI for explosion proof electrical installations, repair or service.  Explosion proof installation references available upon request.