Apparatus group
In de IEC / CENELEC marking of the protection method there is also an apparatus group (I for mines, II other). In the NEC 500 this is called the apparatus class (Class I for gasses, Class II for dust and Class III for fibers).
Gas group
The apparatus group is supplemented by the IEC / CENELEC with the gas group (A, B or C) and by the NEC 500 met de gas group (A - D for gasses and E - F for dust).
The gas group related for Ex d to the Minimum Experimental Safe Gap (MESG) and for Ex i to the Minimum Ignition Current (MIC).
Temperature classification
The temperature class is related to the Auto Ignition Temperature (AIT) of the gas.
| Indication of the classification of several gasses | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IEC / CENELEC | NEC500 | T1 450 °C |
T2 300 °C |
T3 200 °C |
T4 135 °C |
T5 100 °C |
T6 85 °C |
| I | Mining* | Methane | |||||
| IIA | Class I/Group D | Acetone Ethane Ethyl ethanoate Ammonia Benzol (pure) Ethanoic acid Carbon oxide Methane Methanol Propane Toluene |
Ethanol i-Amyl acetate n-Butane n-Butyl alcohol |
Benzine Diesel fuel Aircraft fuel Heating oils n-Hexane |
Acetaldehyde Ethylether |
||
| IIB | Class I/Group C | Coal gas (lighting gas) |
Ethanol Ethylene |
||||
| (Group
IIB + H2)
IIC |
Class
I/Group B Class I/Group A |
Hydrogen | Acetylene | Carbon disulphide | |||
* Not within scope of NEC. Under jurisdiction of MSHA The above data are indicative. Certain gasses have been moved to new gas groups with the publication of IEC 60079-20-1:2010. Exalon Delft assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of the data on this web page.
The end-users area classification into Zones or Divisions determines the demands on the equipment that may be used in those Zones or Division. When the types of gasses that may occur vary (bas in chemical tankers) the end user will demand IIC T6 , but may also be satisfied with IIC T4. In the petrochemical and en bulk storage industry is IIB T4 often satisfactory.
