HVAC

Understanding
THE STANDARDS
HVAC 101
Contents

1 Understanding the Standards While it is fully

worth the time
2 NFPA 496 and effort it takes
to understand
5 NFPA 497 the applicable
standards, it
7 NFPA 820 can often be
challenging to
9 NFPA 496, 497, 499, and 820: determine which
Working to Protect Wastewater standards to
Plants
review for specific
HVAC applications.
This eBook is
designed to
break down these
standards and
make them more
approachable.
Understanding the Standards

If youve ever been faced with the task of

installing an HVAC system in a severe duty
or hazardous-classified environment, youve
also faced the daunting task of sifting through
the countless standards and recommended
practices required to ensure the correct HVAC
system is selected and installed safely. NFPA 496
Standard for Purged and
While it is fully worth the time and effort it Pressurized Enclosures for
takes to understand the applicable standards, Electrical Equipment
it can often be challenging to determine
which standards to review for specific HVAC
applications. You could be 30 pages into one
standard before you realize that you should be
reading another insteada misstep that can
cost time and money if the improper systems or
equipment are installed. NFPA 497
Recommended Practice
for the Classification of
The following eBook is Flammable Liquids, Gases,
or Vapors and of Hazardous
designed to help avoid this (Classified) Locations for
scenario by breaking down Electrical Installations in
some of the standards and Chemical Process Areas

recommended practices most

commonly associated with
HVAC systems
NFPA 820
The summaries that follow address the core Standard for Fire Protection
concepts of each standard (or recommended in Wastewater Treatment
practice) and are designed to make the full and Collection Facilities
standards more approachable. While this eBook
should not be considered a substitute for the
NFPA standards, it can be utilized as a helpful
starting point to prepare for reviewing the
standards needed for specific HVAC applications.

1
NFPA 496
Standard for Purged and Pressurized Enclosures for Electrical Equipment

What Is It?
NFPA 496 is a standard that addresses how to properly install and maintain enclosures for electrical
equipment through a process known as purging and pressurizing.

PURGING PRESSURIZATION
The process of flushing out The process of preventing flammable gases
flammable gases or vapors already or vapors, combustible dust, or ignitable
present within an enclosure. fibers from entering an enclosure.

Why Is It Important?
In the world of industrial HVAC, NFPA 496 is an incredibly important standard to be familiar with. The
standard, written and developed by the National Fire Protection Association, outlines how to prevent
ignition of flammable gases and vapors within the atmosphere of the room or enclosure where
electrical equipment is housed. Unsafe atmospheric conditions can be introduced to an enclosure
either internally (requiring purging) or externally (which is what pressurization helps to prevent).

A primary example of an HVAC application where NFPA 496 is critical is oil and gas exploration and
extraction. Oil and gas exploration is one of the dirtiest, most hazardous applications for HVAC systems,
which is why drilling rigs have a special set of needs, including purge and pressurization components.
Understanding NFPA 496 helps to ensure that HVAC systems located at drilling rig sites prevent gases,
dust, and fibers from igniting or exploding.

LEARN MORE

2
What Applications Does It Apply To?
NFPA 496 primarily applies to electrical equipment and environments that are classified as hazardous
by Article 500 or Article 505 of NFPA 70the National Electric Code (NEC). Hazardous locations can
be found in a large number of facilities:

Oil and gas drilling locations Pulp and paper mills

Oil and gas refineries Well heads

Coal and natural gas fired Water and wastewater

power plants treatment facilities

Several other standards help to support NFPA 496 by laying out specific areas that meet the definition
of a hazardous area. For example, API RP 505 includes many examples directly related to oil and gas
production facilities.

NFPA 496 primarily applies to electrical

equipment and environments that are classified
as hazardous by Article 500 or Article 505 of the
National Electric Code.
LEARN MORE

3
What Does the Standard
Cover?

NFPA 496
NFPA 496 is a standard that outlines requirements
and recommendations for the design, installation,
maintenance, location, and pressurization of the following:

Enclosure (including control

rooms as an enclosure)
Pressurizing system

Protective gas system

A minimum
Markings (temperature,
outward velocity
permanent)
Ventilated and power equipment
of 0.305 meters
per second (60 feet
LEARN MORE per minute) must
be provided when
Some of the Key Aspects of NFPA 496:
doors or other
Enclosure pressure must be constantly maintained
at a level of 25 Pa (0.1 in. of water) during operation. openings are open.
A minimum outward velocity of 0.305 meters per
second (60 feet per minute) must be provided when
doors or other openings are open.
Markings showing temperature class and permanent
warning labels must be included on enclosures.
When pressurizing control rooms, the protective gas
must be air free of contaminants. In buildings, this is
most often accomplished by bringing in air through
a stack from a minimum 25 feet above grade. Airflow Calculator
Control room design must take into consideration DOWNLOAD
the number of people and type of equipment to be
housed, as well as the location of the control room
relative to potentially harmful winds.
Enclosures (including windows) must be constructed
of materials that can withstand the toughest
environmental conditions likely to be encountered.

4
NFPA 497
Recommended Practice for the Classification of Flammable Liquids, Gases, or Vapors and of
Hazardous (Classified) Locations for Electrical Installations in Chemical Process Areas

What Is It?
NFPA 497 is a recommended practice that provides basic information on the factors that determine
the extent of a hazardous location. NFPA 497 also outlines the specific flammable gases and vapors,
flammable liquids, and combustible liquids that have been classified by NFPA 70the National
Electric Code (NEC). These classifications are referenced to determine the best electrical equipment
to use in hazardous locations.

Why Is It Important? What Applications

Due to the fact that HVAC systems comprise
electrical equipment and are frequently
utilized in severe duty (corrosive, hazardous)
environments, it is important to know when
certain chemicals in a given environment
warrant the need for special equipment. This
is particularly significant in environments
where the accidental release of flammable
or combustible agents can result in a fire or
explosion when they come into contact with
electrical equipment.
Does It Apply To?
NFPA 497 applies broadly to locations where
flammable or combustible gases, vapors, or
liquids are processed or handled and have
the potential to ignite when released into the
atmosphere where electrical equipment is
housed. NFPA 497 also applies specifically to
chemical process areas such as chemical process
plants or manufacturing facilities.

NFPA 497 is important to utilize in a variety of

HVAC applications, particularly within industries
where chemicals can pose significant threats
to the safety and well-being of workers and A primary example is the
equipment. A primary example is the mining mining industry, where
industry, where carbon monoxide can form
underground and lead to severe health hazards carbon monoxide can
or even death. form underground and
lead to severe health
LEARN MORE hazards or even death.

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What Does the Recommended Practice Cover?
NFPA 497 essentially covers two primary areas: the classification of combustible materials and the
classification of Class I areas. The following section outlines some of the key points addressed in each
of these primary content areas.

Classification of Combustible Materials Classification of Class I Areas

Although the NEC designates three
categories of hazardous areasClass I
(gases), Class II (dusts), and Class III (fibers),
NFPA 497 only addresses Class I hazardous
areas.
Class I combustible materials include lighter-
than-air (vapor density < 1.0) and heavier-than-
air (vapor density > 1.0) gases, combustible
and flammable liquids, and compressed
liquefied gases.
In a Class I area, the following conditions
must be met in order for electrical equipment
to ignite combustible material:
1. A combustible material is present in
1 4. The volume of combustible material
the environment
2. The combustible material combines
2 5. The ventilation and size of the room
with air to produce an ignitable mixture
3. A release of energy ignites the mixture
3 NFPA 497 includes an extensive collection
NFPA 497 provides a table of NEC classified
combustible materials (physical properties),
as well as a list of chemicals sorted by
Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) number.
NEC 497 outlines the criteria to determine
the degree of a hazardous area via two
classification methodologies: NEC Articles
500-501 (classification by Class, Division, and
Group) and NEC Article 505 (classification by
Class, Zone, and Group).
Regardless of what methodology is used, the
following must be considered to determine
the extent of a hazardous area:
1. The combustible material
1
2. The vapor density and temperature of
2
the material
3. The process or storage pressure
3
4
released
5
or building
of floor plan diagrams that illustrate how
combustible materials should be housed
within a room or building to ensure proper
location and ventilation.

NFPA 497 includes an extensive collection of floor

plan diagrams that illustrate how combustible
materials should be housed within a room or
building to ensure proper location and ventilation.

6
NFPA 820
Standard for Fire Protection in Wastewater Treatment and Collection Facilities

What Is It?
NFPA 820 is a standard that outlines the design, construction, and protection measures wastewater
treatment plants and collection facilities must follow in order to avoid fires and explosions. It is one of
many similar standards NFPA has developed to help prevent disasters in a list of dangerous industries,
which also includes pulp and paper mills, food processing facilities, coal mines, and more.

Why Is It Important? What Applications

NFPA 820 was established with a crucial central Does It Apply To?
purpose: protecting life, property, workplace
mission, and the environment from the NFPA 820 applies to the installation, modification,
potentially devastating effects of fires. When materials selection, and fire and explosion
working in an environment where hazardous hazards of the following:
(or potentially hazardous) materials create
heightened chances of an explosion, it is critical
to take every available precaution to ensure no
Collection sewers
loss of life or property occurs, which is why NFPA Trunk sewers
820 is an invaluable resource.
Intercepting sewers

Combined sewers

NFPA 820 was developed Storm sewers

specifically for wastewater Pumping stations

treatment plants and Wastewater treatment plants
collection facilities due to
Sludge-handling facilities
the fact that the processes
inherent to the application Chemical-handling facilities

create explosive gases that Treatment facilities

can be easily ignited in various Ancillary structures NFPA 820, 1.1.2
locations throughout a facility.
LEARN MORE

7
What Does the Standard Cover?
Design and Construction
Collection systems, liquid stream treatment processes, and solids treatment processes have
minimum design and construction requirements to protect against fire/explosion hazards.
Requirements include proper ventilation, combustible gas and fire detection
systems, portable fire extinguishers, and fire hydrant protection, among others.
Construction materials used for buildings encompassed by wastewater treatment plants
and collection facilities must be evaluated and selected based on the following categories:
combustible, noncombustible, limited-combustible, and low flame spread index.

Ventilation, Heating and Air Conditioning

Collection systems, liquid stream treatment processes, and solids treatment processes have
minimum ventilation requirements to protect against fire and explosion hazards.
Ventilation requirements in NFPA 820 apply only to fire and explosion hazards and do not
include toxic gases, oxygen deficiency, or biological hazards.
Ventilation systems for wastewater treatment plants and collection facilities must be
designed in accordance with NFPA 91Standard for Exhaust Systems for Air Conveying of
Vapors, Gases, Mists, and Particulate Solids.

Fire and Explosion Prevention and Protection

Collection systems, liquid stream treatment processes, and solids treatment processes
have minimum requirements to protect against fire and explosion hazards.
Important fire protection measures include automatic sprinkler/extinguishing systems,
water supplies and hydrants, portable fire extinguishers, fire and combustible gas detection
systems, and ventilation monitoring.
Special fire protection measures include lighting protection, proper drainage, and
construction protection.

Administrative Controls
Fire prevention programs and emergency action plans must be established at every
wastewater treatment plant and collection facility.
Fire risk evaluations must be performed as facility buildings are being designed.
All fire protection and detection systems must be properly inspected, tested, and maintained.
All personnel must be properly trained to ensure safe operation of equipment in facilities
vulnerable to fire or explosions.

8
NFPA 496, 497, 499, and 820:
Working to Protect Wastewater Plants
When it comes to meeting NFPA requirements at water and wastewater facilities, several standards
work hand-in-hand to ensure personnel and equipment are adequately protected. NFPA 820 is the
standard that looks at each part of the water treatment process and defines the hazards therein.

NFPA 496 NFPA 497

NFPA 496 is a standard that addresses how to
properly install and maintain enclosures for
electrical equipment through a process known
as purging (flushing out flammable gases or
vapors already present within an enclosure)
and pressurizing (preventing flammable gases
or vapors, combustible dust, or ignitable fibers
from entering an enclosure).
NFPA 497 puts forth the legal definition of
Division 1 and Division 2 areas found in the NEC,
and provides valuable data on auto-ignition
points of explosive gases, vapors, and liquids
such as the methane found in wastewater
treatment facilities.

NFPA 499 NFPA 820

NFPA 499 performs the same function as NFPA
497, only for combustible dusts.
NFPA 820 is a standard that outlines the
design, construction, and protection measures
wastewater treatment plants and collection
facilities must follow in order to avoid fires and
explosions.

Although the core concepts of NFPA 496 and NFPA 820 are similar, there is one important distinction
that helps indicate which standard to use for specific applications:

NFPA 496, 497, and 499 apply to HVAC applications across ALL industries.

NFPA 820 applies solely to applications in wastewater treatment plants and collection facilities.

By strictly defining each classified area, NFPA 820 gives engineers the information they need to apply
the protective purge and pressurization principles found in NFPA 496 throughout the facility. NFPA
496, 497, and 499 are listed as required references within the content of NFPA 820, while the opposite
is not the caseNFPA 496 does not reference NFPA 820. This is due to the fact that, while the purging
and pressurization methods outlined in NFPA 496 can be vital for fire prevention in wastewater plants
and collection facilities, the construction standards of wastewater treatment plants outlined in NFPA
820 are not necessarily relevant to other industries.

9
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