MARKING OF EXPLOSION PROTECTED EQUIPMENT

Dr Johannes Auret
Explosion Prevention Specialist, Sallab
SAFA Symposium 2019

1 INTRODUCTION

The explosion protection standards produced by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)
describes a uniform marking system for Ex (explosion protected) equipment. Changes and
improvements are regularly made. The most recent changes are quite drastic and describe for the first
time the explosion protection of non-electrical (Mechanical) Ex equipment. The marking of such
equipment is still part of a unified system but is distinguishable from electrical equipment.

In general, the marking of equipment gives the most important data on how to use such equipment
safely and correctly. Ex equipment is no exception, bearing in mind that safety considerations include
high risk activities due to the prevention of flammable material including gas, vapour, dusts, mists etc.

The current progress on the marking of Ex electrical and especially non-electrical Ex equipment is
described below.

2 STANDARDS
NOTE – Recognition is given to all having participated in compiling these standards and related ones.

The following standards have been used to compile this paper (possibly with some modifications):

• ISO 80079-36, Explosive atmospheres – Part 36: Non-electrical equipment for explosive
atmospheres – Basic method and requirements.

• ISO 80079-37, Explosive atmospheres – Part 37: Non-electrical equipment for explosive
atmospheres – Non-electrical type of protection constructional safety "c", control of ignition
source "b", liquid immersion "k"

• IEC 60079-1, Explosive atmospheres – Part 1: Equipment protection by flameproof enclosures

"d" – IEC 60079-2, Explosive atmospheres – Part 2: Equipment protection by pressurized
enclosures "p" – IEC 60079-31, Explosive atmospheres – Part 31: Equipment dust ignition
protection by enclosure "t"

• The nature and ignition sources of non-electrical equipment shall be considered when applying
types of protection "d", "p", or "t" on non-electrical equipment.

3 A SHORT SA HISTORY
Initially the Ex community including mostly wrote its own standards with the assistance of SABS
specialists, but when IEC membership was obtained the balance move strongly towards using IEC
standards. Today, the preferred method and one has many advantages is acquisition from IEC and
ISO membership.

The major developments in Ex equipment design and marking requirements are shown below.
NOTE – Selection of marking may be used as exercise.

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4 MARKING FOR FIRST STANDARDS LOCALLY USED FOR Ex

CERTIFICATION
Major changes Mostly RSA (nationally) produced. Also major laboratories from USA, UK etc.

Example A statement that the equipment is for use in hazardous locations, sometimes whether it is
intrinsically safe, explosion proof (flameproof) for Class I Division 1 and 2 or non-incendive (non-
sparking) for Class I Division 2 only.

5 MARKING BASED ON THE FIRST GENERATION IEC STANDARDS

Example Gas and vapour

Ex d IIB T4

Where Ex is short for explosion protected equipment, d is short for flameproof equipment, IIB is the
equipment gas group and T4 the temperature class.

The gas group is IIA if minimum ignition energy is above 180µJ . Temperature class is T3 if auto
ignition temperature is above 200°C.
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See also the European marking below (not used in other countries).

II 2 G

6 MARKING BASED ON EXPLOSION PROTECTION LEVEL CONCEPT

Major changes EPLs

Example Electrical equipment, utilizing type of protection increased safety “e” (EPL Gb) for use
in explosive gas atmospheres other than mines susceptible to firedamp with gas of subdivision C and
ignition temperature greater than 85 °C.

JP
MNF
GS & Co A.G.
Ex e IIC T6 Gb
No. 1847
HYD 04.0947

7 MARKING OF ELECTRICAL Ex EQUIPMENT

Example
Explosive gas atmospheres other than mines susceptible to firedamp, with gas of ignition temperature
greater than 125 °C and with specific conditions of use indicated in the certificate.

TYPE 250 JG 1
Ex e px IIC 125 °C (T4) Gb alternative Ex eb pxb IIC 125 °C (T4)
No. 56732
GHI 02.0076 X
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SAL19/01
JP mnf

8 MARKING OF NON-ELECTRICAL Ex EQUIPMENT

These standards (80079-36/37) were 1st adopted back in September 2016 by the IECEx for
certification of equipment and later adopted by SANS in 2018. These standards (80079-36/37) will be
enforced slowly into the South African market, this will cost industry both money and time.

So why do we need these standards in South Africa?

A study done by a Germany company (BIA) has shown that electrical protection in hazardous areas
alone in not sufficient, the study concluded that ignition by electrical equipment was only about 3%
while ignition by static discharge was about 8%, this tells us that the biggest cause of ignition was
caused by non-electrical ignition sources accounting for about 88%, It is thus a necessity to ensure
these standards area integrated and enforced in South Africa to make our Ex-committee a safer area.

Examples of non-electrical equipment:

• Couplings between motors and mechanical equipment
• Brakes used on motors and cranes and mobile equipment
• Pneumatic motors
• Electrical fans
• Gearboxes
• Bearings
• Engines

These are just a few examples to mention. The designer/manufactures of the equipment will then be
required to look at all possible sources of ignition when designing of components.

Major changes
Non-electrical equipment being certified as explosion protected. Pump motors and other mostly
mechanical equipment refer.

At least the following information is required on the equipment itself:

a) name or registered trade mark of the manufacturer;

b) symbol "Ex" followed by the letter “h” OR the letters ch, kh, bh.
NOTE 1- A Level of Protection is not applied to the letter “h”.
c) the certificate number, including the symbol "X" if appropriate.
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Examples

a) Non-electrical equipment conforming to this standard for EPL Gb for use in explosive gas
atmospheres of Group IIB and ignition temperature greater than 135 °C.

JP
MNF
SAL15
Type AB 5 = type of equipment Ex h IIB T4 Gb = marking according to Ex symbol, the letter “h”,
equipment group II, (subgroup IIB), temperature class T4, EPL Gb, Ser. No. 32567 = serial number
ABC 12.1234 = certificate number
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9 CONCLUSION
In this paper, the current position and progress of Ex equipment marking has been reviewed compared
to a previous study. It was seen that good progress has been made with the marking of especially
non-electrical Ex equipment (couplings, pumps, gearboxes, brakes, hydraulic and pneumatic motors
and any combination of devices to realize a machine, fan, engine, compressor, assemblies, etc).

Generally, there are two mechanical ignition scenarios that need to be considered. These are, ignition
resulting from a failure in the machine such as a bearing over-heating or ignition created by the normal
functioning of the machine such as a hot brake surface. Experience has shown that it is essential to
perform a comprehensive ignition hazard assessment on the complete mechanical equipment to
identify all potential ignition sources and determine if they can become effective ignition sources (i.e.
ignition sources causing ignition) during the expected lifetime of the mechanical equipment. Once
these ignition risks are understood and documented it is then possible to assign protective measures,
depending on the required Equipment Protection Level (EPL), to minimize the probability that these
ignition sources will become effective. In short, the ignition hazard of the equipment is determined from
the EPL, spark and heat generating capability of the equipment. These values must be provided by a
prescribed marking format that has been defined above.