Hazardous Area Classification

Electrical equipment is a potential source of ignition through one of the three ways:

- Arcs and sparks produced by the normal operation of electrical equipment such as motor starters, contactors, switches etc.

- High temperature of some heat producing equipment such as lamps, lighting fixures

- Equipment failure - burn out of lamp socket or shorting of a terminal can spark

So, it is very important that the proper electrical equipment is used for the hazardous area which must be classified first.

See NEC 500 and 505 or API RP 500 and API RP 505 or IEC 60079 for the hazardous area classification.

There are many websites having detail information. These are helpful http://www.hubbellonline.com/wiring/killark/PDF/1CrvsIntroIndex/introHazardous.pdf

http://www.osha.gov/doc/outreachtraining/htmlfiles/hazloc.html

If it is in North America (NEC), tentatively it will be Class I, Div 2, Group C and in IEC area, it is Class I, Zone 2, Group IIB.

However, there are many other factors to be considered for the area classification and it is very important that you hire a qualified engineer to do the area classification.

- MS

Thanks msamad. I am a qualified engineer. I came to assess the same classification according IEC as you mentioned except Group IIB. But I couldnt find any document particularly describing the aircraft stands.

The gas group of the classification depends on the fuel you will be handing. In this case it is aviation fuel (not the aircraft stands). Aviation fuel is a type of kerosene which is heavier than gasoline and lighter than diesel. It can be grouped as IIA (see the link below) but to be conservative, IIB can be used. I worked in a refinery a while ago where we produced aviation fuel along with other petroleum products. As far as I can remember, we used gas group IIB for all classified area. You can consult with the fuel provider to confirm what group it falls in the area classification.

- MS

→ British Standard 5345.

British standard 5345 is standard for the electrical equipments for the hazardous area application, equivalent to IEC 60079, ATEx and CENELEc directives on the same subject. This standard does not mentioned about the aircraft stand.