Understanding Ex marking: IECEx & ATEX
All equipment and protective systems used in potentially explosive atmospheres must bear an Ex mark. The letters and numbers on the marking indicate the type of protection and use of the equipment.
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Generally, there are 3 different Ex schemes used widely around the world. They are ATEX for Europe, NEC for U.S. and Canada, and IECEx for other countries.
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Today, let’s check the ATEX and IECEx marking. These two schemes share most of the marking.
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Table 1 - Equipment Groups (ATEX only)
There are two equipment groups.
Group I?- which relates to mines and is very?restrictive due to the presence of volatile methane gas and dust.
Group II?- which includes all other above-ground industries.
Table 2 - Equipment Categories (ATEX only)???
The equipment category indicates the frequency of an area having explosive gases or dusts.
It uses Zone 0/1/2 to define the gases & Vapor, and Zone 20/21/22 to define dusts.
Category 1 refers to Zone 0 and Zone 20. It is the most dangerous of its ranking. ?
Category 2 refers to Zone 1 and Zone 21.
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Category 3 refers to Zone 2 and Zone 22.
Table 3 - Protection Concepts
Protection concepts are solutions to keep electrical equipment safe from explosions in a dangerous area.
These concepts can be used on the product label separately or together.
Table 4 - Group Sub Divisions
The explosive gases and dust?have been grouped?according to their different igniting power, with IIA/IIIA being the least dangerous?and IIC/IIIC the most dangerous.
Table 5 - Temperature Classification
Temperature Classification, also known as T-code or T-class, indicates the maximum surface temperature of a device when in use. The higher?the surface temperature?is, the higher the risk of an explosion.
To prevent an explosion, the max. the surface temperature of the equipment should always be below the ignition temperature of the gases present?in the explosive atmosphere.
If you are looking for ATEX/IECEx qualified lighting products, feel free to reach me for more details.
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