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9.7 Equipment Categories for Hazardous Areas
For equipment in hazardous areas, at least AK2 (see User Classes) is required.
Category
Criteria
Applications
Category 1
(very high degree of safety)
Equipment for use in areas
(zones), in which an explosive
gas atmosphere is present
continously or for long periods.
Even for malfunctions
occurring rarely, explosion
safety must be ensured.
Zone 0
Zone 20 (formerly Zone 10)
Categorie 2
(high degree of safety)
Equipment for use in areas
(zones), in which an explosive
gas atmosphere in present
occasionally. .
Ex protection must be also be
ensured for frequent
malfunctions of the equipment.
Zone 1
Zone 21 (formerly Zone 11)
Categorie 3
(normal degree of safety)
Equipment for use in areas
(zones), in which an explosive
gas atmosphere can be
expected not to occur at all.
Sofern eine explosionsfähige
If an explosive gas
atmosphere does occur, then
only with low probability and
for a short period only. For
normal operation, equipment
of category 3 provides an
adequate degree of safety.
Zone 2
Zone 22
9.8 Equipment Marking
According to the new EC Explosion Protection Directive (ATEX 100a), all equipment and protective
systems must be marked legibly and indelibly with the following minimum particulars:
–
name und address of the manufacturer,
–
CE marking, and the identifcation number of the notified body (e.g. the identification number
for the PTB is 0102, for the TUV is 0032)
–
designation of series or type,