Hazardous Area Classification 
Hazardous Area Classification 
HAZARDOUS AREA CLASSIFICATION | ELECTRICAL AREA CLASSIFICATION |DSEAR COMPLIANCE | ATEX COMPLIANCE | EI 15 COMPLIANCE | API RP 505 ASSESSMENT | EN 60079 HAZARDOUS AREA ASSESSMENT 

Introduction to Hazardous Area Classification 

Hazardous Area Classification (also known as Electrical Area Classification in the US) is necessary to ensure equipment, both control and instrumentation, electrical, and mechanical, is properly specified for the hazardous zone in which the equipment will be used. This is important to ensure that equipment does not present an ignition source which could otherwise result in a fire or explosion. 
 
Have you classified your hazardous areas? 
Are you in compliance with the requirements of ATEX (DSEAR in the UK)? 
Are you up to date with recent changes in guidance such as the 4th Edition of Energy Institute’s Model Code of Safe Practice - Part 15 – Area classification for industries handling flammable fluids? 
Safety Engineering Solutions can help you determine where the hazardous area zones are, the hazardous area zone types and their extents. We can also produce hazardous area drawings / electrical area drawings. 
 
See below for more detail on each. 

Hazard Radius Determination 

Flammable materials create a hazardous area around any potential leak sources, vents, etc. The extent of the hazardous area is dependent upon the type of fluid and the conditions at which it is stored, as well as environmental factors.  
 
The hazard radii from these leak sources are determined using standard methodologies and can be interpreted directly from the various standards (API 505, BS EN 60079, etc.). However, not all fluids fit into the standard categories (e.g., multi-component mixtures) and therefore sometimes dispersion modelling must be performed to determine the radii accurately. We use Phast software to do this to ensure confidence in the results. The results are then recorded in a Hazardous Area Schedule (see below). 

Hazardous Area Schedule 

Hazardous areas are recorded in a suitable table / schedule format with all necessary parameters and variables associated with each leak source, line-by-line. The schedule is a 'living' document that is maintained over the life of the facility and it constitutes essential Process Safety Information. The schedule is then used to develop Hazardous Area Drawings (see below) which show the location, type, and extent of hazardous zones on the facility. The drawings are typically superimposed over a facility plot plan and can also be developed in elevation (side view) form. 

Hazardous Area Zone Drawings 

The Hazardous Area Zone Drawings show the location, type, and extent of hazardous zones on the facility. The drawings are extremely useful to communicate the presence of hazardous areas both for equipment selection and for maintenance in hazardous areas i.e., issuing of permit to work where people may be operating in a hazardous zone, thus presenting a potential ignition source to any flammable material that may be present.  
 
The drawings are 'living' documents that should be maintained over the life of the facility, especially where changes occur at the facility or in the prevailing standards. The drawings constitute essential Process Safety Information. 

Contact Safety Engineering Solutions today to find out more 

Contact Safety Engineering Solutions today on 07808 889 684 or click the link to find out how we can help you manage risk. 
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