×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

Insulating hot surfaces in Zone 2 electrical area classifications

Insulating hot surfaces in Zone 2 electrical area classifications

Insulating hot surfaces in Zone 2 electrical area classifications

(OP)
Does anyone know the standard industry practices at refinery or similar industrial process plant that has hot pipes, flanges, valves, etc. that are installed in an IEC Ex hazardous locatioin area rated as Zone 2, IIB+H2 and requiring a T3 temperature code when many of the process piping components are expected to exceed 200 C exposed surface temperature?

Will ALL surfaces >200C be insulated somehow?  Or are there some exceptions for surfaces that inherently operate at hot temperatures do to the process temperatures of the equipment involved?

Thanks,

RE: Insulating hot surfaces in Zone 2 electrical area classifications

Hi,

If the temperature class requirement is T3, you just can't have any surface exceeding 200 deg C. They might be some exception but that would require proper testing to see if the surface is ignition capable.
Regardless, I certainly would not recommend to have any surface exceeding 200 deg C.

If there is an ignition source, like the mention surface then a suitable protection concept should be applied, or the process might need to be re-design to prevent such surface from occurring.

I hope this helps

Vincent P.

RE: Insulating hot surfaces in Zone 2 electrical area classifications

(OP)
Vincent,
Thanks for the reply.

Do you know what standards would apply for determining/testing whether or not the surface was ignition capable?

Do you know of any standards that define the specific requirements for insulated pipe / components in the classified area? For instance, does the insulation need to be closed cell, or appropriately shrouded so that minimal air/gas mixture can permeate the insulation and reach the hot surface?

Thanks

RE: Insulating hot surfaces in Zone 2 electrical area classifications

Hi Bangrod,

In Europe I suggest that you look at the list provided at http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/european-s...

for IEC Ex certification, the IECEx website.

For mechanical equipment I would look at the 13463 series of standards, for electrical 60079. Starting with an ignition hazard assessment to EN 1127-1:2011.

The exact choice of standard would require the precise review of the equipment and ATEX category.

If you want to discuss further, please, contact me via linkedin, my profile is at: http://linkd.in/ExConsult

Kind regards - Vincent P.

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources