IP15 for area classification in united states?

[papalazarou]

designing a small scale plant for initial location in the EU, which will ship to the States a few months later....intent is to use IP15 for hazardous area classification, but would this be recognised as a valid standard in the U.S.?

 

[davsy]

IP15 is used and recognized in the USA as a method of area classification, however you will have to be careful how you conduct your HAC and or construct and certify the equipment.

For use in the EU the area will need to be classified into Zones 0, 1 & 2 for gasses and 20, 21 & 22 for dust while the equipment will need to be designed and built to meet the ATEX requirements and be CE marked.

For use in the USA the area classifications are more commonly carried out using the class and division system (although zones are being used in some places) there are no direct correlationes between the class/division system and the Zone system.
The real problem comes with the equipment design and construction. ATEX approved equipment does not automatically meet approval in the USA I believe a UL stamp is required depending upon which type of equipment you are talking about. There are some dual rated items especially when it comes to instrumentation but there are typically lots of differences between European and US approved equipment, that is without considering the obvious things such as voltage and frequency differences.

Also if you are talking about EU manufactured equipment that includes things like pressure vessels etc. you will also have big differences between the EU and US regulations.

 

[papalazarou]

Thanks for that...when you say zones 'are being used in some places' is that industry sectors or are companies at liberty to decide on the approach they take?

 

[davsy]

In the USA the National Electric code article 505 covers the requirements for an alternate "zone classification system" however I have no direct experience of exactly which industry sectors, are actually using the system or if it is down to the individual company r location to choose.

You may need to talk to your local AHJ and see what they have to say.