Zone 1, Zone 2, ATEX
Daisy Data Displays, Inc. (D3) specializes in ruggedized computers and a variety of accessories to accompany them, such as industrial monitors, purge controls and more. Our customers, who stem from a variety of industries including military, oil and gas, pharmaceutical, process control and flight simulation, often need equipment that will meet the requirements of different hazardous area standards. D3 offers products that adhere to different environmental classifications. In the United States, divisions are divided up according to the National electrical Code (NEC). The European equivalent to these ratings is ATEX Zones.
ATEX, derived from the French “ATmosphère EXplosive”, provides the technical requirements to be applied and the relevant conformity assessment procedures before placing this equipment on the European market. ATEX concerns all products to be used in places where explosive atmospheres may arise, such as mixtures of air and flammable materials such as gases, vapors, mists and dusts. Areas where hazardous explosive atmospheres may occur are classified into zones. The classification designated to a particular zone depends on the likelihood an explosive atmosphere will occur. The zones are divided based on the frequency of the occurrence of potentially explosive atmospheres. Gases and dust can also occur at the same time.
Zone 1, similar to Division 1, is an atmosphere where a mixture of air and flammable substances in the form of gas, vapor or mist is likely to occur in normal operating circumstances.
| Potentially gas-explosive areas | |
|---|---|
| Zones | Type of Danger |
| Zone 0 | continuous, long periods, frequent |
| Zone 1 | occasional |
| Zone 2 | normally not, only for a short period |
Zone 2, like a Division 2 classified area, is an atmosphere where a mixture of air and flammable substances in the form of gas, vapor or mist is not likely to occur under normal operating conditions, but holds the possibility of occurring under extenuating circumstances.
Different protection techniques are used to address the hazardous zones, and it is important to understand which NEC ratings reciprocate ATEX ratings.
| Simplified assignment diagram for the USA (Operating equipment marked with *) |
||
|---|---|---|
| Zones | Type of Danger | |
| NEC class I, div. 1 | → | OK in NEC class I, zone 1 and 2 |
| NEC class I, div. 2 | → | OK in NEC class I, zone 2 |
| NEC class I, zone 1 | → | Not permissible in NEC class I, div. 1 |
| NEC class I, zone 2 | → | OK in NEC class I, div. 2 |
| NEC AEx | → | OK in NEC zone 0, 1, 2, as marked |
| NEC AEx | → | Not permissible for NEC class I, div. 1 |
| NEC AEx | → | OK in NEC class I, div. 2 |
| IED zone 1 | → | Not permissible for NEC purview/td> |
| IED zone 2 | → | Not permissible for NEC purview/td> |
| IED EEx or Ex | → | Not permissible for NEC purview/td> |
| * When this mark is given, it can be used to derive the permissible area of application. Assignment is only possible in the indicated direction. | ||
From PCs and monitors to keyboards and other accessories, D3 offers a wide array of products to ensure safety even in the most hazardous areas.
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