Persistence of Hazardous Area Classifications

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fifty60

Senior Member
Location
USA
Is it possible for a Hazardous Area (C1D2) to only be present for specific times during the day?

For example, if the potential for leaks only exist during 1 hour during the day, the C1D2 area classification would only exist for that 1 hour during the day. I know that analysis would also have to be done for any below grade or other accumulation points, but if not considering that, in general, can a C1D2 area only exist during the times of day that the hazard can occur.

I understand consistent care, procedure, and documentation would need to exist to facilitate this, but with all of that in place would it be a reasonable approach?
 

kwired

Electron manager
Location
NE Nebraska
I suppose it can, but I don't see how that will change what wiring methods/materials would be needed, once given a hazardous location designation you have to install things per that designation regardless of it being a part time occurrence.
 

geerhed

Member
Location
Your six.
Is it possible for a Hazardous Area (C1D2) to only be present for specific times during the day?

For example, if the potential for leaks only exist during 1 hour during the day, the C1D2 area classification would only exist for that 1 hour during the day. I know that analysis would also have to be done for any below grade or other accumulation points, but if not considering that, in general, can a C1D2 area only exist during the times of day that the hazard can occur.

I understand consistent care, procedure, and documentation would need to exist to facilitate this, but with all of that in place would it be a reasonable approach?

Is the idea to change the protection method only during the projected times?
 

fifty60

Senior Member
Location
USA
Yes, to allow general purpose equipment into the area during specific times during the day when the process is not running, and the hazard potential no longer exists..
 

iceworm

Curmudgeon still using printed IEEE Color Books
Location
North of the 65 parallel
Occupation
EE (Field - as little design as possible)
Yes, to allow general purpose equipment into the area during specific times during the day when the process is not running, and the hazard potential no longer exists..

So, you are thinking to placard, "Arcing, open-flame devices not permitted 12:47 - 13:48"?
And the reasoning is that a hot work permit and sniffer is required without the placard?

No, I have never seen that.
 

rbalex

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Mission Viejo, CA
Occupation
Professional Electrical Engineer
Is it possible for a Hazardous Area (C1D2) to only be present for specific times during the day?

For example, if the potential for leaks only exist during 1 hour during the day, the C1D2 area classification would only exist for that 1 hour during the day. I know that analysis would also have to be done for any below grade or other accumulation points, but if not considering that, in general, can a C1D2 area only exist during the times of day that the hazard can occur.

I understand consistent care, procedure, and documentation would need to exist to facilitate this, but with all of that in place would it be a reasonable approach?
No matter how infrequently a Division 2 (or 1 for that matter) location is "truly" hazardous, it is impractical for equipment and wiring methods to be other than that suitable for the base classification.

Ice worm hit on the actual solution. Section 500.4(A) requires that classified locations be documented properly. A hot work permit fits the purpose of documenting and temporarily reclassifiying the location. I have been in some refineries that post such documentation daily for smoking zones.
 

fifty60

Senior Member
Location
USA
I'm thinking more along the lines of a fill process in an adequately ventilated space. The hazard only exists when the fill tool is filling the container. When the process is over, the tool is holstered in a different location. So during the fill process, the area around the fill process is Hazardous. But within a minute of ending the fill process the hazard has dissipated...I would like for the Hazardous Classification to only exist for the time during the fill and the time afterwards it takes to dissipate the hazardous mixture...
 

rbalex

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Mission Viejo, CA
Occupation
Professional Electrical Engineer
I'm thinking more along the lines of a fill process in an adequately ventilated space. The hazard only exists when the fill tool is filling the container. When the process is over, the tool is holstered in a different location. So during the fill process, the area around the fill process is Hazardous. But within a minute of ending the fill process the hazard has dissipated...I would like for the Hazardous Classification to only exist for the time during the fill and the time afterwards it takes to dissipate the hazardous mixture...
Assuming this is a "normal" operation, you do realize this describes a Division 1 application, right? See Section 500.5(B)(1)(1).
 

fifty60

Senior Member
Location
USA
Sorry, not a very good description on my part. The potential for a hazard only exists during the fill. There is normally not a hazard because the process is sealed. But if there is a leak or malfunction then the hazard would exist, so it is Div 2. Sorry about my misstep there...when the tool holstered, it is away from the area in question and there is not potential for hazard
 

rbalex

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Mission Viejo, CA
Occupation
Professional Electrical Engineer
Sorry, not a very good description on my part. The potential for a hazard only exists during the fill. There is normally not a hazard because the process is sealed. But if there is a leak or malfunction then the hazard would exist, so it is Div 2. Sorry about my misstep there...when the tool holstered, it is away from the area in question and there is not potential for hazard
Fine. In that case it will always be a Division 2 location even when the tool is “holstered”. See Section 500.5(B)(2)(1). Unless and until you can get CMP14 to revise the definitions (highly unlikely), the location for the scenario you propose will never be less than Division 2 in absence of a hot work permit.
 

nollij

Member
Location
Washington
I have seen a wharf area classified depending on all the different ship configurations. It didn't make much sense to me. It doesn't change the wiring methods required.

If folks want to drive their equipment down the wharf when ships aren't there (or any other similar scenario), that is a Process Safety management issue and not an Area Classification issue.

I have seen:
  • lights or signs used to indicate when traffic is acceptable and when it is not acceptable
  • hot work permits/automotive permits involving monitoring the LEL of the area
  • any other mitigation that is acceptable to prevent an ignition source and a flammable material from meeting
 

MRKN

Member
Location
California, USA
I have seen a wharf area classified depending on all the different ship configurations. It didn't make much sense to me. It doesn't change the wiring methods required.

If folks want to drive their equipment down the wharf when ships aren't there (or any other similar scenario), that is a Process Safety management issue and not an Area Classification issue.

I have seen:
  • lights or signs used to indicate when traffic is acceptable and when it is not acceptable
  • hot work permits/automotive permits involving monitoring the LEL of the area
  • any other mitigation that is acceptable to prevent an ignition source and a flammable material from meeting

It is always a PSM interpretation to expand electrical area classifications, the intent of which is explicitly limited to temporary and permanent electrical installations, to restricted access for motor (highway) vehicles. If only the relevant EAC standards producing organizations would acknowledge this reality and provide clear standardized design requirements / guidance for some of the solutions you have mention.
 
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