Safety Prox Sensor - Class1 Div1 Area

yanivk

Member
Location
Charlotte NC USA
Occupation
Controls Engineering Manager
Hi!

I am quoting a job where the customer wants us to install several sliding guard doors in a Class1 Div1 area and monitor if they are not closed. I have selected a non-contact safety proximity sensor to monitor each guard door. The sensor is fully encapsulated and rated for use in ATEX Zone 0. It has 2 N.C. + 1 N.O. dry contacts. No control power required. Customer has approved the use of this sensor in their C1D1 area and is responsible for any risk assessment and validation. The sensor comes factory-installed with a 10m long stainless steel flexible conduit (not sure of conduit size) to protect the flying-lead multiconductor cable. I am planning to terminate 4 such sensors into a junction box using the supplied flex conduits and run a single rigid metal conduit with single seal-off back to the PLC panel in un-classified area that's 150ft away from this junction box, where I will monitor these sensors using safety relays.
My questions are:
- Does this junction box need to be NEMA7 rated? Even though there are no arcing devices in the JB and the sensors are Zone0 rated.
- Do I need a seal-off on each sensor conduit? If so, do I need to replace the flex conduit that comes with the sensor with rigid metal conduit?

My alternate solution is to use general-area rated non-contact safety prox sensors and run each dry-contact signal through a P&F switch amplifier that will be installed in the PLC panel. Thus eliminating the electrical thermal energy to cause a spark. Is this a viable solution?
Can I simply run the sensor's M12-to-flying lead multiconductor cordsets directly into a regular junction box using cord grips? Single RMC with seal-off back to the PLC panel.
This alternate solution will make the job significantly easier, quicker and cheaper.

I am here to learn and open to all suggestions.

Thank you.
Big fan of this forum.
 
- Does this junction box need to be NEMA7 rated? Even though there are no arcing devices in the JB and the sensors are Zone0 rated.
501.10(A)(3) requires all enclosures in a Class I, Division 1 location to be "identified" for use in a Class I, Division 1 location.
Do I need a seal-off on each sensor conduit? If so, do I need to replace the flex conduit that comes with the sensor with rigid metal conduit?
Based on your description, it does not appear that the sensors require seal fittings. However, I would question if the supplied flexible connection complies with 501.10(A)(3)(1).
 
501.10(A)(3) requires all enclosures in a Class I, Division 1 location to be "identified" for use in a Class I, Division 1 location.

Based on your description, it does not appear that the sensors require seal fittings. However, I would question if the supplied flexible connection complies with 501.10(A)(3)(1).
Hi Don. Is using the flex conduit allowed/approved in other parts of the world where ATEX/IECex rating is more prevalent? I am confused as to why it would matter per NEC if there is no explosion to contain.
 
Please refer to this layout sketch that I've drawn where I would be using general-area rated non-contact safety prox sensors and run each dry-contact signal through an isolation barrier.
Can I simply run the sensor's M12-to-flying lead multiconductor cordsets directly into a regular junction box using cord grips? This will satisfy the environmental rating of NEMA12. But not sure if I am missing something with regards to the area being rated C1D1.
I will of course have a properly installed conduit sealoff at the boundary.
 

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  • Using Standard Safety Sensor.pdf
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You have giving me nothing to suggest this is an IS circuit. If it is, then see 504.20 for the permitted wiring methods.
Sorry. I should have been specific. The prox sensor with the 2 dry contacts can be considered a simple device because there is no other control power circuit on it to store energy. So using an isolation barrier or switch amplifier should make this an intrinsic safe circuit. So per 504.20, as long as I have the correct separation between I.S and non-I.S wiring on the switch amplifier and correct sealing at boundary, I can just use normal wiring methods for such sensors in C1D1 area.
This is the solution I will propose to customer. Thanks.
 
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