Certification requirements for NON-ELECTRICAL equipment in Class I, or II locations

[retcec]

Looking for some information on non-electrical equipment in hazardous classified locations. Its NEC article 500, and NFPA 499 if it uses electricity, but what about non-electrical equipment? Air powered, hydraulic, etc. UL doesn't cover these, ATEX does, but that's in Europe.

The possibility exist (but there is no reference) of a requirement to ground the equipment to prevent static spark, but again no reference. Does anyone have any reference that covers the subject?

 

[rbalex]

You have stumbled on another difference between US and European practices. For US domestic it is electrical area classification; for most European and other IEC facilities it is simply area classification and covers both mechanical as well as electrical sources of ignition. Actually, NFPA 497/499 does "tip their hat" to non-electrical sources by eliminating them as a basis for electrical ignitions in the immediate area. See NFPA 499, Section 6.5.3 for example.

The NEC doesn't necessarily require specific certification even for some electrical equipment. See Section 500.8, especially Subsection 500.8(C). Where certification is required, the US requires a third-party NRTL. ATEX is usually happy with a manufacturer's self-declaration.

Grounding requirements are simply covered by Article 250 as supplemented by Sections 501.30 and 502.30. Section 500.4(B) FPN/IN No. 3 references static electricity and lightning Standards. Those Articles, Sections and Standards reference the appropriate material/equipment certification requirements, if any.