I see a fluid pump that is pumping a hazardous refrigerant. It is contained in a mechanical enclosure that is using forced air ventilation to reduce the inside of the enclosure to Class I Div 2. Without the the ventilation, inside the enclosure would be considered Class I Div 1 because leaks in this type of equipment, although not normal, are "frequent" enough to consider rating it Class I Div 1. The ventilation makes it Class 1 Div 2.
Since the pump is actually in contact with the hazardous material, even though it is in a Class I Div 2 area, would it still need to be explosion proof? I would think that a normal 3 phase pump with no internal thermal protection would suffice. I believe the extra caution is coming from the fact that the pump is actually in contact with the hazardous material....but I don't think the explosion proof motor is absolutely required or even needed since the ventilation takes the entire area down to Class I div 2..
Since the pump is actually in contact with the hazardous material, even though it is in a Class I Div 2 area, would it still need to be explosion proof? I would think that a normal 3 phase pump with no internal thermal protection would suffice. I believe the extra caution is coming from the fact that the pump is actually in contact with the hazardous material....but I don't think the explosion proof motor is absolutely required or even needed since the ventilation takes the entire area down to Class I div 2..