How would you guys classify a 20,000 bu grain bin used for storage/drying of corn/soybeans sitting on a farm. It will have 1 auger motor and 1 blower/fan motor. Both motors are externally mounted of the bin with the fan motor circulating air thru-out the bin. IMO,Im leaning towards a Class 2/Div 2.Thoughts?
Grain Bin-- Haz loc?
- Thread starter travis301
- Start date
- Status
mdshunk
Senior Member
- Location
- Right here.
Generally the electrician does not classify the location. Most normally, other people are supposed to come to the conclusion.travis301 said:
tallgirl
Senior Member
- Location
- Glendale, WI
- Occupation
- Controls Systems firmware engineer
Things that might contain large amounts of grain dust blow up really well.
Google "grain elevator explosion". A friend's mom worked at one back in the 70's and was only 2 of 30-some employees to survive. And she survived because she wasn't there.
Google "grain elevator explosion". A friend's mom worked at one back in the 70's and was only 2 of 30-some employees to survive. And she survived because she wasn't there.
Yes they are a bad deal. I have worked in several industrial elevators around my area and we have used the proper wiring methods for the classification. You go out to the local farmers house and you see romex and PVC. I never knew how or if there was a different classification for "farm applications" or if the local "electrician/plumber/carpenter/mechanic" didnt know the difference.
dcspector
Senior Member
- Location
- Burke, Virginia
Travis...all google search aside...class II div.2 is what I see 500.5(C)(2)
- Location
- Illinois
- Occupation
- retired electrician
I have never seen the area outside of the bin classified.
Don
Don
I looked into a similar situation some time ago. The conclusion I came to, right or wrong, is that you can't have a grain dust explosion without a confined area.
No confined area, means when an explosions starts, it blows the other dust away from the source, thereby preventing an explosion. (The concentration of dust doesn't stay high enough to sustain a growing blast.)
On the other hand, inside the bin the dust would be reflected off the walls back toward the blast.
No confined area, means when an explosions starts, it blows the other dust away from the source, thereby preventing an explosion. (The concentration of dust doesn't stay high enough to sustain a growing blast.)
On the other hand, inside the bin the dust would be reflected off the walls back toward the blast.
ptonsparky
Tom
- Occupation
- EC - retired
We work on these types of installations and have never had any equipment either inside or outside of the bin made (by manufacturers) or installed to Class II specs of any kind. Even motors inside the bins are typical TEFC motors. Hook your motors up as you would in any unclassified area.
Don't even ask about this bin and the others each being a separate structure.
Don't even ask about this bin and the others each being a separate structure.
- Status