Portable electric devices in Hazardous Locations

[KABOOM]

Do portable battery operated devices such as: two-way radios, pagers, watches, hearing aids, cameras, lap top computer, etc. come under the scope of Article 500 for having to be listed or intrinsically safe?

If the scope of NFPA 70 does not cover these type of items for a hazardous location, what regulation if any has jurisdiction on controlling these items?


Background:

We have a new facility that has been built with Class I, Div I electrics due to flammable liquids. We have required that all two-way radios and pagers that go into the area shall be approved for the classification of the area or be intrinsically safe. The question has come up about other portable battery-operated devices such as hearing aids, watches, cameras, electrical meters, bar code scanners, and the like. I was told that scope of NFPA 70 for Article 500 only covers "installed" electrical devices and does not cover these portable battery-operated devices. If the scope does cover battery-operated portable equipment, what is the section reference that requires them to be listed or intrinsically safe?

Would like to be able to reference the section of any code or standard that has jurisdiction of these battery operated devices in areas that have been classified as hazardous per Article 500.


Tom Christman
Edited by "rbalex" to remove personal contact information

 

[rbalex]

Admittedly, this is not addressed consistently throughout the Code; but the general statement that covers it is Section 90.2(A): ?This Code covers installations?? [emphasis added]

CMP14 has avoided covering the personal electronic devices you mentioned (and pacemakers) directly because there is no consistent way to have such devices recognized as suitable. The Panel simply has backed away and said they aren?t ?installed? and thus aren?t in the Scope of the NEC in general or Articles 500 to 516 in particular.

The Panel knows many of the devices are, in reality, either intrinsically safe or nonincendive since they simply cannot supply the Minimum Ignition Energy (MIE) necessary; but, as ?consumer products,? manufacturers will not routinely have them listed. Other items, such as flash attachments on cameras, are virtually always potential ignition sources. Most laptops are too.

The best current option is to have a written site policy, reviewed periodically by the appropriate insurer.

 

[petersonra]

Bob is right. The NEC covers installations. That does not mean a battery powered device is not hazardous just because it is not installed. It just means it is not covered under the NEC. Your plant safety rules still have to cover all hazards including portable devices.

Some plants have gone nuts in the past on this type of issue, some going so far as to ban anything containing a battery unless you get a hot work permit - to include battery powered watches.

One chemical plant I have done work in has banned cell phones in classified areas unless they are turned off. I am not sure why a cell phone is less hazardous when turned off.

 

[andrew.wittkamper]

I believe the MSHA, Mine Safety and Health Administration, and UL list portable devices as to their Hazardous Loc. use.

 

[muskiedog]

This may help you with creating a policy for the storage area. This is OSHA requirements, read into what you want.

Sources of ignition" -
1910.106(e)(6)(i)
"General." Adequate precautions shall be taken to prevent the ignition of flammable vapors. Sources of ignition include but are not limited to open flames; lightning; smoking; cutting and welding; hot surfaces; frictional heat; static, electrical, and mechanical sparks; spontaneous ignition, including heat-producing chemical reactions; and radiant heat.


1910.307(b)(3)

Safe for the hazardous (classified) location. Equipment which is safe for the location shall be of a type and design which the employer demonstrates will provide protection from the hazards arising from the combustibility and flammability of vapors, liquids, gases, dusts, or fibers.

Note: The National Electrical Code, NFPA 70, contains guidelines for determining the type and design of equipment and installations which will meet this requirement. The guidelines of this document address electric wiring, equipment, and systems installed in hazardous (classified) locations and contain specific provisions for the following: wiring methods, wiring connections; conductor insulation, flexible cords, sealing and drainage, transformers, capacitors, switches, circuit breakers, fuses, motor controllers, receptacles, attachment plugs, meters, relays, instruments, resistors, generators, motors, lighting fixtures, storage battery charging equipment, electric cranes, electric hoists and similar equipment, utilization equipment, signaling systems, alarm systems, remote control systems, local loud speaker and communication systems, ventilation piping, live parts, lightning surge protection, and grounding. Compliance with these guidelines will constitute one means, but not the only means, of compliance with this paragraph.