Purging enclosures for Class 1 Div 1

[Designguy]

I used to design enclosures for class 1 Div 2 environments, due to 110V, 15 amp and (potential for) pyrophoric gases we would use a nitrogen purge of enclosure to fulfill the requirements of the code. Can this mitigation strategy work in a class 1 Div 1 environment that has a potential for gasoline vapors to be trapped?

Thanks all

 

[rbalex]

Typically, pyrophoric materials do not require electrical equipment mitigation. See NEC Section 500.5(A).

That being said, the protection technique of purging/pressurizing may indeed be applied to Division 1 installations. It is similar, but not identical, to Division 2 applications.

NFPA 496 recognizes 3 basic methods of purging/pressurizing. Two of them (Types X and Y) apply to Division 1 situations. Without knowing the details of your application Chapters 1 through 5 would seem to apply.