Section
2 Classification of hazardous areas
2.1 General
2.1.1 The hazardous areas as specified may be extended or restricted depending
on conditions such as fluid system pressure and composition, or by the use of
structural arrangements such as fire walls, windshields, special ventilation
arrangements, etc. For special requirements relating to units intended for the
storage of oil in bulk, see
Pt 7, Ch 2, 9 Additional requirements for electrical equipment on oil storage units for the storage of oil in bulk having
a flash point not exceeding 60°C (closed-cup test). For special requirements relating to
units intended for the storage of liquefied gases in bulk or other hazardous
liquids, see
Pt 7, Ch 2, 10 Additional requirements for electrical equipment on units for the storage of liquefied gases in bulkand Pt 7, Ch 2, 11 Additional requirements for electrical equipment on units intended for the storage in bulk of other flammable
liquid cargoes and Pt 11, Ch 10 Electrical Installations.
2.1.2 Relatively small non-hazardous areas surrounded by or confined by
hazardous areas, or Zone 2 areas within Zone 1 areas, are to be classified as the
adjacent surrounding hazardous area.
2.1.3 For gas disposal systems, other than permanently ignited flares, and for
vents for large quantities of hydrocarbon gas from production facilities, the
classification and extent of the surrounding hazardous areas should be based on
dispersion calculations.
2.1.4 For permanently ignited flares, consideration is to be given to possible
‘flame out’ conditions or intentional periods of cold venting and the hazardous
areas created by such are to be determined.
2.1.5 Within these Rules, all reference to the extent of the hazardous zones
given as a radius, refers to the horizontal extent of the zone, except where
specifically stated as being a spherical zone; for vertical extent of zones,
see
Pt 7, Ch 2, 2.5 Vertical extent of hazardous zones.
2.2 Zone 0
2.2.1 Areas to be classified as Zone 0 include:
- The internal spaces of closed tanks and piping for containing
active non-degassed drilling mud, oil that has a closed-cup flashpoint below
60°C or flammable gas and vapour, pipes of the mud-circulating system
between the well and the final degassing discharge as well as oil and gas
products containment system, e.g. escape gas outlet pipes, or spaces in
which an oil-gas-air mixture is continuously present or present for long
periods;
- Unventilated spaces containing a source of release (i.e. flange,
valve, etc.) separated by a single gastight bulkhead or deck from a tank
containing flammable liquid or gas; and
- A region around the outlet from non-pressurised tank vents or
other sources, or from cold vents where discharge, which releases flammable
gases or vapours frequently, continuously or for long periods. The size of
this hazardous region should be based on guidance from a recognised Standard
(i.e. EI (formerly IP) Part 15, API RP 505, IEC 60092-502, IEC 61892-7,
EN60079-10-1, 2009 MODU Code) or established through distribution
modelling.
2.3 Zone 1
2.3.1 Areas to be classified as Zone 1 include:
- Adequately ventilated closed or semi-enclosed spaces containing
primary grades of release, see
Pt 7, Ch 2, 1.2 Definitions and categories 1.2.8.(b);
- Mechanically ventilated closed spaces containing a source of
release (i.e. flange, valve, etc.) separated by a single gastight bulkhead or
deck from a tank containing flammable liquid or gas. Or an unventilated closed
space not containing any sources of release separated by a single gastight
bulkhead or deck from a tank containing flammable liquid or gas;
- In open spaces, the area surrounding a primary
grade of release. The extent of the Zone 1 hazardous area will be based upon the
primary grade source of release. The size of this hazardous region should be
based on guidance from a recognised Standard (i.e. EI (formerly IP) Part 15, API
RP 505, IEC 60092-502, IEC 61892-7, EN60079-10-1, 2009 MODU Code) or established
through distribution modelling.
- In open spaces, the area within 3 m from pig
launcher and receiver doors. This may be reduced to 1,5 m if the equipment is
washed through with nitrogen or water washed before opening;
- In open spaces, the area local to any opening associated with an
enclosed Zone 1 area, any ventilation outlet from a Zone 1 space, or any access,
such as a doorway or non-bolted hatch to an enclosed Zone 1 hazardous area, is
to be classified as a Zone 1 space. The extent of the external Zone 1 hazardous
area will be based upon the largest source of release with the enclosed Zone 1
area based on guidance from a recognised Standard (i.e. EI (formerly IP) Part
15, API RP 505, IEC 60092-502, IEC 61892-7, EN60079-10-1, 2009 MODU Code) or
established through distribution modelling;
- Semi-enclosed spaces, such as inadequately
ventilated pits, ducts or similar structures situated in locations which would
otherwise be a Zone 2, but where their arrangement is such that gas dispersion
cannot easily occur.
- For units containing drilling facilities, specific reference is to
be made to the requirements given in the Chapter 6 - Machinery and Electrical Installations in Hazardous Areas for All Types of Unitsregarding the extent of Zone 1
hazardous areas on MODUs as well as the following Pt 7, Ch 2, 3 Hazardous areas – Drilling, workover and wirelining operations and the guidance given in EI (formerly
IP) Part 15 for drilling facilities.
- For tanker storage facilities containing flammable liquids or
flammable liquefied gases, reference is to be made to requirements given in IEC
60092-502 regarding the extent of Zone 1 hazardous areas. Additionally, for
tanker storage facilities containing flammable liquefied gases specific
reference is to be made to Pt 11, Ch 10 Electrical Installations regarding the extent of the Zone 1
hazardous area.
2.4 Zone 2
2.4.1 Areas to be classified as Zone 2 include:
- Adequately ventilated closed or semi-enclosed spaces containing
secondary grades of release, see
Pt 7, Ch 2, 1.2 Definitions and categories 1.2.8.(c)
- In open spaces, the area beyond the Zone 1 specified in Pt 7, Ch 2, 2.3 Zone 1 2.3.1.(c) and Pt 7, Ch 2, 2.3 Zone 1 2.3.1.(d), and beyond the semi-enclosed
space specified in Pt 7, Ch 2, 2.3 Zone 1 2.3.1.(f). The extent of the Zone 2
hazardous area will be based upon the primary grade source of release. The
extent of the external Zone 2 hazardous area will be based upon the largest
source of release with the enclosed Zone 1 area based on guidance from a
recognised Standard (i.e. EI (formerly IP) Part 15, API RP 505, IEC
60092-502, IEC 61892-7, EN60079-10-1, 2009 MODU Code) or established through
distribution modelling;
- In open spaces, the area surrounding a secondary grade of
release, any ventilation outlet from a Zone 2 space or any access to a Zone
2 space. The extent of the Zone 2 hazardous area will be based upon the
source of release based on guidance from a recognised Standard (i.e. EI
(formerly IP) Part 15, API RP 505, IEC 60092-502, IEC 61892-7, EN60079-10-1,
2009 MODU Code) or established through distribution modelling;
- Mechanically ventilated closed spaces not containing a source
of release separated by a single gastight bulkhead or deck from a tank
containing flammable liquid or gas;
- For units containing drilling facilities, specific reference is
to be made to the requirements given in the Chapter 6 - Machinery and Electrical Installations in Hazardous Areas for All Types of Units regarding the
extent of Zone 2 hazardous areas on MODUs as well as the following Pt 7, Ch 2, 3 Hazardous areas – Drilling, workover and wirelining operations and the guidance given in EI
(formerly IP) Part 15 for drilling facilities;
- For tanker storage facilities containing flammable liquids or
flammable liquefied gases, reference is to be made to requirements given in
IEC 60092-502 regarding the extent of Zone 2 hazardous areas. Additionally,
for tanker storage facilities containing flammable liquefied gases specific
reference is to be made to Pt 11, Ch 10 Electrical Installations regarding the extent of the Zone
2 hazardous area and;
- Air locks between a Zone 1 and a non-hazardous area, see
Pt 7, Ch 2, 4.1 General 4.1.3.(c); and
- For drilling units, specific reference is to be made to the
requirements given in the Chapter 6 - Machinery and Electrical Installations in Hazardous Areas for All Types of Units regarding the extent
of Zone 2 hazardous areas on MODUs, as well as the following Pt 7, Ch 2, 3 Hazardous areas – Drilling, workover and wirelining operations.
2.5 Vertical extent of hazardous zones
2.5.1 The relationship between the hazard radius and the full 3-dimensional
envelope of the hazardous area is dependent upon the height and orientation of the
release and the hazard radius. If the release height and the generated hazardous
radius zone are greater than 1 m above the deck, then the developed hazardous area
is independent of potential hazardous accumulations of flammable releases at deck
level. If the release height and the generated hazard radius are less than 1 m above
the deck, then the developed hazardous area is dependent on potential hazardous
accumulations of flammable releases at deck level and the subsequent hazardous area
needs to take into account the generated hazardous area at deck level. The vertical
extent of a hazardous area should be based on guidance from a recognised Standard
(i.e. EI (formerly IP) Part 15, API RP 505, IEC 60092-502, IEC 61892-7,
EN60079-10-1, 2009 MODU Code) or established through distribution modelling.
2.5.2 For tanker storage facilities containing flammable liquids or flammable
liquefied gases, reference is to be made to requirements given in IEC 60092-502
regarding the vertical extent of a hazardous area. Additionally, for tanker storage
facilities containing flammable liquefied gases specific reference is to be made to
Pt 11, Ch 10 Electrical Installationsregarding the vertical extent of a
hazardous area.
|