ATEX/IECEx Markings Explained

To comply with ATEX/IECEx regulations, all equipment and protective systems that are used in hazardous
areas must be marked legibly and indelibly with a specific set of letters/numbers. Together, these letters/
numbers specify the exact criteria that a product meets in relation to those ATEX/IECEx regulations,
and so determines the type of environments that they are safe to operate in.

LCM Systems Certificate Markings

Ingress Protection
Protection Concepts Level
Equipment group Temperature (table 6)
(table 1) (table 3)
Classification
Gas - G (table 5)
Dust - D
Technical Information Sheet

Gases II 2 G Ex d IIC T6 Gb IP6x Tamb -20°C to +55 °C

Dusts II 2 D Ex tb IIIC T85°C Db IP6x Tamb -20°C to +55 °C
Explosion
Proof Ambient Temperature
ATEX Category Sub-group
(table 2) (table 4) Range
Equipment
Protection Level
(tables 1 & 3)

Table 1 - Equipment Groups

There are two equipment groups - Group I, which concerns mines and is very restrictive due to the
highly volatile methane gas and dusts present, and Group II, which relates to all other above ground
industries.

Equipment Groups
Equipment Equipment Atmosphere Level of Required Protection
Equipment
Group Category Protection Type Ignition Performance &
(ATEX) Level Protection Operation
Gas Dust

I MI Ma Ma Methane & Dust Very High Two faults, remain energised

& functioning

I M2 Mb Mb Methane & Dust High Severe normal operation,

de-energise in explosive
atmosphere

II 1 Ga Da Gas, Vapour, Mist, Dust Very High Two faults

II 2 Gb Db Gas, Vapour, Mist, Dust High One fault

II 3 Gc Dc Gas, Vapour, Mist, Dust Low Normal operation

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 ATEX/IECEx Markings Explained

Table 2 - ATEX Category

There are three area category types, with Category 1 requiring a very high level of protection and defined
as an area having a permanent or prolonged risk of explosions (Zone 0), Category 2 which requires a high
level of protection and has a frequent risk of an explosive mix being present in the air (Zone 1), and
Category 3, specified as requiring a normal level of protection with a small chance of an explosive mix
forming (Zone 2).

Area Classification

Equipment Category Definition Zone

Gases & Dusts
Vapours
Category 1 An area where an explosive atmosphere is Zone 0 Zone 20
present continuously or for long periods
(over 1000 hours per year or >10% of the time)
Category 2 An area where an explosive atmosphere is Zone 1 Zone 21
likely to occur in normal operation
(10 - 1000 hours per year or 0.1 to 10% of the time)

Category 3 An area where an explosive atmosphere is not Zone 2 Zone 22

likely to occur in normal operation
(under 10 hours per year or 0 to 0.1% of the time)

Note: Category 2 certification also covers the lower category 3

Table 3 - Protection Concepts

Protection concepts refer to the means of ensuring a piece of equipment being used in a hazardous area
does not cause an explosion. There are four basic methods utilised to avoid uncontrolled ignitions -
exclusion of the flammable substance, prevention of component sparks or hot surfaces, explosion
quenching and energy limitation. By applying individually or in combination, the protection concepts listed
below are applied to a product in order to achieve this.

Protection Concepts - Electrical Equipment for gases, vapours & mists (G)
Symbol Equipment Indicative Zones Standard Basic Concept of Protection
Type of
Protection Protection (EN/IEC)
Level
Optical radiation Op pr Gb 1, 2 60079-28 Protected by shutdown, enclosure
Op sh Ga 0, 1, 2 60079-28 or inherently safe
OP is Ga 0, 1, 2 60029-78
Increased safety e Gb 1, 2 60079-7 No sparking parts or hot surfaces
type ‘n’ (non- nA Gc 2 60079-15
Technical Information Sheet

sparking)
Flameproof d Gb 1, 2 60079-1 Contains the pressure, quench the
flame
Type ‘n’ (enclosed nC Gc 2 60079-15 Contains the pressure, quench the
break) flame

Quartz/ q Gb 1, 2 60079-5 Quench ignition

Sand filled

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 ATEX/IECEx Markings Explained

Table 3 - Protection Concepts (continued)

Symbol Equipment Indicative Zones Standard Basic Concept of Protection

Type of
Protection Protection (EN/IEC)
Level

ia Ga 0, 1, 2 60079-11 Limit the potential ignition energy

Intrinsic safety
ib Gb 1, 2 and surface temperatures
ic Gc 2

Pressurised px Gb 1, 2 60079-2 Keeps the flammable gas out

py Gb 1, 2
pz Gc 2
Type ‘n’ (sealing & nC Gc 2 60079-15
hermetic sealing) nR Gc 2
Type ‘n’ (restricted
breathing)
Encapsulation ma Ga 0, 1, 2 60079-18
mb Gb 1, 2
mc Gc 2
Oil immersion o Gb 1, 2 60079-6

Protection Concepts - Electrical Equipment for dusts (D)

Equipment Standard
Type of
Protection Symbol Protection Indicative Zones (EN/IEC)
Basic Concept of Protection
Level
Enclosure ta Da 20 60079-31 Dust tight enclosure, limited surface
tb Db 21 temperature
tc Dc 22
Intrinsic safety ia Da 20 60079-11 Limit the potential ignition energy
ib Db 21 and surface temperatures. May add
ic Dc 22 ingress requirements
Encapsulation ma Da 20 60079-18 Keep the flammable dust out
mb Db 21
mc Dc 22
Pressurised pD Db 21 60079-4 Protection by pressurisation of
Dc 22 enclosure

Note: tb (Zone 21) certification also covers the lower tc classification (Zone 22)
Technical Information Sheet

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 ATEX/IECEx Markings Explained

Table 4 - Gas Sub-divisions

The ATEX standard also has a classification for explosive gases and dusts, with Group I referring to
methane gases and coal dust (mining), while Group IIA to IIC gases and Group IIIA and IIIC dusts (above
ground industries) have been categorised according to their different igniting power, with IIA/IIIA being
the least dangerous and having the highest ignition temperature and IIC/IIIC the most dangerous with the
lowest ignition temperature.

Group Sub Divisions

Gas Sub Groups Representative Gas Dust Sub Groups Dust Type

Group 1 Methane Group 1 Coal Dust

Group IIA Propane Group IIIA Flyings
Group IIB Ethylene Group IIIB Non-conductive
Group IIC Hydrogen/Acetylene Group IIIC Conductive

Note: Group IIC/Group IIIC certification is the highest possible, so also covers the groups above

Table 5 - Temperature Classification

Different substances may combust at different temperatures. The lower the combustion temperature is, the
more dangerous the substance is. Therefore, each piece of equipment used in an explosive environment is
classified according to the maximum surface temperature it generates. The maximum surface temperature
of the equipment should always be well below the ignition temperature of the gases present.

Temperature Classification

Temperature class Max Surface Temperature of Ignition Temperatures

Equipment °C of Flammable Substance °C

T1 450 >450
T2 300 >300 <450
280 >280 <300
260 >260 <280
230 >230 <260
215 >215 <230
T3 200 >200 <215
180 >180 <200
165 >165 <180
Technical Information Sheet

160 >160 <165

T4 135 >135 <160
120 >120 <135
T5 100 >100 <120
T6 85 >85 <100

Note: Temperature class 85°C certification is the highest possible, so also covers the classes above

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 ATEX/IECEx Markings Explained

Table 6 - Ingress Protection

This rating system (or IP code) is defined by the letters IP followed by two 'characteristic' numbers. The first
number identifies the degree of protection against solid foreign objects and the second number refers to
its protection against liquids.

Ingress Protection
Level Protected Against Solid Particle Ingress Protection (First Digit of Code)

0 - No protection against contact and ingress of objects

1 >50 mm Any large surface of the body, such as the back of a hand, but no protection
against deliberate contact with a body part
2 >12.5 mm Fingers or similar objects
3 >2.5 mm Tools, thick wires etc.
4 > 1mm Most wires, screws etc.
5 Dust protected Ingress of dust is not entirely prevented, but it must not enter in sufficient

Technical Information Sheet

quantity to interfere with the safe operation of the equipment; complete
protection against contact
6 Dust tight No ingress of dust; complete protection against contact

Level Protected Against Liquid Ingress Protection (Second Digit of Code)

0 Not protected Not necessary
1 Dripping water Dripping water (vertically falling drops) shall have no harmful effect
2 Dripping water Vertically dripping water shall have no harmful effect when the enclosure is
when tilted up to 15°C tilted at an angle up to 15°C from its normal position
3 Spraying water Water falling as a vertical spray at any angle up to 60°C from the vertical shall
have no harmful effect
4 Splashing water Water splashing against the enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful
effect
5 Water jets Water projected by a nozzle (6.3mm) against enclosure from any direction shall
have no harmful effects
6 Powerful water jets Water projected in powerful jets (12.5mm nozzle) against the enclosure from
any direction shall have no harmful effects
7 Immersion up to 1 mtr Ingress of water in harmful quantity shall not be possible when the enclosure is
immersed in water under defined conditions of pressure and time (up to 1
metre of submersion)
8 Immersion beyond 1 The equipment is suitable for continuous immersion in water under condition
mtr which shall be specified by the manufacturer

Note: IP67 is the standard protection offered by LCM System, however, lower and higher protection is available

LCM Systems Ltd

Unit 15, Newport Business Park
Barry Way, Newport
Isle of Wight PO30 5GY UK
Tel: +44 (0)1983 249264

LCM SYSTEMS Fax: +44 (0)1983 249266

[email protected]
Solutions in Load Cell Technology www.atexloadcell.com