{"id":13249,"date":"2020-10-27T14:41:34","date_gmt":"2020-10-27T14:41:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ricoprod.wpengine.com\/?p=13249"},"modified":"2022-05-19T12:45:38","modified_gmt":"2022-05-19T16:45:38","slug":"explosion-proof-classifications-what-do-they-mean","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ricoequipment.com\/explosion-proof-classifications-what-do-they-mean\/","title":{"rendered":"Explosion Proof Classifications\u2014What do they Mean?"},"content":{"rendered":"

An area in your facility has been classified as a hazardous location and you need an Explosion Proof lift truck<\/a>, now what? It is important to understand what the hazardous classification means to the safety of your employees and the confidence of having quality, certified equipment for the environment.<\/p>\n

An EX forklift manufacturer cannot classify a hazardous area. Only an Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) can determine the hazard classification for any specific location as defined in NFPA 70. Who is considered an AHJ? The AHJ may be a federal, state, local or other regional department or individual such as a fire chief, fire marshal, building official, and electrical inspector are a few examples.<\/p>\n

The AHJ will classify a hazardous area based on three designations: Class, Division, and Group. Let\u2019s explore each of these designations.<\/p>\n

Classes<\/h2>\n

Class is used to provide a general definition of the physical characteristics of the hazardous material with which we are dealing. The Three hazardous location classes are:<\/p>\n

Class I<\/strong>\u2014Gases, vapors and liquids that can be present in explosive or ignitable mixtures.<\/p>\n

Class II<\/strong>\u2014Combustible dust that can be present in amounts that could produce potentially explosive mixtures, or dust of an electrically conductive nature.<\/p>\n

Class III<\/strong>\u2014Fibers or flyings that are easily ignitable but are not apt to be suspended in air in such amounts to product ignitable mixtures.<\/p>\n

Divisions<\/h2>\n

The division designation signifies the properties of material responsible for the potential hazard with the likelihood of the hazard actually being present.<\/p>\n

Division 1<\/strong>\u2014Locations which ignitable concentrations of flammable gases, vapors, liquids or combustible dust can exist all of the time under normal operating conditions.<\/p>\n

Division 2<\/strong>\u2014Locations which ignitable concentrations of flammable gases, vapors, liquids or combustible dust are not likely to exist under normal operating conditions.<\/p>\n

Division 1 is the more stringent designation, so EX trucks approved for Division 1 are also approved for Division 2 hazardous locations.<\/p>\n

Groups<\/h2>\n

Group designations are used to selectively group the material by comparatively similar hazardous characteristics.<\/p>\n

A, B, C, D<\/strong> \u2013 Gases\/Vapors. These are grouped by:<\/p>\n