Hazardous Locations are a tricky opponent for electrical panels and controls. To safely be in a HAZLOC they either have to be rated for that Environment or they need to be enclosed in a Cabinet that is purged and pressurized to keep any explosive gases, fumes, or dusts out of the Cabinet. This is no new thing, however as the Industrial revolution 4.0 continues to grow and progress products are continually being added to HAZLOC areas. For example, robotic controls, analyzers, motors and switch gears now use electronic accessories to meet the needs for, speed, process control and energy efficiency, which often renders the equipment unsuitable for use in hazardous locations.  While the demand for these new devices continues to grow, not all of these items are able to be made intrinsically safe. And the items that are not will need to be enclosed in a cabinet where heat will build and you need to manage that heat load while retaining the positive pressure a purge and pressurization is putting on the panel.

First, we need to know what Class, Division, Group and Temp Code your area falls in. Area Classification Methods  The NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) establishes area classifications using three factors. Identified as Classes, Groups and Divisions, these factors are combined to define conditions of specific areas. Class Ratings – Classes are used to define the explosive or ignitable substances that are present in the atmosphere. Class I – Flammable gases or liquid vapor. Class II – Ignitable metal, carbon or organic dusts. Class III – Ignitable fibrous materials. Division Ratings – Divisions are used to define the degree of hazard by determining the explosive or ignitable substance’s expected concentration in the atmosphere. Division 1 – Contains substances under normal conditions Division 2 – Contains substances under abnormal conditions Group Ratings – Groups are used to define substances by rating their explosive or ignitable nature, in relation to other known substances. TYPICAL CLASS I SUBSTANCES Group A – Acetylene Group B – Hydrogen or > 30% Hydrogen by Volume Group C – Ethyl Ether & Ethylene Group D – Acetone, Ammonia, Benzene & Gasoline TYPICAL CLASS II SUBSTANCES Group E – Aluminum, Magnesium & Alloys Group F – Carbon, Coke & Coal Group G – Flour, Grain, Wood, Plastic & Chemicals Temperature Class – A Temperature Class is a term that is allocated within a hazardous area or zone to instruments and equipment. The classification or rating signifies the levels of thermal energy allowed in a particular area or produced by specific equipment. EXAIR products are Able to be used in locations at or lower than T3C. EXAIR Cabinet Cooler Systems are available, from stock, to suit most any electric/electronic panel heat protection need:

• Cooling capacities from 275 to 5,600 Btu/hr. Call me if your heat load is outside this range…we can look at customized solutions too.
• NEMA 12 (IP54), 4, or 4X (IP66) ratings.
• Thermostat Control – Standard, or Electronic Temperature Control.
• Non-Hazardous Purge for contaminant exclusion on less-than-ideally sealed enclosures.
• High Temperature models for ambient temperatures from 125°F (52°C) to 200°F (93°C).
• Side Mount Kits when space is limited above the panel.
• 316SS construction for particularly aggressive environments.
• UL Classified for hazardous locations,
  • Class 1 Div 1, Groups A,B,C and D
  • Class 2 Div 1, Groups E,F, and G
  • Class 3
  • Temp T3C

When choosing products for use in classified areas, it’s critical to ensure safety through compliance, and the HazLoc Cabinet Cooler Systems allow you to do that, with simplicity and reliability.  If you’d like to discuss an enclosure cooling application, in or out of a classified area, give us a call. Jordan Shouse Application Engineer Send me an Email Find us on the Web  Like us on Facebook Twitter: @EXAIR_JS