European and IEC standards

The KIRK 4080 is provided with the following classification

Equipment group

Equipment group II 2G (gas)

Equipment group II 3D (dust)
Intrinsic safety rating Category ib
Intrinsic safety rating sub group Group IIC
Maximum surface temp T3

EN 50014
Different categories and standards are defined for electrical apparatus to be used in potentially explosive areas:

Equipment Group I Equipment intended for use in underground parts in mines
   
Equipment Group II

Equipment intended for use in other areas than mines (above ground) in areas in which explosive atmospheres caused by

  1. mixtures of air and gases, vapours or mists or by air/dust mixtures are present continuously, for long periods or frequently.
  2. gases, vapours or mists or air/dust mixtures are likely to occur.
  3. gases, vapour, mists, or air/dust mixtures are unlikely to occur or, if they do occur, are likely to do so only infrequently and for a short period only

 

The KIRK 4080 is in equipment group II

[ Equipment group II 2G (gas) and Equipment group II 3D (dust) ]

Zone classification
Hazardous areas are classified in different zones according to the time-related and local probability of the presence of a dangerous explosive atmosphere (defined in ElexV and installation specifications DIN VDE 0165/2.91)

Zone
Area covered
Examples
Zone 0
 Areas in which there is a continuous or long-term dangerous explosive atmosphere In the interior of vessels or equipment (evaporators, reaction vessels, etc.)
Zone 1
 Areas in which the occasional occurrence of a dangerous, explosive atmosphere can be expected Immediate vicinity of zone 0; immediate vicinity of charging doors, in the area of filling and discharge equipment or lines made of glass, ceramics and the like; in the close vicinity of insufficiently tight packing glands, e.g. on pumps, gate valves within equipment such as evaporators, reaction vessels
Zone 2
 Areas in which the occurrence of a dangerous, explosive atmosphere can be expected, but only rarely and briefly Areas surrounding zones 0 and 1; in the close vicinity of flange joints with flat packings of the usual design on piping in enclosed rooms

Electrical apparatus in equipment group II1 may be used in zone 0, II2 apparatus in zone 1, and II3 apparatus in zone 2. (Some authorities may use zone 0, 1, 2 for gas zones, and 20, 21, and 22 for dust zones).

Types of protection (IEC 60079-0)

Different types of protection may be applied to secure electrical apparatus for use in potentially explosive areas

The type of protection selected for the KIRK 4080 is intrinsic safety “ib”

Intrinsic safety ib

Electrical equipment is designated as intrinsically safe when all the circuits it contains are intrinsically safe. An intrinsically safe circuit is a circuit in which the short-circuit current and no-load current are limited so that sparks and thermal effects capable of causing ignition cannot occur in normal operation or during a malfunction. This means that the energy in an intrinsically safe circuit is less than the minimum ignition energy required for igniting an ignitable mixture.

“Ib”: intended for installation in zones 1 and 2. No ignition must be caused by the following operational states: normal operation and occurrence of a fault.

Intrinsic safety sub groups

For the types of protection “ib” intrinsic safety, electrical apparatus of Group II is subdivided into IIA, IIB, and IIC as required in the specific European Standards concerning those types of protection. This subdivision is based on the maximum experimental safe gap (MESG) for flameproof enclosures or the minimum ignition current (MIC) for intrinsically safe electrical apparatus.


Apparatus marked IIB is suitable for applications requiring Group IIA apparatus.

Apparatus marked IIC is suitable for applications requiring Group IIA or Group IIB apparatus.

The KIRK 4080 is marked IIC (relevant for gas)

Temperatures (IEC 60079-0)
Apparatus of Group II shall be marked as a function of its maximum surface temperature

Temperature Class
Maximum surface temperature ºC
T1
450
T2
300
T3
200
T4
135
T5
100
T6
85

 

The KIRK 4080 is marked T3

Ambient temperatures in service and additional marking

Electrical apparatus
Ambient temperature in service
Additional marking
Normal
 Maximum: +40 ºC Minimum: - 20 ºC None
Special
 Special range stated by the manufacturer and specified in the certificate Ta or Tamb with the special range, for example “-30 ºC ≤ Ta ≤ 40 ºC” or the symbol “X”

 

The KIRK 4080 is not marked, as the ambient temperatures are within the “normal” category.

 

Useful page links

         
Intrinsically safe - explanation   Label information
         
European and IEC standards   4080 handset use and installation advice

ICON footer