Which classification system is used for hazardous areas involving flammable gases?

The classification system used for hazardous areas involving flammable gases is based on the Zone system, which includes Zone 0, Zone 1, and Zone 2. This system provides a method to assess the level of risk associated with the presence of flammable gases in a given area.

Zone 0 refers to areas where flammable gases are present continuously or for long periods, representing the highest risk. Zone 1 is for areas where flammable gases are likely to occur occasionally during normal operation. Zone 2 is for areas where flammable gases are not expected to occur, but if they do, it would be for a short duration under abnormal conditions. This structured approach helps to ensure that safety measures and equipment selection can be appropriately tailored to the risk present in each zone.

In contrast, the other classification options relate to different forms of categorizing hazardous environments. The Class system separates hazardous locations based on the material (Classes I, II, and III) rather than the likelihood of occurrence. The Division system is also used but is more common in North America, describing hazardous locations in terms of Divisions 1 and 2, which are analogous to Zone 0 and 1, and Zone 2, respectively, but do not provide the same