How to select an ATEX headlamp? - Petzl Canada
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How to select an ATEX headlamp?

The selection is made according to the type of environments in which the lamp will be used. Each of the environmental parameters determines which type of ATEX lamp is to be used.

Warnings

  • Carefully read the Instructions for Use used in this technical advice before consulting the advice itself. You must have already read and understood the information in the Instructions for Use to be able to understand this supplementary information.
  • Mastering these techniques requires specific training. Work with a professional to confirm your ability to perform these techniques safely and independently before attempting them unsupervised.
  • We provide examples of techniques related to your activity. There may be others that we do not describe here.

Choosing an ATEX headlamp category

The various parameters to be defined for identifying the product category to be used in a zone are as follows:

  • Type of industries
Mining Above-ground industry
Equipment group I II
  • Type of combustible substance present:

Dust: D

Gas or vapors: G

  • Type of zones you will be in:
Explosive atmosphere Gas type combustible substance Dust type combustible
Present permanently or for long periods

(more than 1000 h per year)
ZONE 0 ZONE 20
Present occasionally

(more than 10 h and less than 1000 h per year)
ZONE 1 ZONE 21
Present accidentally

(less than 10 h per year)
ZONE 2 ZONE 22

The classification of the zones is detailed in the ATEX Zones Classification technical advice.

=> From these 3 parameters, it is possible to determine the minimum ATEX headlamp category to be used:

Type of industries Type of combustible substances Zone Equipment protection level (EPL) Minimum ATEX equipment category
Mining Dust - Very high level IM1
Mining Dust - Very high level IM2
Above-ground industry Dust 20 Very high level II 1D
Above-ground industry Dust 21 Very high level II 2D
Above-ground industry Dust 22 Very high level II 3D
Above-ground industry Gas or vapor 0 Very high level II 1G
Above-ground industry Gas or vapor 1 Very high level II 2G
Above-ground industry Gas or vapor 2 Very high level II 3G
Information

Note: the number associated with the zone of use is not identical to the number associated with the equipment category:

Zone 0 = category 1

Zone 1 = category 2

Zone 2 = category 3

Choice of classification based on the environment

  • Gas / vapor type environments:

The various parameters to be defined for identifying the product category to be used in a zone are as follows:

Gas group Representative gas Dangerousness
IIA Propane +
IIB Ethylene ++
IIC Hydrogen +++

Temperature classes are also defined, because the various substances can ignite at different temperatures. The lower the combustion temperature is, the more dangerous the substance is. The temperature class of a piece of equipment (lamp) is the maximum surface temperature that the equipment can reach.

Definition of temperature classes
Definition of temperature classes

Thus, a lamp should be selected that is suitable for the correct gas group (IIA, IIB, IIC) and for the correct temperature class according to the type of gas encountered on the site.

  • Dust type environments:

The various parameters to be defined for identifying the product category to be used in a zone are as follows:

Dust group Dust types Dangerousness
IIIA Suspended particles +
IIIB Non-conductive dust ++
IIIC Conductive dust +++

As for gas, a maximum surface temperature that the device can reach is given. In a dust type environment, one must verify that the following conditions are met:

- Maximum surface temperature of the device is less than 2/3 x the ignition temperature of a dust cloud.

- Maximum surface temperature of the device is less than the ignition temperature of a 5 mm layer of dust, minus 75 °C.

Thus, a lamp should be selected that is suitable for the correct dust group (IIIA, IIIB, IIIC) and for the maximum surface temperature according to the types of dust encountered on the site.