Explosion Protection Methods
| Protection Method | Market | Ex Code | Application | Standard | Protection Principle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Requirements | US | Class I, Division 1 & 2 | NEC 500 | ||
| US | AEx | Class I, Zone 0, 1 & 2 | NEC 505 | ||
| CA | Class I, Division 1 & 2 | CSA 22.2 No. 0 | |||
| CA | Ex | Class I, Zone 1 & 2 | CSA E60079-0 | ||
| EU | Ex | Category 1G, 2G, 3G | EN 60079-0 | ||
| IEC | Ex | EPL Ga, Gb, Gc | IEC 60079-0 | ||
| Zone 0 | |||||
| Intrinsic Safety | US | AEx ia | Class I, Zone 0 | NEC 505 | Energy Limited |
| CA | Ex ia | Class I, Zone 0 | CSA E60079-11 | ||
| EU | Ex ia | Category 1G | EN 60079-11 | ||
| IEC | Ex ia | EPL Ga | IEC 60070-11 | ||
| Encapsulation | US | AEx ma | Class I, Zone 0 | NEC 505 | Keep Flammable Gas out |
| CA | Ex ma | Class I, Zone 0 | NEC 505 | ||
| EU | Ex ma | Category 1G | EN 60070-18 | ||
| IEC | Ex ma | EPL Ga | IEC 60079-18 | ||
| Zone 1 / Division 1 | |||||
| Intrinsic Safety | US | (IS) | Class I, Division 1 | NEC 500/504 | Energy Limited |
| US | AEx ib | Class I, Zone 1 | NEC 505 | ||
| CA | (IS) | Class I, Division 1 | CSA 22.2 No. 157 | ||
| CA | Ex ib | Class I, Zone 1 | CSA E60079-11 | ||
| EU | Ex ib | Category 2G | EN 60079-11 | ||
| IEC | Ex ib | EPL Gb | IEC 60079-11 | ||
| Explosion Proof | US | XP | Class I, Division 1 | NEC 500 | Containment |
| CA | XP | Class I, Zone 1 | CSA 22.2 No. 30 | ||
| Flameproof | US | AEx d | Class I, Zone 1 | NEC 505 | |
| CA | Ex d | Class I, Zone 1 | CSA E60079-1 | ||
| EU | Ex d | Category 2G | EN 60079-1 | ||
| IEC | Ex d | EPL Gb | IEC 60079-1 | ||
| Increased Safety | US | AEx e | Class I, Zone 1 | NEC 505 | No arcs, sparks or hot surfaces |
| CA | Ex e | Class I, Zone 1 | CSA E600790-7 | ||
| EU | Ex e | Category 2G | EN 60079-7 | ||
| IEC | Ex e | EPL Gb | IEC 60079-7 | ||
| Pressurization | US | Type X | Class I, Division 1 | NFPA 496 | Keep flammable gas out |
| US | Type Y | Class I, Division 1 | NFPA 496 | ||
| US | AEx px | Class I, Zone 1 | ANSI/ISA 60079-2 | ||
| US | AEx py | Class I, Zone 1 | ANSI/ISA 60079-2 | ||
| CA | Type X | Class I, Zone 1 | NFPA 496 | ||
| CA | Type Y | Class I, Zone 1 | NFPA 496 | ||
| CA | Ex px | Class I, Zone 1 | CSA E60079-2 | ||
| CA | Ex py | Class I, Zone 1 | CSA E60079-2 | ||
| EU | Ex px | Category 2G | EN 60079-2 | ||
| EU | Ex py | Category 2G | EN 60079-2 | ||
| IEC | Ex px | EPL Gb | IEC 60079-2 | ||
| IEC | Ex py | EPL Gb | IEC 60079-2 | ||
| Encapsulation | US | AEx mb | Class I, Zone 1 | NEC 505 | |
| CA | Ex mb | Class I, Zone 1 | NEC 505 | ||
| EU | Ex mb | Category 2G | EN 60070-18 | ||
| IEC | Ex mb | EPL Gb | IEC 60079-18 | ||
| Powder Filled | US | AEx q | Class I, Zone 1 | NEC 505 | Contain the Explosion and Extinguish the Flame |
| CA | Ex q | Class I, Zone 1 | CSA E60079-5 | ||
| EU | Ex q | Category 2G | EN 60079-5 | ||
| IEC | Ex q | EPL Gb | |||
| Zone 2 / Division 2 | |||||
| Intrinsic Safety | US | AEx ic | Division 2 | NEC 500/504 | |
| CA | Ex ic | Class I, Zone 2 | CEC Section 18 | ||
| EU | Ex ic | Category 3G | EN 60079-11 | Energy Limited | |
| IEC | Ex ic | EPL Gc | IEC 60079-11 | ||
| Energy Limited | CA | Ex nL | Class I, Zone 2 | CSA E60079-15 | |
| EU | Ex nL | Category 3G | EN 60079-15 | ||
| IEC | Ex nL | EPL Gc | IEC 60079-15 | ||
| Pressurization | US | Type Z | Class I, Division 2 | NFPA 496 | Keep Flammable Gas out |
| US | AEx pz | Class I, Zone 2 | ANSI/ISA 60079-2 | ||
| CA | Type Z | Class I, Zone 2 | ANSI/ISA 60079-2 | ||
| CA | Ex pz | Class I, Zone 2 | CSA E60079-2 | ||
| EU | Ex pz | Category 3G | EN 60079-2 | ||
| IEC | Ex pz | EPL Gc | IEC 60079-2 | ||
| Encapsulation | US | AEx mc | Class I, Zone 2 | NEC 505 | |
| CA | Ex mc | Class I, Zone 2 | NEC 505 | ||
| EU | Ex mc | Category 3G | EN 60070-18 | ||
| IEC | Ex mc | EPL Gc | IEC 60079-18 | ||
| Restricted Breathing | US | AEx nR | Class I, Zone 2 | NEC 505 | |
| CA | Ex nR | Class I, Zone 2 | CSA E60079-15 | ||
| EU | Ex nR | Category 3G | EN 60079-15 | ||
| IEC | Ex nR | EPL Gc | IEC 60079-15 | ||
| Non-Incendive | US | NI | Class I, Division 2 | NEC 500 | No arcs, sparks or hot surfaces |
| CA | NI | Class I, Division 2 | C22.2 No. 213 | ||
| Non-Sparking | US | AEx nA | Class I, Zone 2 | ANSI/ISA 60079-15 | |
| CA | Ex nA | Class I, Zone 2 | CSA E60079-15 | ||
| EU | Ex nA | Category 3G | EN 60079-15 | ||
| IEC | Ex nA | EPL Gc | IEC 60079-15 | ||
| Enclosed Break | US | AEx nC | Class I, Zone 2 | ANSI/ISA 60079-15 | Contain the Explosion |
| CA | Ex nC | Class I, Zone 2 | CSA E60079-15 | ||
| EU | Ex nC | Category 3G | EN 60079-15 | ||
| IEC | Ex nC | EPL Gc | IEC 60079-15 | ||