Hey, Joe….Can I plug this

in here?

EAC’sOr… Where is that gas coming

from?

EAC L&L, 2008

• What is a EAC…?• Electrical Area Classification• So…duh….but what IS it for? • Offshore, with the handling of hazardous

fluids and gas, you need to determine what kind of electrical devices to install to prevent an undesirable event…

If you Google Electrical Area Classification, you will get 300,000 hits…

EAC L&L, 2008• This is an undesirable event…

– Loss of life, equipment, product, etc.

EAC L&L, 2008

Gee…that’s bad…can electrical devices cause that kind of problem?Offshore, it’s a possibility, but it doesn’t

happen often. Why? Because good EE’s use the right equipment for the rightEAC areas.

EAC L&L, 2008

• Divisions 1 &2– API 500 – NFPA– NEC

• ZONES 0, 1, &2– API 505 (history)– IEC 60079-10, IP-15

NOTICE THE FAMILY RESEMBLANCE

If 60079-10 is vague, then use IP 15. Use it to establish the zone extents.

GET TO THE POINT,

MAN

SO WHAT IF I DON’T WANT TO DO A

EAC….WHO’S GONNA MAKE ME….BATMAN?!?

IT’s the LAWIT’s the LAW

Oh, there’s someone who can make you do an EAC in the Gulf of Mexico…

Bigger than Batman…

EAC L&L, 2008

All you need for a fire

THIS IS ALWAYS PRESENT

THIS IS COULD BE OR MAY BE PRESENT

THIS IS COULD BE

YOUR ELECTRICAL

DEVICE

• This is the typical Monochrome EAC• Note the Div 1 areas

• EAC with color codes• Note the Div 1 areas

• Components to a good drawing:• Legend

CLASS 1, GROUP B, DIVISION 2

AIT, TEMPERATURE, IF DESIRED

SUGGESTED FOR BATTERY ROOMS WITH HYDROGEN

This is 842 degF, which is for Ethylene…

EAC L&L, 2008

• Group of Gases

Methanol, Toluene, etc. would fall into

this group

Battery rooms and boxes

Class 1, Group D, Division 1

PIG LAUNCHERS AND RECEIVERS

ARE OFTEN USED

Class 1, Group D, Division 2

• Components to a good drawing:• Notes

Plate or Grate? What Standard are you classing this by?

Instrument air or Gas, or PLC?

• Components to a good drawing:• Figures

Wellheads and Well Bays

This is why there’s a Div 1around a wellhead

Grated deck, or decks with hatches

Div 2extends above a non-vapor tight surface

When the top of the wellhead is close to the deck above

Headers

Headers not classified…?!?That’s criminal…

Pressure Vessels

The area extends from the surface of the vessel, because of the associated

valves, instruments, etc..

Pressure vessels that are opened routinely;Filter Separators, Filters, Basket Strainers,

etc. are classified like Pig Launchers

It is OK to extend the area from the drip pan limits if you don’t know vessel size

or exact location.

These tanks are classed differently, because the vapors have different flash points

Difference between Combustible and Flammable.

This is Diesel in a drip panFLASH POINT > 100 deg F

This is Diesel in a drip panFLASH POINT > 100 deg F

Using a match

Difference between Combustible and Flammable.

This is Condensate in a drip panFLASH POINT < 100 deg F

Difference between Combustible and Flammable.

What may be missing?

EAC L&L, 2008• Enclosures or Panels• Flanges• Control Valves• What Yo Mama told ya’• Don’t need no stinkin’ degree…• Extents• Concentrations• Gas Detectors• Vapor tite walls• Enclosed areas

WAIT….HEY, DON’T FORGET TO SHOW THEM THE AREA CLASS OF THE

BATCAVE…

Thank you for attending

Next topic:Gas Detection