Which Motor Would You Choose for Your Hazardous Area? Type "n" "e" or "p"!

Induction and synchronous motors have been used in numerous applications in the petrochemical industry for many years. They have operated in hazardous areas designated as class 1, division 1/zone 1 or class 1, division 2/zone 2. Safety standards governing the use of motors in these hazardous areas have been developed by various national and international authorities with the goal of making the use of motors as safe as possible. Since market forces increasingly make the initial sale price of a motor a key factor in the buying decision, a clear understanding of the selection criteria is fundamental to the safe and economical specification of the motor. The authors will discuss key design and application aspects of above-NEMA sized motors following North American and IEC standards. This paper will also cover various protection schemes, good design practices, validation of design and certification. Key differences among these standards will be highlighted to develop an understanding of motor application following these standards