Enclosures

At Dacpol, we offer various specialized solutions and products in the category of components for explosion hazardous areas (EX). We supply Ex enclosures and systems from renowned manufacturers, including Schneider Electric and Quintex.

Our solutions for Ex zones hold many required certifications, such as ATEX, and comply with standards EN 60079-0:2012, EN 60079-7:2007, and EN 60079-31:2009.

Our offer includes:

• Empty Schneider Electric enclosures from the S3DEX series – for applications requiring high resistance to external and mechanical factors.
• Ex P pressure systems QUINTEX Quinguard – protection level: IP 65; operating temperature: -20°C to +60°C; for mounting sparking components in explosion hazardous zones 1 or 2.

What are Ex zones?

Ex zones are areas with explosion hazards – where substances mixed with an oxidizing gas like air, when ignited, can cause the combustion process to spread through the entire mixture. Example ignition sources include: electrical sparks, mechanically generated sparks, electrostatic sparks, or hot air.

There are several types of protection: Ex D – flameproof and explosion-proof; Ex P – pressurized; Ex O – oil immersion protection; Ex E – increased safety enclosures to prevent potential sparking; Ex i – intrinsically safe enclosures; Ex M – encapsulated protection with resin.

Dacpol offers products designed for operation in varied environments, where explosive atmospheres may be present in zones 0, 1, or 2 for gases, and 20, 21, or 22 for dusts. We provide expert assistance in selecting appropriate products and professional technical advice to find the best solutions. Upon customer request, we strive to tailor our offer and adapt products to the type of facility or working conditions.

What are the types of EX zones?

An EX zone is an area that can be divided into two categories based on factors that could lead to an explosion. The first type refers to places where the presence of gases, vapors, mists, or other volatile substances may pose a risk. These are divided into three zones – 0, 1, and 2.

Zone 0, the most hazardous, refers to areas where an explosive atmosphere is present continuously or for long periods. An example would be the inside of tankers.

EX Zone 1 relates to places where an explosive atmosphere may occasionally occur under normal operating conditions. These areas are not as dangerous as Zone 0 but still pose serious risks to machinery and human health and safety.

EX Zone 2 is an area where an explosion hazard does not occur under normal working conditions but may appear occasionally and briefly, e.g., during installation or equipment failure.

A similar, second classification applies to dust. These zones are labeled 20, 21, and 22. Zone EX 20 refers to the most explosion-prone areas, while 22 is the least.

What protective measures are used in EX zones to eliminate hazards?

Explosion protection in EX zones, regardless of the level of hazard, primarily involves preventing the formation of an explosive atmosphere. To achieve this, ventilation solutions are used to ensure the proper oxygen-to-hazardous-substance ratio.

However, achieving a sufficient level of air concentration is not always possible. Therefore, another crucial element used in EX zones includes components and equipment that eliminate ignition sources.

EX zones — classification of equipment intended for them

Devices that can be installed in EX zones include not only electronic equipment but also accessories for their installation. Examples include EX enclosures. The zone in which they can be used depends on their protective features, which ensure safe operation in explosion hazardous areas.

Depending on the EX zone classification, enclosures fall into the following categories:

1, which includes devices and components offering a very high level of explosion protection, permitted for installation in all zones,

2, which includes devices and components offering a high level of explosion protection, permitted for installation in zones 1 and 2,

3, which includes devices and components offering a standard level of explosion protection, permitted for installation in zone 2.

These categories apply to components designed for use in explosion hazardous zones of Group I – used in mining industries, and Group II – intended for all EX zones not related to mining industries.

What explosion-protective solutions can EX enclosures be equipped with?

EX enclosures intended for use in explosion hazardous areas are mostly made of steel or aluminum. They are also equipped with specialized construction solutions. One example includes flameproof EX enclosures, which are designed in such a way that in the event of an internal fire, the flames cannot escape and ignite the explosive atmosphere outside. Zones 1 and 2 are the most common application areas for these EX components.

Another variant is reinforced EX enclosures. They feature a design resistant to mechanical damage and may be equipped with anti-sparking solutions.

EX zone and key parameters for component selection

Components such as EX enclosures must be selected for explosion hazardous zones with consideration for several critical parameters that influence their effectiveness in preventing potentially dangerous situations. Besides adapting them to the zone type, it is essential to consider:

- type of protection such as Ex d, Ex e, or Ex i, which should match the requirements of the specific EX zone,

- temperature class, indicating the maximum surface temperature – it must be lower than the ignition temperature of substances in the EX zone,

- IP protection class, indicating the level of protection against external factors such as moisture or dust.

Moreover, EX enclosures must be designed and manufactured in accordance with the ATEX Product Directive 2014/34/EU.

At DACPOL, we offer products intended for use in explosion hazardous zones available in various versions in terms of dimensions and parameters. This allows appropriate solutions to be selected for each EX zone, regardless of the industry and its specifics.