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Zone 2 Hazardous Computers

The Zone 2 hazardous rating is used in Canada, Europe and by the international community as a standard to describe the type of hazardous environment that the electrical equipment can operate safely and properly within. It is equivalent to the Division 2 classification for North America.

Zone 2 classified location

An area where ignitable concentrations of flammable gases, vapors or liquids are not likely to exist under normal operating conditions. In this area the gas, vapor or liquids would only be present under abnormal conditions (most often leaks under abnormal conditions). As a general guide for Zone 2, unwanted substances should only be present under 10 hours/year or 0–0.1% of the time.

For Canada, industries follow the Canadian Electrical (CE) Code published by the Canadian Standards Association. It sets the standards for the installation and maintenance of electrical equipment in Canada.

For the European Union (EU), industries follow the ATEX Directive that publishes standards to ensure electrical equipment installed in areas with an explosion atmosphere present minimal risk to employees on-site.

For industries that operate internationally, the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) publishes the standards that classify electrical systems for specific locations, as well as category and test equipment for hazardous locations (denoted by an Ex). This is how the acronym IECEx is derived.

Since ATEX certification only applies for facilities based in the European Union (EU), many companies prefer the IECEx certification that is recognized worldwide.