Hazardous Area Classification: Gas Utilities

A seven-hour course intended for Engineering, Design, Construction and Maintenance Personnel involved in Gas Utility Installations and Facilities. The course covers hazardous locations for utility installations handling natural gas, hazardous area classification codes and best practices, ventilation assessments, and documentation of a hazardous area classification design.

---

Course Description

Learning Objectives:

• To establish the degree and extent of a hazardous location for typical Utility installations handling natural gas

• To identify the appropriate hazardous area classification codes, standards and recommended practices for a given situation

• To perform ventilation assessments for enclosed locations

• To properly document a hazardous area classification design

Course Information

Course Includes:

• Hard copy of slide presentation

• PDF of course materials

• Certificate of attendance

Instructor

Allan Bozek, P.Eng, MBA Allan has over 30 years experience in the design, construction, commissioning and maintenance of industrial power systems. The scope of his experience includes manufacturing, oil and gas production, refining, water treatment and mining industrial facilities. He is a member of the IEEE industrial applications society, a committee member of the Canadian Electrical Code Section 18 (Hazardous Locations) and is a registered Profession Engineer in Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario.

Detailed Outline

1. Hazardous Locations

• Basic Concepts

• The fire triangle

• Probability of release vs. risk of ignition

• Standard of care required to perform a hazardous area classification

2. Codes Standards and Recommended Practices

• • CEC Section 18

• • OH&S Requirements

• • API RP 500, RP 505

• • NFPA 497

• • IEC 60079-10-1

• • IGE/SR/16, IGE/SR/25

• • AGA XL1001

3. Definitions

• Class, Zone, Group, Temperature code

• Zone vs. Division Method of Area Classification

• Normal vs. Abnormal Operations

4. Hazardous Materials

• Flammable gases and liquids classifications

• Highly volatile liquids (HVL`s)

• Flammability relationships

• Density

• Group classification

• Auto-ignition temperature

5. Methods of Area Classification

• Classification by Simple Methods

• Classification by Combination of Methods

• Classification based on Operating Experience

6. Ventilation Concepts

• Adequate vs. Inadequate ventilation

• Ventilation Assessments

• HVAC design concepts

• Naturally ventilated enclosed areas

• Use of gas detection

• Use of vapor-tight barriers

7. Documentation Requirements

• Area classification study report

• Calculation requirements

• Drawing requirements

8. Application Examples

• Gas Utility Regulator Station

• Gas Utility Gate Station