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Hazardous Area (Ex) Equipment Awareness

Why plant areas are classified into zones, how explosion-protected (Ex) equipment is built and marked, and the everyday disciplines — never opening energised Ex enclosures, keeping bolts and glands intact, inspection grades and the Ex register — that keep an installation safe. For technicians, operators, engineers and supervisors working in or around flammable atmospheres.

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55m
Total time
4
Competency levels
12
Lessons

What you'll learn

  • Explain why areas are classified: flammable atmospheres, sources of release and the ignition sources we control
  • Identify Zone 0, Zone 1 and Zone 2 for gases and give typical plant examples of each
  • Describe gas groups (IIA/IIB/IIC) and temperature classes (T1–T6) and why substituting a lower group or T class is unsafe
  • Explain the common protection concepts — Ex d, Ex e, Ex i and Ex n — where each is typically used, and how to read an Ex marking string to confirm equipment suits its zone
  • Apply the field rules: never open energised Ex equipment in a hazardous area, keep every bolt and gland intact, distinguish visual, close and detailed inspection grades, and report findings
  • Describe what an Ex register must record and recognise unauthorised modification as the classic route to a non-compliant installation

Curriculum

Progress through each competency level in order.

1

Awareness

  • Why Hazardous Areas Are Classified
    Knowledge
    3m
  • Zones 0, 1 and 2 for Gases and Vapours
    Knowledge
    3m
  • Awareness Check: Zones and Ignition Sources
    Assessment
    7m
2

Knowledge

  • Protection Concepts in Plain Words
    Knowledge
    3m
  • Gas Groups, Temperature Classes and Reading an Ex Marking
    Knowledge
    3m
  • Knowledge Check: Concepts and Markings
    Assessment
    8m
3

Skill

  • Working Around Ex Equipment: Integrity and Inspection Grades
    Knowledge
    3m
  • Assignment: Ex Equipment Walk-Down
    Assignment
    3m
  • Skill Check: Field Discipline
    Assessment
    8m
4

Mastery

  • Documentation, the Ex Register and Unauthorised Modification
    Knowledge
    4m
  • Assignment: Ex Register and Compliance Review
    Assignment
    3m
  • Mastery Assessment: Owning Ex Integrity
    Assessment
    7m

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