What does IP65 mean exactly?

Per IEC 60529:1989+A2:2013: the first digit (6) = dust-tight (no ingress); the second digit (5) = protected against water jets from any direction. IP65 is suitable for outdoor industrial enclosures but is NOT submersible — that's IP67 (1 m depth, 30 min) or IP68 (continuous immersion to manufacturer-specified depth).

What about the 'K' suffix (e.g. IP69K)?

IP69K is from ISO 20653 (originally DIN 40050-9) — high-temperature, high-pressure water jets. Common on heavy-vehicle and food-industry equipment that gets pressure-washed. It supersedes (but is not implied by) IP66 or IP67.

Does an IP rating prove ATEX compliance?

No — IP rates against dust and water ingress. ATEX (IEC 60079) rates against explosion risk in flammable atmospheres. A device can be IP67 and still not be ATEX-rated. Look for separate Ex marking (Tool #25).

What's the difference between Zone 0, 1, 2?

Per IEC 60079-10-1:2020: Zone 0 = explosive atmosphere continuously present (inside a tank); Zone 1 = likely in normal operation (near a vent or sample point); Zone 2 = unlikely in normal operation, brief if it occurs (well-ventilated mixing area). Dust uses Zones 20/21/22 with the same hierarchy.

Who classifies the zones?

A competent area-classification engineer using HAC drawings, ventilation calculations, and process knowledge. The tool's visualiser is for training — site-specific drawings under IEC 60079-10-1 / 10-2 govern in practice.

What equipment is allowed in each zone?

Zone 0 → Ga / Da equipment (Category 1 / EPL Ga). Zone 1 → Gb / Db (Category 2). Zone 2 → Gc / Dc (Category 3). The Ex marking on the equipment label states its EPL; if it doesn't match the zone, it cannot be used there.

What does 'II 2G Ex db IIB T4 Gb' mean?

II = surface industry (not mining). 2 = Category 2 (Zone 1 suitable). G = gas. Ex db = flameproof enclosure protection type. IIB = gas group (covers ethylene, etc.). T4 = max surface temperature 135 °C. Gb = Equipment Protection Level for gas atmospheres at Zone 1 risk.

What's the relationship between Category and EPL?

ATEX Category 1 ↔ EPL Ga (Zone 0); Cat 2 ↔ Gb (Zone 1); Cat 3 ↔ Gc (Zone 2). The dual marking is a relic of overlapping European (ATEX) and international (IECEx) regimes — modern equipment carries both.

Maximum allowable surface temperature of the equipment, set to ensure it stays below the ignition temperature of the surrounding atmosphere. T1 = 450 °C, T2 = 300 °C, T3 = 200 °C, T4 = 135 °C, T5 = 100 °C, T6 = 85 °C. Pick the equipment T-rating so it's at least one band below the gas's auto-ignition temperature.

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ATEX & Hazardous Area Tools

Two visual tools used in hazardous-area training: an IP rating decoder and an interactive zone-classification radius visualiser around common process equipment.

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16IP Code Decoder

Click a digit to highlight what it means. The IP rating (IEC 60529:1989+A2:2013) describes ingress protection: first digit = solids/dust, second digit = water.

Enter or pick an IP code Common: IP44 (offices), IP54 (workshops), IP65 (dust-tight + water jets), IP67 (immersion), IP68 (continuous immersion).

IP 6 5

First digit — solids / dust

—

Second digit — water

—

17Zone Classification Guide

Indicative Zone 0 / 1 / 2 boundaries (IEC 60079-10-1:2020) around typical leak sources. Use the controls to switch equipment and adjust release severity — the radius scales accordingly. Indicative only — site DSEAR / area-classification drawings govern.

Equipment / source

Release grade

Ventilation

Release severity factor

Small1.0×Large

Resulting zones

Zone 0 radius—

Zone 1 radius—

Zone 2 radius—

—

Zone 0 — present continuously / long periods Zone 1 — likely in normal operation Zone 2 — abnormal, short duration

For training purposes only. All hazardous-area drawings must be produced under IEC 60079-10-1:2020 by competent area-classification engineers; consult the site's HAC plan and DSEAR risk assessment before any modification.

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ATEX dossiers, HAC drawings and Ex equipment registers — stamped.

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ATEX & Hazardous Area Tools

16IP Code Decoder

First digit — solids / dust

Second digit — water

17Zone Classification Guide

Resulting zones

25Ex Equipment Marking Decoder

Resulting marking

Already classified an area?

ATEX & Hazardous Area Tools

16IP Code Decoder

First digit — solids / dust

Second digit — water

17Zone Classification Guide

Resulting zones

25Ex Equipment Marking Decoder

Resulting marking

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Already classified an area?