Area classification across roadways

[Norm1675]

Two schools of thought...

One extreme is that NFPA, NEC, and API codes deal with electrical installation in classified areas, and not with vehicular traffic. Therefore, traffic through classified areas is not an issue. In addition, thousands of vehicles drive through classified areas every day at gas stations. So, again, it should not be an issue.

The other extreme is that spark plugs and hot catalytic converters are able to set off an explosion, so vehicular traffic through CID2 areas should not be permitted, or there should be some sort of detection and notification system (gas detectors with flashing lights if gas is detected) that tells traffic not to procede. In addition, there is speculation that a player in the semi-recent Texas City incident was a vehicle that set off the explosion. Therefore, OSHA would be or is ready to cite any incident related to vehicle traffic in a hazardous area that causes an incident.

Does anyone out there have any specific information regarding this issue? Are road closures or detection/indication required? If so, then according to which codes or standards? NFPA? API? OSHA? I would like to comply with any requirements in this area if I could find any, both from a safety as well as a pro-active financial standpoint (trying to avoid citations).

 

[rbalex]

I subscribe to the first “extreme” and it is fairly simple to defend it from the Scope/Purpose statements of the NEC, NFPA 497 and API RP500. (All ANSI documents)

The other “extreme” is based on personal opinion and speculation and has no basis in any national law or national consensus standards. It is possible some local jurisdictions may have improperly enacted some restrictions, but in nearly 40 years of doing such work nationally, I’ve never heard of one.

 

[JLSeagull]

Plants normally have a barrier gate that operators only open to let vehicles enter classified areas under supervised situations with gas checks, etc. Hazardous areas should not include open roads.

The gasoline despensing stations are REALLY hazardous areas as smokers sometimes hold their cigarettes while pumping gasoline etc.

 

[JLSeagull]

Here is an example of the second sentence in my previous post.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/B/BRF_WOMAN_ABLAZE?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=US

 

[dhais]

The determination of classified areas according to the API RP500 pertains to the selection of electrical equipment only. In this publication roads are not considered inside classified areas since its not typical to find electrical equipment in the roadway.

The plant fire protection standards should determine the setback distances for equipment tanks etc from roadways parking lots etc.

 

[controlnovice]

We are constantly questioned on fork lifts in hazardous areas. The area of concern in only Class I, Div II for the most part, where a Nat Gas fork lift is okay to use.

However, the vessels that they are picking up have a Class I, Div I bubble, and the front of the fork lift has the electrical wiring for lights, etc. So the fork lift is now in the Class I, Div I bubble.

What do we do?

______________________________________________________________________________
This is normally the space where people post something insightful.