The Abhisam Hazardous Area Classification online training course covers everything about classifying hazardous areas. Practical examples include area classification drawings from a real plant site. This course is divided into several modules.
After you complete all the modules, you can take the associated exam and earn an electronic certificate of competency and an electronic badge issued via Credly, the largest badge issuer in the world.
Course Background
This much awaited course from Abhisam is now finally available in online, standard and enterprise versions (SCORM and TinCan)!
Hazardous Areas are those areas of a plant or facility, where there is a risk of fire or explosion due to flammable and /or explosive mixtures of vapors, gases and dusts. These are also known as classified locations. We need to take special care while using equipment in these areas, to prevent fires and explosions. Thus we must first classify these areas according to hazardous area classification standards such as those published by IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) or NFPA (National Fire Protection Association).
Hazardous Areas are not only found in obvious places such as oil and gas production platforms, refineries, chemical plants, power plants but also in areas that have high volumes of dusts and fibers, such as grain processing plants, sugar processing plants or factories that handle metal dust and fibers.
This course will cover the entire process of determining the hazardous area classification of an area, including not only area classification but also material and temperature classification, which are equally important to know what kinds of equipment can be used in these areas. Some literature refers to this as also electrical area classification, since this will decide what kind of electrical equipment and of what type will be suitable for installation (such as explosion proof motors or intrinsically safe lamps). However, we prefer the broad term of hazardous area classification because one can then look holistically at the process. Remember, ignition can occur even due to non-electrical reasons too, such as mechanical sparking.
What will you learn?
The course is divided into several modules, that have text, animations and simulations, videos, real life examples and exercises. This complex subject can be easily understood by taking this e-learning course. Here is a complete list of topics that you will learn.
Module 1: Basic Concepts
- Introduction to Hazardous areas
- Types of Hazardous Areas
- History of Hazardous Areas
- Hazardous Areas around the world
- Hazardous Atmosphere
- Hazardous Area Designation
- Types of Classification
- Combustible Dusts
- Why classify hazardous areas?
- Basic concepts of Fires & Explosions
- Fire Triangle
- Sources of Ignition
- Controlling Ignition Sources
- Explosions – What is an explosion?
- Basic Concepts – What is a hazard?
- What is Risk?
- Avoiding Risk?
- Reducing Risk
- Benefits of Classification
- How does Area Classification work?
- How can area classification help us reducing costs?
Module 2 Properties of Hazardous Materials
- Introduction
- Properties of Hazardous materials
- LEL & UEL
- Properties of Hazardous materials
- Combustible Dusts
- Dust Pentagon
- Ignition of Explosive Atmosphere
- Ignition Energy
- Flash Point & Fire Point
- Autoignition Temperature
- Combustible Dust Video
Module 3- Area Classification Standards
- Fundamental Ideas about Area Classification
- Probabilities of release
- Hot Spots- temperature classification
- Standards for classification
- European system / IEC system
- Zones for Gases & Vapors
- IEC Groups
- NFPA
- NFPA Classes
- Divisions
- IEC Dust Classification
- NFPA Dust Classification
- NFPA Fibers & Flyings
- Material Classification-IEC
- Material Classification-NFPA
- Material Classification- Comparison
- Temperature Classification-IEC
- Example – Temperature Classification
- ATEX System
- ATEX Marking System
- IEC Ex -Unification of the two systems
Module 4- How to carry out Area Classification
- Introduction
- How to carry out an Area Classification?
- Area Classification Myth-1
- Area Classification Example
- Area Classification Myth-2
- Area Classification – Myth 3
- Area Classification Example
- Sources of release
- Example- Pump in a Pump House
- Example- Pump Outside
- Case Study-1
- Case Study Learnings
- Step by Step Guide to an Area Classification
Module 5- Practical Case Study
- Introduction
- Video
- Area Classification begins
- Area Classification Steps
- Preparing the Drawing
- Area Classification Drawing
- Final Installation Drawing
- Consequences of poor area classification
Module 6 – Myths about Area Classification
- Myth 1
- Myth 2
- Myth 3
- Myth 4
- Myth 5
Module 7 – Self Assessment Test
Why you should get this course?
To the best of our knowledge there is no other course on the market, that covers all aspects of hazardous area classification. This is a very important part of not only risk management of any plant or manufacturing facility or warehouse or tank farm, but also the first step before equipment selection. If you do not classify the hazardous areas first, then how will you decide whether to use Zone 1 equipment or Zone 2 equipment, what method of protection that you would be using (explosion proof, intrinsic safety, increased safety and so on)?
Can I not get a book?
Of course you can, there are in fact a couple of books out there that cover this subject. However, they are outdated. Standards for area classification, material classification, temperature classification keep on evolving and the book may get outdated fast. Secondly, you cannot get certified if you just read a book. Thirdly this course makes difficult concepts very easy to understand due to the animations, videos and examples.
Can I not find this information online for free?
Of course you can, but you will be spending literally hundreds of hours searching for nuggets of information here and there, that will only leave you exhausted, confused and ultimately frustrated at the end. Whether you should refer to Article 500 of the NEC or should you refer to NFPA 497 or should you refer to IEC 60079? You will have many questions like this. Confusion can also get created because the gas groups in the North American System and the IEC /European system are totally different. Secondly you can never be sure that what you read online was correct and if so, whether it is still valid today (due to standards changing). Thirdly, nobody is going to certify your knowledge based on online hunting for information.
How will this course benefit me?
You will in a few hours completely and effortlessly understand the principles of hazardous areas and how to classify them. What rookie mistakes to avoid while carrying out a hazardous location classification, completely understand the differences in nomenclature (for example how is a zone 2 area different from a division 1 area), how to decide the extent of a hazardous area, how you can reduce the classification of an area and so on. You can also get your knowledge certified, when you take the associated exam and pass it. You then earn an electronic certificate of competency in hazardous area classification, as well as an electronic badge, that is issued by Credly, the largest badge issuer on the planet. You can add your badge to your LinkedIn profile and other places online. This helps you showcase your skills and knowledge to prospective bosses, clients and customers.
Will this course cover the differences between explosion proof, intrinsically safe, increased safety, ATEX labels and all that?
No, for that you need to take our other course, Hazardous Area Instrumentation. That will cover everything above. If you need detailed information about Intrinsic Safety, then you can take the Intrinsic Safety course here.
I just need a quick understanding of hazardous areas. Which course to refer?
Then you can take our (currently completely free) course “Introduction to Hazardous Areas”. However you can get to know only the basics and if you need a more detailed coverage then please buy this course. Plus you can also get certified, when you buy the regular Hazardous Area Classification course.
I have some more questions, who can answer me?
Sure, please send us an email at sales[at]abhisam.com, we will get back to you as soon as possible.