What does the explosion protection rating IC mean?
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Today, I came across an explosion-proof rating certificate provided by a gas detector manufacturer; the explosion-proof rating was actually e*cⅡCT 3. I only knew that for intrinsically safe types, the ratings are ia and ib – it was the first time I saw a rating of ic. I also checked the certificate and it’s a legitimate one. I’m not very knowledgeable, so I’d like to ask everyone what IC means? Can it be used in hazardous areas?
I’ve never heard of it or seen it; it’s probably a fake or inferior product, or the printing is incorrect.
It’s not fake; it can be found on the CQST official website
IC is a type of intrinsically safe device that can only be used in Zone 2. ““II” denotes plant equipment, while “C” represents the gas group; C is the highest grade
Explosion-proof electrical equipment suitable for explosive gas environments can be divided into various explosion-proof types, including flameproof type d, increased safety type e, intrinsically safe types (ia, ib), positive pressure type p, oil-filled type 0, sand-filled type q, spark-free type n, encapsulated type m, and airtight type h.
Why have I searched online so much, and found only information on IA and IB, with absolutely no references to IC at all? Could you provide some materials or documents introducing relevant ICs?
IC is a type of intrinsically safe device; “C” denotes the gas group
Standard GB3836.4-2010 adds a new category, ic, based on the original categories ia and ib; standard GB50058-2014 has also been adjusted to include the intrinsically safe ic category. According to the literal interpretation of the standards, ia has the highest reliability and lowest internal failure rate, ib is next, while ic has the lowest values; therefore, GB50058-2014 specifies that it can only be used in Zone 2. It has nothing to do with gas groups or anything like that.
This post was last edited by cjgj008 on 2017-7-25 at 11:06. IC is a new intrinsically safe rating issued by Eaton, a globally renowned electrical company; it represents the third intrinsically safe explosion protection rating after IA and IB. Eaton also published a white paper titled “E*c – A New Level of Intrinsically Safe Protection”； So the existing domestic explosion-proof standards have not yet been updated. However, its application and promotion have indeed begun; new products are adopting this standard, and **explosion-proof testing institutions also issue certificates of conformity for explosion-proof certification. So, this is not a fake explosion-proof rating
GB50058-2014 has also been adjusted accordingly to include intrinsically safe ICs. According to the literal interpretation of the standards, ia has the highest reliability and lowest internal failure rate, ib is next, while ic has the lowest values; therefore, GB50058-2014 specifies that it can only be used in Zone 2.