What is a hazardous location?
The British Columbia Fire Code refers to hazardous locations as being areas in which flammable gases or
vapours, combustible dusts or combustible fibres are present in quantities sufficient to create a hazard
(Electrical and Gas Codes contain similar references). Combustible dust is finely divided solid particles that
present a dust fire or dust explosion hazard when dispersed and ignited in air (NFPA 499). Combustible dust
is more accurately referred to as deflagrable dust. Deflagrable dust is defined (in part) as wood particulate that
will propagate a flame front... when suspended in air... regardless of particle size or shape (NFPA 664).
Several National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA) and other publically available industry standards illustrate
the fire and explosion hazards presented by wood dust. Various codes and standards provide requirements
for the classification of hazardous locations, particularly in relation to equipment that may present an ignition
source. Classifications of hazardous locations and the evaluations of hazard management techniques should
be conducted in accordance with accepted industry standards (such as NFPA 499 and NFPA 664).
Applicability and Compliance with the Safety Standards Act
Environments that:
a) contain electrical or gas equipment,
b) may contain combustible dust, and
c) could generate a suspension of wood dust in the atmosphere
should be identified as hazardous locations as described by the Canadian Electrical Code, natural gas and
propane codes and as well as other industry standards.
The installation or use of electrical or gas equipment within hazardous locations may require specific
precautions to mitigate the risk of combustion. Both electrical equipment and gas equipment are regulated
under the Safety Standards Act and Regulations. The standards adopted in those regulations (specifically: the
BC Electrical Code and the BC Natural Gas and Propane Code) contain requirements for the installation and
operation of regulated equipment located in hazardous locations.
Electrical equipment and gas equipment installed within a hazardous location must comply with the applicable
hazardous location requirements. The Safety Standards Act states A person must not use a regulated product
in a manner that is unsafe or that creates a risk of personal injury or damage to property (s.69(3)).
During installation, assumptions are made to support the selection of appropriate configurations and use of
electrical equipment. Any condition deemed necessary for a particular configuration to be compliant at the
time of installation must be maintained during operation. If operational activity results in a deviation from the
assumed conditions necessary for the installation to remain safe, so that a residual by-product of production
creates (e.g. processes that mill and move wood where combustible dust is likely in the atmosphere during
operation) or contributes to a hazardous location (e.g. breakdown of dust collection equipment during operation
that may cause an explosive dust atmosphere), compliance should be re-evaluated.
If hazard management techniques (e.g. housekeeping) fail to maintain a non-hazardous environment,
equipment and installations in use at those locations that are not certified or configured for such a hazardous
location fail to remain in a safe condition and are non-compliant to the Safety Standards Act.
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Responsibility
Applicable safety codes and standards require operators to identify and manage fire and explosion hazards.
Special precautions are required at locations where fire and explosion hazards are likely to exist in order to
control potential fuel or ignition sources.
Compliance with these safety codes and standards require designers and operators to exercise a degree of
foresight with respect to any future actual operating conditions which may be encountered. For example, and
as implied above, equipment which is code compliant at the time of installation or inspection may become
non‐compliant if hazardous environments are permitted to develop.
Owner’s responsibilities:
 Conduct an assessment of all sites and facilities to clearly identify hazardous locations.
 Ensure that electrical and gas workers are aware of the hazardous locations at the facility.
 Where equipment is located in hazardous locations, ensure:
o housekeeping and operating procedures are implemented and effective, and
o equipment and use of equipment is approved for use in hazardous locations.
 If operational activity diverges from the conditions assumed during the hazardous location assessment
(e.g. breakdown of equipment) re-evaluate compliance and classification.
 If equipment in hazardous locations is not maintained, it may no longer be suitable for the operating
environment and re-evaluation for compliance would be required.
Electrical and gas workers’ responsibilities:
 Request to see the hazardous location assessment prior to installing or using electrical or gas
equipment.
 Do not install or use electrical or gas equipment within a hazardous location unless approved.
Where to find interpretive material
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Canadian Electrical Code Part 1 Section 18 Hazardous Locations (BC Electrical Code)
International Electrotechnical Commission IEC 60079-10-2 Classification of Areas – Combustible Dust
Atmospheres
National Fire Code of Canada (BC Fire Code) Part 5 Hazardous Processes and Operations
National Fire Prevention Association NFPA 499 – Classification of Combustible Dusts and of Hazards
(Classified) Locations for Electrical Installations
National Fire Prevention Association NFPA 664 – Standard for the Prevention of Fires and Explosions
in Wood Processing and Woodworking Facilities
Occupational Safety & Health Administration OSHA 3371-08 Hazard Communication Guidance for
Combustible Dusts
Propane Storage and Handling Code (CAN/CSA B149.2-10 Clause 4.7), Natural Gas and Propane
Installation Code (CAN/CSA B149.1-10 Clause 4.9), Natural Gas Propane Code Handbook (B149HB05) (BC Natural Gas and Propane Code)
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