Class I Div 2 is a term used to describe a hazardous area where flammable or explosive substances are
not likely to be present under normal operating conditions, but may occur due to leaks or accidents. It is
a classification according to the National Electrical Code (NEC), which is a standard for electrical safety in
the US1
Electrical equipment installed in Class I Div 2 locations must be designed to prevent ignition of the
flammable or explosive atmosphere, either by limiting the energy of sparks or arcs, or by containing any
fire or explosion that may occur within the equipment. There are different methods and standards for
achieving this, such as intrinsic safety, explosion-proofing, purging, and sealing2
Class I Div 2 is one of the subdivisions of Class I hazardous locations, which are places where gases or
vapors that can form explosive or ignitable mixtures are present in the air. The other subdivision is Class I
Div 1, which is a more severe condition where the hazardous atmosphere is expected to be present
during normal operations. The NEC also allows the use of an alternative classification system based on
zones, which is more aligned with international