IEC or CEC?

If you specify or buy electrical equipment for hazardous locations, chances are Section 18 of the 1996 CEC® has left this and numerous other questions in your mind. The purpose of this section of our website is to clear up some of the confusion and provide answers to a few of the more common questions. When planning a specific installation, the relevent standards should be consulted.

Comprised of nations throughout the world, including Canada, the International Electromechanical Commission (IEC) writes technical standards, including the 79 series which covers hazardous locations. Section 18 of the Canadian Electrical Code (CEC) was amended to allow a new method of hazardous location area classification based on the IEC standards.

	For a comprehensive explanation of the IEC designations, click here for the Appleton/ATX IEC Hazardous Locations Reference Guide.

The following pages offer specific information that may answer a few of the most common questions pertaining to IEC standards.