Explosion-Proof CCTV in Indian Hazardous Areas: Zones, Ex Marking and PESO Approval
Under Rule 106 of the Petroleum Rules, 2002, as amended in 2018 and 2024, a camera in a Zone 1 petroleum area must use an IS/IEC 60079 protection type such as flameproof (Ex d), chosen by EPL. PESO says such equipment needs Chief Controller approval. An IECEx or ATEX certificate alone is not that approval.
Verified against
- Petroleum Act, 1934, s. 2 — PESO PDF
- Petroleum Rules, 2002, Rules 102–113, unconsolidated 2002 text — PESO PDF; amendments G.S.R. 762(E), 10 Aug 2018 — PDF, and G.S.R. 154(E), 4 Mar 2024 — PDF
- PESO SOP for approval of Ex-electrical apparatus (Jul 2025) — PDF
- PESO FAQ, Flame Proof section — peso.gov.in
- PESO approval letter A/P/HQ/TN/104/6305 (27 Jan 2023) — R. Stahl PDF
- PESO recognised Ex test labs (Jan 2023) — PDF
- SMPV(U) Rules, 2016, Rules 31–32B — PESO PDF
- BIS PM/IS/IEC 60079-1/2/Aug 2019 — bis.gov.in; BIS ETD 22 standards list — services.bis.gov.in
- IEC 60079-0:2017 and 60079-14:2024 previews — VDE
- Axis explosion-protection poster (2021) — axis.com PDF; UK HSE zone definitions — hse.gov.uk
- Checked 13 Oct 2026.
Zone → what the camera must be
| Zone | Meaning (IEC / HSE) | Rule 106 as amended (2018, 2024) | EPL normally required | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | Explosive gas present continuously, for long periods or frequently | No electric apparatus, except approved intrinsically safe apparatus (IS/IEC 60079-11, -26) where it "cannot be completely excluded" | Ga | PR 2002, 2024 amdt, Axis |
| 1 | Likely in normal operation | Flameproof, pressurised, powder-filled, oil-immersed, increased safety, intrinsically safe or encapsulated, to IS/IEC 60079-1/-2/-5/-6/-7/-11/-18; or a pressurised/purged room with cut-off or alarm | Gb (or Ga) | same |
| 2 | Not likely; if it occurs, short-lived | Non-sparking (IS/IEC 60079-15) of an approved type, approved trace heating, or any Zone 1 type | Gc (or Gb, Ga) | same |
| 20 | Combustible dust cloud continuously/frequently | Not addressed by Petroleum Rules | Da | HSE, Axis |
| 21 | Dust cloud likely occasionally in normal operation | Not addressed | Db (or Da) | same |
| 22 | Dust cloud unlikely; short-lived | Not addressed | Dc (or Db, Da) | same |
Since 2024, sub-rule 106(3A) says Ex apparatus "shall be" selected by EPL per IS 16724:2018/IEC 60079-14, so the EPL column is now a legal test. Rule 104's Zone 2 wording differs from IEC ("only under abnormal operating conditions or failure or rupture of an equipment"); the Chief Controller's zoning decision "shall be final", and extent follows the Fourth Schedule (R.105).
Decoding an Ex marking
Two markings Honeywell shows for its India-made Ex IP cameras (example, not a recommendation): Ex db IIC T6 Gb (gas) and Ex tb IIIC T80°C Db (dust).
| Field | Example | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protection type | db / eb / ia / mb / pxb / tb | d = flameproof (contains the explosion), e = increased safety, i = intrinsic safety, m = encapsulation, p = pressurised, t = dust enclosure; letter a/b/c = level | Axis poster |
| Gas group | IIA / IIB / IIC | IIA propane, IIB ethylene, IIC hydrogen and acetylene; higher group covers lower | same |
| Dust group | IIIA / IIIB / IIIC | IIIA fibres/flyings, IIIB non-metal dust incl. flour, grain, wood, plastics, IIIC metal dusts | same |
| Temperature class | T1…T6 | Max surface temp: T1 450 °C, T2 300, T3 200, T4 135, T5 100, T6 85 °C; dust marks a °C figure instead | same |
| EPL | Ga/Gb/Gc, Da/Db/Dc | Ga→Zone 0, Gb→1, Gc→2; Da→20, Db→21, Dc→22 | same |
| Ambient (Ta) | e.g. −40 °C ≤ Ta ≤ +60 °C | If not marked, the rated ambient is −20 °C to +40 °C | IEC 60079-0:2017 cl.1 Note 1 |
Selection rule: the camera's maximum surface temperature (T class) must be below the ignition temperature of the gas present; group and EPL must meet or exceed the zone drawing.
What a PESO approval actually is
- Who gets it: "Approval is issued only to the manufacturer… and in case of a foreign manufacturer, to his Indian agent. Users of the equipment are not given such approvals" (PESO FAQ).
- Fee: ₹2,000 per certificate under Part C of the First Schedule (2024 amendment, SOP). The ₹500 in the 2002 text and the FAQ is out of date.
- Indian-made: test certificate, report and drawing from a PESO-recognised Indian lab, or an IECEx certificate of conformity and test report. The SOP says a BIS licence "shall not be mandatory" to submit — the older FAQ still calls it "mandatory for flameproof". Ask which applied to your product. BIS-licensed enclosures carry "CM/L …" (BIS PM, Annex C).
- Imported: IECEx certificate, report and drawing (or an EU type-examination certificate for EU makers), plus the maker's authorisation of an Indian service provider with a service agreement (SOP).
- The letter itself (A/P/HQ/TN/104/6305) names the IEC editions, the zone and gas group ("Zone 1 of Gas IIC"), the test certificate (an IECEx number) and an equipment reference number, and requires that number on the nameplate and a copy of the letter for the customer. That 2023 letter says "Valid upto 31/12/2027"; the 2025 SOP says approval stays valid until the product standard or design changes — read the date on your letter.
- Indian labs recognised for Ex testing (Jan 2023 list): CSIR-CIMFR Dhanbad, ERTL (East) Kolkata, CPRI Bengaluru, ERDA Vadodara, ELCA Navi Mumbai, Intertek New Delhi, Karandikar Boisar (PESO list).
Where schemes differ: IECEx/ATEX, BIS, PESO
- IECEx/ATEX certify to IEC/EN 60079: evidence for PESO, not an Indian approval.
- BIS publishes the standards (ETD 22): IS/IEC 60079-0:2017 (= IEC 60079-0:2011), -1:2014, -7:2017, -10-2:2015, and IS 16724:2018 (installation, = IEC 60079-14:2013). IEC 60079-14 is now edition 6.0 (2024), so editions can disagree — state which one your spec follows.
- PESO approval is statutory where its rules apply. Rule 102 covers places "where petroleum is refined, blended, stored, loaded or unloaded", and the Act defines petroleum as liquid hydrocarbon or mixtures containing it (Act s.2). Compressed-gas storage such as LPG falls under the SMPV(U) Rules, 2016, which carry their own zone and IS/IEC 60079 wiring clauses and point to IS 5572 for zone extent.
Our interpretation (not legal advice): a paint shop with thinner or a tank farm with Class A/B petroleum is squarely inside. A solvent room using only non-hydrocarbon solvents, or a flour mill with dust only, may fall outside Rule 106's text. That does not make an ordinary camera acceptable: the zone drawing still demands the matching EPL, and other rules may apply. Confirm with your PESO circle office and a competent hazardous-area engineer before buying.
What breaks in a factory
- Heat. An Ex camera with no Ta marking is rated to +40 °C, while one of IMD's heat-wave criteria for the plains is an actual maximum of 45 °C or more. Near dryers or ovens, specify the Ta you need.
- Cable is part of the protection. Rule 107(2), as amended in 2018, requires all non-intrinsically-safe wiring in a hazardous area to be armoured, metal-sheathed or MI cable with flameproof glands, or screwed conduit with approved flameproof fittings sealed at the Zone 1 boundary. A UTP patch lead to a PoE camera does not. Keep the switch outside the zone and budget glands — see PoE power budget.
- Earthing. Rule 108 caps earth resistance at 4 Ω (electrical systems) and 10 Ω (non-current-carrying metal parts).
- Window cleaning. Solvent mist and dust film the glass. Wipe from outside: Rule 113(1) forbids opening flameproof or intrinsically safe apparatus until supply is cut off.
- Repairs. Rule 112 requires apparatus to keep its approved characteristics; repair follows IS/IEC 60079-19:2019. Ask who in India repairs to it before a local technician opens the housing.
- IP rating ≠ Ex. IP66/IK10 is ingress and impact protection, not ignition protection.
What to ask the vendor
- The PESO approval letter: number, equipment reference, zone, gas group, validity.
- Does the nameplate show that reference number?
- The IECEx/ATEX certificate the letter cites, and its Ta range.
- For India-made flameproof housings: the BIS CM/L number, if any.
- Which cable glands are approved with it, and who in India services it.
Ordinary cameras outside the zones, and chemical-plant permits and incidents, are covered in chemical-plant cameras and PESO and the tender specification template.
Where Mama fits
Ex certification is outside Mama's scope. It reads existing cameras over RTSP/ONVIF — including ordinary ones watching solvent stores and mixers from outside the zone — and reports machine idle time to the owner each morning. Leave an email or phone in the form below.
FAQ
Is PESO approval mandatory for a CCTV camera in a hazardous area? Where the Petroleum Rules apply, PESO's position is yes: its FAQ says all electrical equipment in hazardous areas under those Rules must be approved by the Chief Controller, including imported equipment.
Can an ATEX-certified camera be used in an Indian Zone 1 area? Not on the ATEX certificate alone in petroleum areas. The maker or its Indian service provider must obtain PESO approval, which relies on that IECEx or EU certification.
What is the difference between Ex d and Ex e? Ex d (flameproof) contains an internal ignition; Ex e (increased safety) prevents arcs, sparks and hot surfaces. Since the 2024 amendment, Rule 106 lists both for Zone 1, subject to the EPL (eb = Gb, ec = Gc only).