A location that is 9 feet from a liquefied natural gas dispenser enclosure is classified as what location?

A location that is 9 feet from a liquefied natural gas (LNG) dispenser enclosure is classified as Class I, Div 2. This classification is rooted in the understanding of hazardous locations where flammable gases or vapors are present.

Class I locations are defined as areas where flammable gases or vapors may be present in the atmosphere. Division 2 specifically refers to areas where such materials are not likely to be present during normal operations but may exist under abnormal conditions, such as leaks. Given that LNG is a flammable substance, a distance of 9 feet from the dispenser indicates that it is near enough to potentially be impacted by any possible leaks or fugitive emissions of natural gas, which fall under the purview of Division 2.

The understanding of how Class I operations differentiate between Divisions is crucial; recognizing that Division 1 areas are those where flammable materials are present under normal circumstances helps clarify why locations that are only classified as Division 2 have a specific distance and handling protocol that takes into account secondary risks rather than the primary presence of hazardous materials. In this situation, the nuanced separation of Class I Div 1 and Div 2 defines the potential risk exposure correctly as Division 2 at that specified distance.