CompEx Pre-course Questionnaire

Name of Candidate:

Unit 1 : General Principles TRUE FALSE

T F

All electrical sparks are capable of igniting a gas/air mixture.

1
Any concentration of a flammable gas in air may be ignited.

2
Equipment marked IIA can be used in a IIC hazard.

3
A Zone 2 area indicates that a flammable atmosphere can occur
during normal operating conditions.
4
Generally, equipment with a T3 temperature rating can be used
in place of equipment rated T4.
5
The probability and duration the release of an inflammable gas
or vapour in a hazardous area is indicated by the Zone.
6
Flameproof (Ex 'd') equipment is designed to allow for one fixing
screw to be left out of an enclosure cover.
7
Equipment marked Ex 'n' is suitable for use in Zone 1.

8
Increased Safety (Ex'e') equipment is designed to contain an
internal explosion.

10 A spark produced at the broken cable of an Intrinsically Safe

(Ex'i') circuit will not ignite a flammable gas.

Unit 1
Unit 2: Standards, Certification & Marking TRUE FALSE
T F

1 The ignition temperature of a flammable material indicates the

temperature at which it will spontaneously ignite.

2 An aluminium ladder striking rusty steelwork can produce

incendive sparks.

3 If an increased amount of oxygen is present in a flammable mixture

the energy required to ignite the mixture will be reduced.

4 Equipment marked IIA can be used in a IIC hazard.

5 Equipment marked IIC can be used in a IIB hazard.

6 All flammable vapours will rise in the atmosphere.

7 The flashpoint of a flammable material indicates the temperature at

which it can be ignited by a an arc, spark or hot surface.

8 The glass surface of a light bulb will prevent ignition of a gas/air

mixture.

9 Equipment with a Temperature class T5 can be used in a carbon

disulphide hazard (ignition temperature 95°C)

10 If an area ambient temperature is less than the 40°C specified for

normal Ex equipment, then the equipment can carry more current.

Unit 2
 CompEx Pre-course Questionnaire

Unit 2: Standards and Certification

Identify the information shown on this label of an Ex light fitting

1 2 3 4 5

6
A flameproof enclosure can be used in any Zone 1 area, in
any circumstances. 7

ed 9

10

maximu 11

Answers Sample answer given for question 1

1 ATEX certificate number

2

10

11

Unit 2
Unit 3: Flameproof Ex d TRUE FALSE
T F

1 Components which arc or spark in normal operation are

permitted within Ex'd' enclosures.

2 The maximum gap at a flamepath is dependent only on the gas

group.

3 An enclosure marked Ex'd' IIA is suitable for use in all subgroups.

4 A flameproof enclosure can be used in any Zone 1 area, in all

circumstances.

5 A gasket may be fitted between the flanges of a flameproof

enclosure to prevent the ingress of water-

6 The heat generated by a collapsing bearing in a flameproof

motor will not ignite a surrounding flammable atmosphere.

7 In flameproof installations, only one reducer may be used with a

cable gland.

8 An obstruction placed 30 mm from the gap at the flanges of an

flameproof enclosure marked Ex'd' IIC is not acceptable.

9 No special precautions are required when flameproof

enclosures are coupled by conduit.

10 It is not acceptable to remove an unused component from within

a flameproof enclosure.

Unit 3
 Unit 4: Increased Safety Ex e TRUE FALSE
T F

1 An Ex 'd' certified cable gland is suitable for cable entry into an

Ex 'e' terminal enclosure.

2 There are 'special conditions of use' for Ex'e' enclosures which

permit sparking devices to be fitted.

3 Ex'e' enclosures are completely sealed to prevent a potentially

hazardous gas entering and causing an explosion from a spark.

4 Ex 'e' equipment is suitable foe use in Zone 0.

5 Ex'e' equipment is mechanically strong to withstand damage

from impact.

6 It is permissible to use non-certified terminals for the earth

connections within Ex'e' enclosures.

7 Increased Safety enclosures must withstand the pressure

caused by an internal explosion of a flammable mixture.

8 An Ex'd' certified MICC gland with an Ex'e' seal assembly is

permitted when entering an increased safety junction box.

9 The permitted temperature rise for Ex'e' motors is strictly

controlled by limiting stall current to a specified time.

10 Ex'e' terminal boxes can be used in conjunction with Ex'd'

equipment.

Unit 4
Unit 5: Ex n protection TRUE FALSE
T F

1 Ex n (IEC) type of protection is the same method as EEx n

(CENELEC), and Ex N (BS - in the UK only).

2 Certified Ex n apparatus is suitable for use in Zone 1.

3 Components which produce sparks or hot surfaces in normal

operation are generally not allowed in Ex n enclosures.

4 Ex n enclosures should normally provide a degree of protection

to IP54. Where live parts are insulated IP44 may be acceptable.

5 Hermetcially sealed Ex nC devices can be satisfactorily sealed

by the use of 'O' rings and/or gaskets.

6 A lamp requires a starting device with electrical contacts. The

use of hermetic sealing is suitable for this component.

7 Restricted breathing type Ex nR equipment often requires

special sealing arrangements at cable entries.

8 Non-incendive components have switching contacts, but are

constructed so that ignition of the gas or vapour is prevented.

9 The maximum internal free volume allowed for an Ex

nC enclosed break device is 20 cm³

10 'Live' working is not permitted on type n equipment.

Unit 5
Unit 6: Pressurisation Ex p TRUE FALSE
T F

1 Pressurisation prevents a flammable atmosphere entering an

enclosure.

2 The minimum over-pressure within an Ex 'px' enclosure is 0.5 Bar.

3 Components which arc or spark, i.e. switches contactors etc.,

are permitted inside pressurised enclosures.

4 An inert gas, such as nitrogen, may be used to maintain

overpressure.

5 The safe gas may also be used to cool hot parts within an Ex'p'
enclosure.

6 Overpressure can only be maintained with continuous flow of

the safe gas.

7 Live work is always permissible within Ex'p' enclosures if the

flow of safe gas is maintained.

8 Pressurised Ex'p' enclosures are suitable for use in Zone 0.

9 When an inert gas is employed as the safe gas, warning notices

must be fitted on inspection covers/doors etc.

10 The normal ambient temperature of air entering the inlet duct

must not exceed 30° C.

Unit 6
Unit 7: Intrinsic safety 'Ex i' TRUE FALSE
T F

1 The minimum required ingress protection for intrinsically safe

equipment is IP 55.

2 Galvanic isolators do not require the installation of a separate

high integrity earth connected to the main I S earth point

3 The installation of a barrier in a non-intrinsically safe circuit

makes the circuit intrinsically safe.

4 In the design of an I.S. system the inductance, capacitance and

L/R ratio of the cable used must be taken into consideration.

5 Unused cores on an I S multicore cable should always be

connected to plant earth in the safe area.

6 Terminals for I S circuits must be at least 50mm from terminals

or uninsulated conductors of any non-I S circuits.

7 Intrinsically safe and non-intrinsically safe cables may be run in

the same cable tray if one of the cables is armoured.

8 The continuity between the I.S. Zener Earth and main earth
point must be greater than 1 ohm.

9 A barrier has the following safety parameters, 28V 93 mA. This

implies that the safety fuse will blow at a value of 93 mA.

10 An I S system has an Ex ia IIC field device and an associated

barrier marked [Ex ib] IIC. The overall system is Ex ib IIC.

Unit 7
 Unit 8&9: Other methods of protection & Hybrids TRUE FALSE
T F

1 Silicone based oil may be used in Ex 'o' apparatus.

2 Encapsulated Ex 'ma' equipment may not be used in a Zone 0

hazard

3 Large electric motors (1,000 kW +) may be certified under

Special Protection Ex 's'

4 Ex 'm' is a suitable method of protection for heavy

duty switchgear.

5 Correctly certified equipment under Special Protection Ex 's'

may be used in Zone 0

6 Oil-immersed equipment can be suitable for use in a Zone 1

hazard

7 A flammable mixture may reach ignition capable parts within

powder filled Ex 'q' equipment.

8 The constructional requirements for apparatus certified under

Special Protection Ex 's' are now given in an IEC Standard

9 Ex 'q' equipment may only be used in gas groups IIA and IIB.

10 Hybrid equipment may not be used in Zone 0 or Zone 1

Unit 8 & 9
 Unit 10: Wiring System & Installation

TRUE FALSE
1 An IP54 Ex e junction box has threaded cable entries and has a
T F
wall thickness of 6mm. IP washers are not required.

2 An Ex d JB has M32 cable entries. Exd/Exe certified M32-M25

and M25-M20 reducers may be used in order to fit an M20 gland.

3 A cable gland marked E1FX is suitable for use on cable having

single steel wire armour.

4 Since 2007, cable glands for use on Ex equipment have to be

Ex certified types.

5 Unused cores in multicore cables used for I S circuits must

be connected to protective earth at both ends.

6 An armoured, screened I S cable must have the armour connected

to protective earth at both ends, via the glands.

7 Under IEC60079-14:2013, an I.S. sensor connected by 2m of cable to

an Ex d [ia] enclosure would not require a barrier glands at both ends

8 Under IEC60079-14:2007, an Ex d flameproof motor starter with

direct cable entry will always require barrier glands.

9 The above flameproof starter would always require barrier glands

if used in a IIC hazard

10 If used in a Zone 1 IIB area, it would require barrier glands only if

the internal volume was greater than 2 litres.

Unit 10
 Unit 11: Inspection TRUE FALSE
T F

1 Switching off is adequate isolation of hazardous area equipment.

2 A Close inspection will reveal all faults.

3 A Visual inspection uses the eyes only.

4 The maximum recommended interval between Periodic inspections

of fixed equipment is three years

5 Periodic inspections can be Close or Visual.

6 The tightness of electrical connections should be checked at a

Detailed inspection.

7 All equipment in hazardous area must be certified.

8 Ex e boxes must always be fitted with certified Exe or Exd/Exe glands.

9 All Ex d enclosures must be at least 30mm from any obstruction.

10 The insulation resitatance of an intrinsically safe circuit to

earth should be measured at a Detailed inspection.

Unit 11