Electrical equipment in cold weather applications

Electrical equipment used in cold weather regions are subjected to different environmental conditions than most standard approvals cover. There are two main areas of concern for products used in cold weather - safety and function. For Class I classified locations the ability of the equipment to maintain its explosion protection properties at low temperatures is of major importance. Low temperatures affect both the properties of the materials used in the construction of the electrical equipment and the properties of the explosive atmospheres the equipment can be exposed to. Functionality of the electrical equipment can also be altered or negatively affected by cold temperatures. This paper will examine factors affecting the safety of equipment in areas classified for explosive atmospheres as well as functionality of electrical equipment at low temperatures.