SAF-12

Electrical Safety
Version 2.0

Safety & Fire Protection Directives

For Industrial Facilities

2017

KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA

MINISTRY OF INTERIOR
HIGH COMMISSION FOR INDUSTRIAL SECURITY

RESTRICTED
All Rights reserved to HCIS. Copying or distribution prohibited without written permission from HCIS
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Ministry of Interior ‫وز َارة الداخليـَّـة‬
َ
High Commission for Industrial Security ‫اهليئة العليا لألمن الصناعي‬
Secretariat General ‫األمانة العامة‬

SAF-12 Electrical Safety

Version History

Item Description Issue Date

1 Original Issue  12 Jumada II, 1431
 26 May, 2010
2 Version 2.0  5 Rajab, 1438
 2 April, 2017

i
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Ministry of Interior ‫وز َارة الداخليـَّـة‬
َ
High Commission for Industrial Security ‫اهليئة العليا لألمن الصناعي‬
Secretariat General ‫األمانة العامة‬

SAF-12 Electrical Safety

ii
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Ministry of Interior ‫وز َارة الداخليـَّـة‬
َ
High Commission for Industrial Security ‫اهليئة العليا لألمن الصناعي‬
Secretariat General ‫األمانة العامة‬

SAF-12 Electrical Safety

Table of Contents

1. Purpose .......................................................................................................................... 1
2. Scope ............................................................................................................................. 1
3. Acronyms & Definitions................................................................................................. 1
4. References ..................................................................................................................... 1
5. Materials and Equipment .............................................................................................. 3
5.1. Listing and Approval .......................................................................................... 3
6. Electrical Systems for Hazardous (classified) Areas ...................................................... 3
6.1. General .............................................................................................................. 3
6.2. Electrical Area Classifications ............................................................................ 3
6.3. Powered Equipment .......................................................................................... 4
7. Protection against Electrical Hazards ............................................................................ 4
7.1. Work in hazardous (classified) locations ........................................................... 4
7.2. Work on de-energized Equipment .................................................................... 4
7.3. Live Electrical Work ........................................................................................... 4
7.4. Control of PEDs .................................................................................................. 4
8. Protection against Static, Lightning, and Stray Currents .............................................. 6
8.1. General .............................................................................................................. 6
8.2. Transfer of Flammable Liquids .......................................................................... 6

iii
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Ministry of Interior ‫وز َارة الداخليـَّـة‬
َ
High Commission for Industrial Security ‫اهليئة العليا لألمن الصناعي‬
Secretariat General ‫األمانة العامة‬

SAF-12 Electrical Safety

iv
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Ministry of Interior ‫وز َارة الداخليـَّـة‬
َ
High Commission for Industrial Security ‫اهليئة العليا لألمن الصناعي‬
Secretariat General ‫األمانة العامة‬

SAF-12 Electrical Safety

1. Purpose
The purpose of this directive is providing the requirements for electrical safety in
industrial facilities.

2. Scope
This document covers electrical safety throughout the lifecycle of electrical
equipment during design, installation, operation and maintenance, including the
electrical and electronic equipment and device selection and use at hazardous
locations to prevent ignition.

3. Acronyms & Definitions

FO: Facility Operator
PED: Portable Electric/Electronic Devices
Definitions in the references listed under the Section 4 shall apply.

4. References
American Petroleum Institute (API) Publications & Recommended Practices

API RP 2003 Protection against Ignitions Arising out of Static, Lightning,

and Stray Currents
API RP 505 Classification of Locations for Electrical Installation at
Petroleum Facilities Classified as Class I, Zone 0, Zone 1 and
Zone 2 (2002)
API RP 500 Classification of Locations for electrical Installation at
Petroleum Facilities Classified as Class I, Division 1 and Div. 2
European Union Directives

ATEX (ATmosphères Explosives) Directive 94/9/EC

International Electro Technical Commission (IEC)

IEC 60364 Low Voltage Electrical Installations

IEC 60079 Electrical Apparatus for Explosive Atmospheres

Page 1 of 6
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Ministry of Interior ‫وز َارة الداخليـَّـة‬
َ
High Commission for Industrial Security ‫اهليئة العليا لألمن الصناعي‬
Secretariat General ‫األمانة العامة‬

SAF-12 Electrical Safety

National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)

NFPA 70 National Electrical Code

NFPA 70B Recommended Practice for Electrical Equipment Maintenance
NFPA 70E Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace
NFPA 77 Recommended Practice on Static Electricity
NFPA 79 Electrical Standard for Industrial Machinery
NFPA 497 Recommended Practice for the Classification of Flammable
Liquids, Gases, or Vapors and of Hazardous (Classified)
Locations for Electrical Installations in Chemical Process Areas
NFPA 499 Recommended Practice for the Classification of Combustible
Dusts and of Hazardous (Classified) Locations for Electrical
Installations in Chemical Process Areas
NFPA 505 Fire Safety Standard for Powered Industrial Trucks Including Type
Designations, Areas of Use, Conversions, Maintenance, and
Operations
NFPA 780 Standard for Competency of Third Party Field Evaluation Bodies
NFPA 790 Standard for the Installation of Lightning Protection Systems
NFPA 791 Recommended Practice and Procedures for Unlabeled Electrical
Equipment Evaluation
Safety and Security (SAF) Directives

SAF-01 General Requirements Safety and Fire Protection Directives

SAF-13 Work Permits. Isolation of Energy, and Hazardous Work
SAF-16 Bulk Plants and Air Fueling Support Facilities

Underwriters Laboratories

UL 913 Intrinsically Safe Apparatus and Associated Apparatus for

Use in Class I, II, and III, Division 1 Hazardous Locations

Page 2 of 6
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Ministry of Interior ‫وز َارة الداخليـَّـة‬
َ
High Commission for Industrial Security ‫اهليئة العليا لألمن الصناعي‬
Secretariat General ‫األمانة العامة‬

SAF-12 Electrical Safety

5. Materials and Equipment

5.1. Listing and Approval

All electrical system components that are required to be “approved”

by NFPA-70 (or other equivalent international standard) shall be
labeled as certified by an internationally recognized independent test
lab. Examples of acceptable test lab agencies include Underwriters
Laboratories (UL); Factory Mutual (FM) or IEC.

Electrical equipment shall be rated (e.g. intrinsically safe) as required

for the specific electrical classification of the hazardous area.

Electrical equipment used in electrically classified locations shall be

marked to show the class, group and operating temperature for which
it is approved.

6. Electrical Systems for Hazardous (classified) Areas

6.1. General

Electrical power systems shall be designed and constructed in

accordance with NFPA 70, NFPA 70E and IEC 60364, IEC 60079, or other
equivalent internationally recognized electrical standard.

Electrical equipment tested/certified according to IEC-Ex shall only be

installed in accordance with the IEC 60364, IEC60079.

6.2. Electrical Area Classifications

Requirements of API RP 500, API RP 505, NFPA 497, NFPA 499 or

equivalent internationally recognized standards (e.g., IEC 60079) shall
be followed as applicable.

Electrical equipment at locations where flammable and combustible

mixtures of air and gas, dust or fibers may occur shall be certified for
use in hazardous (classified) locations per Section 6.1.

Electrical area classification drawings shall be prepared and

maintained in a suitable location in the plant.

Page 3 of 6
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Ministry of Interior ‫وز َارة الداخليـَّـة‬
َ
High Commission for Industrial Security ‫اهليئة العليا لألمن الصناعي‬
Secretariat General ‫األمانة العامة‬

SAF-12 Electrical Safety

6.3. Powered Equipment

Fork trucks, tractors, platform lift trucks, motorized hand trucks, and
other specialized industrial trucks powered by electric motors or
internal combustion engines shall meet the applicable requirements of
NFPA-505 or other internationally recognized standards.

7. Protection against Electrical Hazards

7.1. Work in hazardous (classified) locations

All work with potential for ignition in hazardous (classified) locations

shall be controlled by hot work permit as per SAF-13.

7.2. Work on de-energized Equipment

Electrical isolation procedures in SAF-13 shall be followed prior to

beginning maintenance on de-energized electrical equipment.

7.3. Live Electrical Work

Maintenance on live equipment shall be carried out in accordance with

SAF-13, NFPA-70-B, and NFPA-70-E.

7.4. Control of PEDs

Precautions shall be taken to restrict use of mobile radios, cellular

telephones, pagers, personal digital assistants, portable computers,
flashlights (electric torches), and other PEDs where there is a possibility
that they will be used in hazardous (classified) locations as described
in NFPA 70, IEC 60364 and IEC 60079.

FO shall develop and implement policies and procedures that restrict

and control the use of PEDs in facilities that contain areas that are
hazardous (classified) locations. Employees, whether direct or
contractor, shall be given the appropriate information and training
needed to understand their responsibilities in order to comply with the
policy.

Page 4 of 6
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Ministry of Interior ‫وز َارة الداخليـَّـة‬
َ
High Commission for Industrial Security ‫اهليئة العليا لألمن الصناعي‬
Secretariat General ‫األمانة العامة‬

SAF-12 Electrical Safety

PEDs intended for use in hazardous (classified) locations shall be

designed to assure that an explosion of flammable or combustible
material surrounding the device does not occur. PEDs shall be listed as
per Section 5.1.

PED’s that are not listed for use in hazardous (classified) locations shall
be controlled through work permit (see SAF-13, Work Permits).

Signs shall be posted in hazardous (classified) locations where PED use

is restricted.

Maintenance of PEDs

a. Listed PEDs shall have no breaks, damage, or cracks in the casing

or other components. If there is any damage or if any parts are
missing, the PED is no longer approved for use in hazardous
(classified) locations.
b. Attachment plugs, receptacles, cover plates, and cord connectors
shall be maintained in good condition.
c. Cover plates shall be kept in place.
d. There shall be no loose, altered, or damaged blades, pins, or
contacts in the devices.
e. There shall be no exposed energized parts.

Interference with Other Devices

a. Where electronic interference from a PED will potentially cause

loss of control or inadvertent shut-down of process or
manufacturing equipment, those locations shall be posted with
warning signs and PEDs shall be either prohibited from entering or
turned off before entering that location.
b. In the facility clinics and hospitals where interference with other
electronic medical devices is possible, those locations shall be
posted with warning signs. PEDs shall be restricted to designated
areas where use will not cause medical device malfunction.

Page 5 of 6
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Ministry of Interior ‫وز َارة الداخليـَّـة‬
َ
High Commission for Industrial Security ‫اهليئة العليا لألمن الصناعي‬
Secretariat General ‫األمانة العامة‬

SAF-12 Electrical Safety

8. Protection against Static, Lightning, and Stray Currents

8.1. General

Facilities, process structures, equipment and vessels shall be protected

from ignition due to static electricity, lightning and stray currents in
compliance with NFPA 77, NFPA 780, and API RP 2003.

Process structures, equipment and vessels shall be bonded together

and grounded with wire and connections that are of the appropriate
size and type.

All equipment such as tanks, machinery, and piping shall be designed

and operated to prevent electrostatic ignitions

All metallic equipment such as tanks, machinery, and piping where the
potential exists for a flammable/combustible mixture to be present
shall be bonded and grounded

The bond and ground shall be physically applied or shall be inherently

present by the nature of the installation

Any electrically isolated section of metallic piping or equipment shall

be bonded and grounded to prevent hazardous accumulation of static
electricity

All non-metallic equipment and piping where the potential exists for a
flammable/combustible mixture to be present shall be designed and
operated to prevent electrostatic ignition

8.2. Transfer of Flammable Liquids

Tankers in flammable service shall be grounded during fuel transfer by

a system that allows product transfer only as long as a proper ground
connection is maintained as per API 2003. Tanker filling rates shall not
exceed allowable filling rates specified in API 2003 and in SAF-16.The
filling arrangement of vessel in flammable liquid service shall prevent
free fall of liquids

FO shall provide an engineered grounding at locations where

flammable liquid transfer is expected to take place.
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