How should all electrical equipment located near a battery be classified?

Electrical equipment located near a battery should be classified as ignition-protected due to the hazardous conditions that can exist in such environments. Batteries, especially lead-acid types, can emit explosive gases such as hydrogen, particularly during charging. In order to ensure safety and prevent any potential ignition sources that could trigger an explosion, equipment must be designed to contain any sparks or heat generated during normal operation.

Ignition-protected equipment is specifically constructed to prevent any potential ignition sources from coming into contact with flammable gases. This means that if there is an electrical fault or other operational scenario that could produce a spark, the design of the equipment will ensure that this spark does not ignite the potentially explosive gases present in the vicinity of a battery.

While load-testing, sealing, and waterproofing are important factors in the reliability and performance of electrical equipment, they do not directly address the safety concerns associated with the flammable gases that are prevalent near batteries. Ignition protection is specifically tailored to mitigate those risks, making it the appropriate classification for any electrical equipment used in these areas.