Several alternative methods of providing explosion protection are available to the designer, five of which are outlined below.

1. Flame Proof enclosures Eex d. Parts that can ignite an explosive atmosphere are enclosed and the enclosure will withstand the pressure of an internal explosion from being transmitted to the atmosphere outside. Typical applications include: switch gear, switching installations, control boards, motors, transformers, heating devices, and light fittings.
2. Increased safety enclosures Eex e. Higher levels of safety are achieved by measures that avoid the risk of impermissibly high temperatures and the occurrence of sparks and arcs within the enclosure or on external parts of electrical equipment. Applications include: terminal and connection boxes, control boxes, squirrel cage motors and light fittings.
3. Pressurised apparatus and enclosures Eex p. An internal 'overpressure' of a protective gas is provided within the enclosure. This will 'dilute' flammable mixtures to a safe level. The enclosure may be permanently supplied with a protective gas or be sealed. Pressurised enclosures are used principally for switching and control cabinets, analysis devices and large electric motors.
4. Intrinsic safety Eex i. Products and equipment may be used in a hazardous environment if they are intrinsically safe. A circuit is described as intrinsically safe if no sparks or thermal effects occur. Applications include measurement and control equipment, communications equipment, sensors and actuators.
5. Other methods Eex o, Eex q, Eex m. Further protective measures include the immersion of products in oil (Eexo), surrounding it in fine powder (Eexq), and embedding it in a casting compound (Eexm). These all prevent the ignition of a surrounding explosive environment.
Note that hazardous areas are classified as zones, depending on the composition and presence of an explosive atmosphere (see table).
In addition, flammable vapours and gases are classified into ignition temperature classes. Of course, the maximum surface temperatureof a piece of equipment must always be lower than the ignition temperature of the explosive environment in which it is placed.
Lastly, explosion protected electrical equipment is divided into groups: Group I - electrical equipment for mining; and Group II - electrical equipment for all other hazardous areas. The latter is sub-divided into Groups IIA, IIB and IIC depending on the danger levels of the gas or vapour atmosphere in which they operate. Equipment rated at IIC is suitable for use in the most dangerous atmospheres.