Parking garages are considered to be ___ locations.

• A. Class I, Division 1
• B. Class I, Division 2
• C. Unclassified
• D. Class II, Division 2

Answer: (C)

Hazardous-location classifications in the NEC guide what equipment is allowed where flammable vapors, gases, or dust can be present. Parking garages don’t routinely contain enough flammable vapors or combustible dust to meet those dangerous-atmosphere criteria, so they aren’t treated as Class I or II locations. In other words, they’re considered unclassified locations, meaning standard electrical equipment and methods can be used. If you were in an area with gasoline vapors or a fueling operation, that could change the classification (to Class I, Division 1 or 2) depending on conditions, but typical parking structures are not hazardous locations.