RecommendedPracticeforClassificationofLocationsforElectricalInstallationsatPetroleumFacilitiesClassifiedasClassI,Division1andDivision2APIRECOMMENDEDPRACTICE500SECONDEDITION,NOVEMBER1997Oneofthemostsignificantlong-termtrendsaffectingthefuturevitalityofthepetro-leumindustryisthepublic’sconcernsabouttheenvironment.Recognizingthistrend,APImembercompanieshavedevelopedapositive,forwardlookingstrategycalledSTEP:StrategiesforToday’sEnvironmentalPartnership.Thisprogramaimstoaddresspublicconcernsbyimprovingindustry’senvironmental,healthandsafetyperformance;docu-mentingperformanceimprovements;andcommunicatingthemtothepublic.Thefounda-tionofSTEPistheAPIEnvironmental,HealthandSafetyMissionandGuidingPrinciples.APIstandards,bypromotingtheuseofsoundengineeringandoperationalpractices,areanimportantmeansofimplementingAPI’sSTEPprogram.APIENVIRONMENTAL,HEALTHANDSAFETYMISSIONANDGUIDINGPRINCIPLESThemembersoftheAmericanPetroleumInstitutearededicatedtocontinuouseffortstoimprovethecompatibilityofouroperationswiththeenvironmentwhileeconomicallydevelopingenergyresourcesandsupplyinghighqualityproductsandservicestoconsum-ers.Werecognizeourresponsibilitytoworkwiththepublic,thegovernment,andotherstodevelopandtousenaturalresourcesinanenvironmentallysoundmannerwhileprotectingthehealthandsafetyofouremployeesandthepublic.Tomeettheseresponsibilities,APImemberspledgetomanageourbusinessesaccordingtothefollowingprinciplesusingsoundsciencetoprioritizerisksandtoimplementcost-effectivemanagementpractices:●Torecognizeandtorespondtocommunityconcernsaboutourrawmaterials,prod-uctsandoperations.●Tooperateourplantsandfacilities,andtohandleourrawmaterialsandproductsinamannerthatprotectstheenvironment,andthesafetyandhealthofouremployeesandthepublic.●Tomakesafety,healthandenvironmentalconsiderationsapriorityinourplanning,andourdevelopmentofnewproductsandprocesses.●Toadvisepromptlyappropriateofficials,employees,customersandthepublicofinformationonsignificantindustry-relatedsafet