An area such as a residence or office would be classed as Non Hazardous (safe area), where the only risk of a release of explosive or flammable gas would be such things as the propellant in an aerosol spray. The only explosive or flammable liquid would be paint and brush cleaner. These are classed as very low risk of causing an explosion and are more of a fire risk (although gas explosions in residential buildings do occur). Non hazardous areas on chemical and other plant are present where it is absolutely certain that the hazardous gas is diluted to a concentration below 25% of its lower flammability limit (or lower explosive limit).
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This is a step up from the safe area. In this zone the gas, vapor or mist would only be present under abnormal conditions (most often leaks under abnormal conditions). As a general guide for Zone 2, unwanted substances should only be present under 10 hours/year or 0–0.1% of the time.
Gas, vapor or mist will be present or expected to be present for long periods of time under normal operating conditions. As a guide for Zone 1, this can be defined as 10– hours/year or 0.1–10% of the time.
Gas or vapor is present all of the time. An example of this would be the vapor space above the liquid in the top of a tank or drum. The ANSI/NEC classification method considers this environment a Division 1 area. As a guide for Zone 0, this can be defined as over hours/year or >10% of the time.
Hazardous Area/Explosion Proof lights are extra durable fixtures designed specifically for the toughest environments.
A hazardous area is defined as a place where concentrations of flammable gases, vapors or dust occur. Electrical equipment that must be installed in such locations is specially designed and tested to ensure it does not initiate an explosion, due to arcing contacts or high surface temperature of the equipment.
Explosion proof lighting is not necessarily the same as hazardous area lighting. These types of lights must be able to contain any explosion originating from within its housing to prevent ignition of vapors, gasses, dust or fibers in the area surrounding it.
A few common applications for hazardous location fixtures include fabrication workshops, industrial settings, laboratories, food and beverage facilities and warehouses.
Explosion proof fixtures are ideal for oil and gas refineries, drilling rigs, petrochemical facilities, coal mines railways and anywhere flammable vapors, gases, ignitable dusts, fibers or flying debris are often present. Here are some examples of where Hazardous Area Explosion Proof lights are used:
Hazardous Area/Explosion Proof lights are available for a wide variety of applications. Examples include linear wall/ceiling fixtures, flood lights, dock lights, high bay lights, wall packs and shop lights. Modern LED lighting systems are the optimal choice of illumination for these types of fixtures.
A classification system is used to determine what type of fixtures are safe for use in particular areas. In North America, hazardous locations are separated into three “Classes” based on the explosive characteristics of the materials. The Classes of material is further separated into “Divisions” or “Zones” based on the risk of fire or explosion that the material poses. The Zone system has three levels of hazard while the Division System has two levels.
LED lighting technology has developed to the point that it can overcome most of the drawbacks of the technologies previously listed here.
Safety is the utmost priority one should focus on when working in extremely critical areas. This is why you should always opt for lights that will not end up creating havoc. Explosion proof lighting is the best lighting solution for petroleum loading docks, oil refineries, distilleries, etcetera. LED lights that are certified as explosion proof are indeed the best lighting option in these critical areas as they check all the checkboxes of the safety protocols.
Thus, the safer the lights, the better it will be for people and the environment. In order to provide workers better and safer working environment, it is a must that people opt for explosion proof lighting. Lights can be a prime reason behind workplace fire accidents. This is the reason why these extremely critical areas ask for lights that are made under necessary safety concerns. Moving on, we will discuss why going with explosion proof lights is the best decision. Therefore, the fixtures that are designed to prevent igniting sparks when illuminating comes under the explosion proof lighting category.
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Why going with explosion proof lighting is a better decision?
It has a robust structure.
Explosion proof lights have a unique design that is sturdy and will not tamper with quite easily. As a result, the fixture does not ignite sparks and ends up creating workplace accidents. The fixture neither explodes when it comes in contact with fire nor creates fire itself.
The fixture is secured with a thick and robust casing that does not expose inside gases to act as a hazardous agent. Simultaneously, no foreign elements can enter the fixture’s body and turn it into an explosive. This is the reason why these lights are considered appropriate for oil refineries and fuel storage because they reduce the risk of accidents pretty impressively.
It has numerous options.
Each workplace environment asks for different lighting. Areas that need explosion proof LED lights ask for portable LED lights. Mobility and flexibility are the main reasons behind that. Other than that, there are fixed options also. You can install the lights at any particular corner of the workspace and ensure they deliver a better lighting performance.
It should be certified to use in extreme locations.
Explosion proof lights need to be certified by a reliable certification council that ensures the quality and safety of the lights. ETL and API are some trusted certification boards that ensure the safety standard of these LED explosion proof lights.
To make sure that you are opting for a reliable lighting choice for your location, it is a must that you check for these necessary certifications. Thus, these boards ensure that the lights are far from explosive and will be safer to use in hazardously risky environments.
It must have excellent lighting performance and efficiency.
Apart from safety, performance is the key point that one should look for in explosion proof lighting because, in the end, it matters the most. You are obviously not going to set up different lighting fixtures in different areas just to get a better lighting impact.
Therefore, it is a must for lights to promote better visibility to reduce the chances of errors and accidents. The fewer the chances of accidents, the better the productivity will be, and people will feel comfortable working around the premise.
In the end, you can always count on explosion proof lighting for your workspace, as they will last impressively for about 50,000 hours. Not just that, you can also find dimmable LED explosion proof lights in a higher CCT value that will help create a visible work premise.