Everything You Need To Know To Find The Best explosion proof led fixtures

LED Explosion Proof Lighting For Hazardous Areas

Explosion Proof Lighting Requirements

Environments containing explosive materials, flammable gases, vapors, or dust require the shielding of any possible ignition source in order to maintain a safe workplace. As these environments are almost always indoors, they require artificial illumination to ensure proper visibility and safety for personnel. The light fixtures used for this must meet a number of different requirements, including being specifically designed and certified to be explosion-proof per the UL 844 Standard.

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UL 844 Standard certified explosion-proof lighting is unique compared to traditional fixtures in the way it is constructed. Unlike most light fixtures, which have unshielded electronics and enclosures that are open to air, explosion-proof fixtures are specifically designed to shield and separate electronics and electrical components from the outside environment. They also must be impact and shock-resistant in the event of an accident to prevent exposing their electronics to the outside atmosphere.

Our specialized explosion-proof lighting is designed to meet all NEMA requirements for hazardous environments. They feature sealed impact-resistant non-conductive aluminum housings and can be mounted in various manners to work in different environments. With heavy-duty lenses and thoroughly shielded electronics, they are ideal for any hazardous environment requiring serious lumen output.

Classes and Divisions for Hazardous Area Lighting

Class I, Division 1 – Class I Division 1 lights are necessary in areas where concentrations of vapors, liquids, or gases such as gasoline exist within the environment under typical operating conditions.

Class I, Division 2 – Class I Division 2 lights are necessary in areas where concentrations of vapors, liquids, or gases such as gasoline exist within the environment under atypical operating conditions.

Class II, Division 1 – Class II Division 1 lights are necessary in areas where combustible dust, such as coal, exists within the environment under typical operating conditions.

Class II, Division 2 – Class II Division 2 lights are necessary in areas where combustible dust, such as coal, exists within the environment under atypical operating conditions.

Class III, Division 1 – Class III Division 1 lights are necessary in areas where ignitable fibers or combustible flyings, such as sawdust, exist within the environment under typical operating conditions.

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Explosion Proof Enclosures

Class III, Division 2 – Class III Division 2 lights are necessary in areas where ignitable fibers or combustible flyings, such as sawdust, exist within the environment under atypical operating conditions.

Explosion Proof Lighting Groups

Explosion-proof lighting fixtures are classified into various letter groupings to identify the types of hazardous materials they are designed to safely operate around. These letter groupings, usually ranging from Group A to Group G, are part of a classification system that denotes which types of gases, vapors, and dusts the lighting fixture can be safely used with.

• Group A: Acetylene
• Group B: Hydrogen, butadiene, ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, acrolein
• Group C: Ethylene, carbon monoxide
• Group D: Propane, gasoline, naphtha, benzene, butane, ethyl alcohol, acetone, methane
• Group E: Metal dust including aluminum, magnesium
• Group F: Carbonaceous dust including coal, carbon black, coke
• Group G: Grain, flour, wood, plastic, and chemical dust

Understanding these letter groupings is essential for ensuring the safe operation of lighting fixtures in hazardous environments. Always consult with an expert or refer to the specific guidelines and standards, such as those provided by organizations like the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) or Underwriters Laboratories (UL), when selecting explosion-proof lighting.

Explosion Proof Lighting Standards

Standards are typically set by organizations such as the National Electrical Code (NEC) in the United States, or the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC) in Europe, and others depending on the region. Other organizations that set explosion-proof lighting standards include:

• National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA): NEMA is a U.S.-based organization that sets standards for various types of electrical equipment, including explosion-proof lighting.
• Underwriters Laboratories (UL): UL is a global safety certification company that sets standards and provides testing for a wide range of products, including explosion-proof lighting. In the U.S., UL Standard 844 covers luminaires for use in hazardous locations.
• International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC): The IEC is an international standards organization that prepares and publishes standards for electrical, electronic, and related technologies. Their standards, including the IECEx system, cover explosion-proof equipment.
• ATEX Directive (European Union): The ATEX Directive sets forth requirements for equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres in the European Union.
• National Fire Protection Association (NFPA): The NFPA publishes the National Electrical Code (NEC), which includes guidelines for installing electrical equipment in hazardous locations in the U.S.
• Canadian Standards Association (CSA): In Canada, the CSA sets the standards for explosion-proof lighting.

Each of these organizations has its set of regulations, codes, and certifications for explosion-proof lighting to ensure safety in hazardous environments. Depending on the specific location and application, different standards may apply.

Breakdown of Explosion Proof Lighting

There are a lot of different types of lighting on the market today. When it comes to explosion-proof lighting, many people are confused by what it means and where it's an applicable choice. Let's take a closer look with our breakdown of explosion-proof lighting.

The first thing in our breakdown of explosion-proof lighting is to understand what it is based on construction. Explosion-proof lighting is a light fixture capable of withstanding an explosion in areas that are hazardous, such as manufacturing plants or laboratories, without the fixture breaking, shattering, or being otherwise compromised. Certain fixtures of this nature are also able to contain the explosion from even spreading into the environment surrounding the fixture. This type of lighting is ideal for areas where vapors, gases, heat, or other flammable materials are present to help reduce the likelihood of a total loss of your light fixtures in the event of an accident, and they also ensure glass from the fixture won't go flying in the event of an explosion which only adds to the danger of the situation.

A lot of people confuse explosion-proof and shatter-resistant fixtures as being one and the same, but they are two different lighting solutions. Shatterproof lighting means the fixture is made with a shatter-resistant lens or bulb to stop the fixture from exploding and sending glass everywhere. These are commonly seen in places with high heat but free from gasses such as commercial kitchens. An explosion-proof fixture is for areas where hazardous gasses and flammable materials are present, and explosions are a real concern.

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Explosion Proof Lighting Construction

• Durable casing with tempered glass lenses. They are indestructible and will not break in the event of an explosion.
• Advanced thermal control mechanisms in select fixture designs. These mechanisms actively and passively dissipate any heat that might build up in the fixture. If you opt for LED, this is less of an issue since LED naturally creates a no heat fixture thanks to the efficiency of its operation. Many fixtures will also employ elements such as copper-free housings and double-folded aluminum fins to help enhance the explosion-proof nature of the fixture in regard to heat.
• Exceptional integrity against potential ignition sources. They have tight seals to help keep out flammable substances such as vapors, dust, and fibers in the atmospheres. While the seal isn't always airtight, the integrity of the fixture is still intact to prevent compromising the fixture.