It’s always a challenging task to work in confined spaces, especially petrochemical industries, prone to explosive chemicals and flammable gases, including methane, hydrogen, propane and other such hydrocarbons. From a purely statistical point of view, 1030 laborers died from occupational injuries related to confined spaces from 2011 to 2018, as per the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets the guidelines for confined spaces. And this is the reason special hazardous area lights are designed to prevent catastrophic accidents and ensure the safety of the workers. These lighting fixtures are also known as explosion-proof lights, and as they are required by law, they have to be certified by the latest safety standards such as ATEX. There is a lot to talk about this unique safety equipment. But before that, let us explain why is a need for them in the first place.
These lights are different from standard lights, which can pose a grave threat, especially in petrochemical industries where regular lighting in confined spaces can trigger ignition due to the presence of combustible gasses and particles. These Explosion proof led lights are designed with robust casing and material to contain potential sparks arising from inside, preventing any mix-up with the flammable gases and materials in the surrounding.
Similarly, the textile and even industries where grain is processed may be vulnerable to accidents during the use of standard duty lighting, provided that electrical switches and relays can trigger sparks during regular operation. Hence, these explosion proof lights should be an integral part of every industry.But before you choose these hazardous area lights, the below seven things must be in your knowledge.
Hear the phrase ‘explosion proof’, and the first thing that comes to mind is that the lighting fixture can withstand an explosion. But this is not true. It just means that the explosion proof light encasing can contain the internal spark within itself, without giving any room to escape and a mix-up with the external flammable materials to cause an explosion. It doesn’t mean the LED lighting can survive the external explosion.
The explosion proof lights are designed to comply with the latest safety standards, and this is the reason they are called ATEX certified lights. The ATEX stands for Atmosphere Explosible, and it is a European Directive for minimum requirements for using equipment in hazardous atmospheres.
As these explosion proof lights are ATEX certified lights, they are built with stainless steel or aluminum coating. They are different from the fragile traditional ones that come with incandescent or fluorescent bulbs. LEDs on the other hand, are relatively stronger with tempered glass and heat-resistant materials, free from toxic substances, and offer long-lasting performance.
Every organization strives for saving cost. LEDs are known for their low energy consumption, providing excellent illumination without heat or conversion loss. And as big industries such as petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals or other such facilities are generally spread into larger areas, this low wattage consumption of hundreds of explosion proof LED lights means huge savings on operations.
Ratings are a good medium to derive a conclusion that particular equipment is fit to be used in a specific area. Such is the case with explosion-proof lights as intrinsically safe rating helps the engineers and electricians easily find a suitable place to install these lights to derive better performance. When you are buying explosion-proof lights, don’t forget to look for certifications, including Class I, Division 1 & 2, and Zones 0, 1, and 2.
This classification means the intensity of gas, vapor, or liquid present in the atmosphere for a particular period.
LEDs come in customized designs, allowing the user to increase or decrease the light output as per their needs. Right from dish umbrella, to polygon-shaped and columned, one can choose any modular design to fit their required light levels.
The explosion proof LED lights to come with solid build construction, hence not susceptible to damage during transportation. These lights are capable enough to absorb bumps and vibrations, as opposed to delicate conventional lights.
The LED explosion proof hazardous area lights are designed to provide high illumination that enhances the visibility of the workers as much as thrice than the conventional lights. They are an ideal solution for harsh, rugged, low light and confined environments. The integrated dense cooling fins keep the temperature under control. Explosion proof LED light is a unique way of making your industry safe, and keeping you always prepared for unpleasant incidents.
SharpEagle is a high-tech enterprise that focuses on cutting-edge safety products for various industries. For more details on explosion-proof safety lights, drop us a message or visit our website.
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