Safety is a major concern, especially for businesses that run in hazardous environments. And until and unless the safety levels are up to the mark, it will be a poor show of work efficiency, and in the end, cost the company. So, the safety equipment in the potentially hazardous environment should always be there to thwart the dangers of explosions and other incidents to make the working atmosphere safe and sound. And this is the reason Explosion-proof lighting becomes a crucial part of the industrial setup, as these lights are responsible for providing sufficient illumination in low light areas and maintaining the integrity of the work safety. Let’s know what explosion-proof lights are and the benefits they offer to your workers and the business.
The term ‘explosion proof’ may create a wrong connotation as most will derive the meaning that these types of lighting are capable of resisting fires or explosions and remain intact. But, the real thing is that these lights are designed in such a way that they prevent any electrical spark from escaping the casing, and mixing up with any chemical or gas present in the surrounding atmosphere to trigger an explosion.
These lights are quite different from the standard lights. The robust design consists of a thick metallic or steel frame with strong lenses. Additionally, the entire encasing obstructs the spark arising from inside and prevents it from combining with the inflammable sources in the nearby atmosphere. Further, stainless steel has the lowest thermal conductivity, which means fewer chances of emitting heat. This reduces the risk of accidents and improves the overall safety of the workers, as well as, the expensive assets in the premises.
OSHA recommends certified explosion proof lights for use in hazardous locations. These areas include flammable vapours, combustible dust or fibres, and liquids or gases. These kinds of risky environments help order the class and division the explosion-proof safety lights are certified for. Below are the classifications stipulating the environmental and safety hazard requirements.
This area covers the combination of Zone 0 and Zone 1 regions which are as follows:
This region encompasses the location where high concentrations of flammable vapors, gases, liquid or dust are always present for extended periods during operations.
This area might have combustible dust, liquid or gases present at any time during the regular day to day operations.
Also known as Zone 2, these locations do not have flammable by-products present during normal work processes. However, concentrations of combustible materials might be present or suddenly occur under abnormal circumstances such as an unexpected leak. Under a general rule, these abnormal conditions should not exceed more than 10 hours a year. Apart from these, the unclassified or non-hazardous locations are classified as neither Class nor Division 1 or 2, or any other combination of these. For example, the various commercial setup uses aerosol sprays that might have combustible gases, but are still not considered as a high risk to trigger an explosion.
It goes without any say that several industries, such as oil refineries, gas plants, chemical processing, explosives, mines, etc., have to regularly deal with the challenges of managing work in these dangerous environments. And if the process or operation is in confined spaces, then the challenge becomes even bigger.
Imagine a worker in an industry gets the duty of cleaning or inspecting a massive tank that contains combustible gases or other such materials. And in such a low-light dark condition, the worker not only needs protective equipment but also a good lighting source assuring safety from an explosion. Here the explosion-proof light can be a valuable and safest option to minimize the chances of an accident during the cleaning and inspecting operation, thus preventing damage to the life of the worker and the property.
Another significant benefit of choosing explosion-proof lights over traditional lights is their energy-efficient characteristic. The presence of LEDs assures 90 per cent less power consumption than the regular lighting fixtures. And the highly robust design and durability make sure they return as much as 100,000 hours of service without interruption. High durability and efficiency also minimize the maintenance cost, which is a good sign for a business.
Choosing the right lighting fixture that meets your unique requirements could save several lives and protect assets. Moreover, the solid and energy-efficient design can make your business truly profitable. SharpEagle has a range of explosion-proof lights that are tailor-made to always keep your staff in the light of safety, and provide value to your business. Call us today or visit our website for more information.
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