7 Things About Explosion Proof LED Lighting You Should Know
Working in confined spaces or areas exposed to explosive and flammable gasses, such as hydrogen, methane, propane, and other hydrocarbons, can be very dangerous. In Canada many workers are injured or killed in confined spaces, with 60% of the fatalities being among the rescuers, according to the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety. This is why hazardous area lighting, like Explosion Proof LEDs, is necessary and required by law to ensure people’s safety.
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Standard lighting poses a threat to workers in confined spaces like tanks, vents, pipes, sewers, tank cars and manholes, because some luminaires can cause explosions by igniting combustible gas, vapor, particles or fiber that start an explosive chain reaction or a fire. Similarly, the oil and gas, petrochemical, textile and even grain processing industries may be subject to accidents while using regular duty lighting, given that electrical equipment such as switches and relays can easily spark during standard operation.
Explosion Proof LED Lights contain and isolate potential spark triggers in safe housing material, such as aluminum, preventing explosions.
If you’re looking to upgrade your hazardous area lighting equipment, you should consider LED lights not only because they’re more environmentally friendly, but because they are cost-efficient and the safest lighting source in the market today.
Contact us to discuss your requirements of Explosion Proof Lighting Fixtures. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.
When you’re looking for Explosion Proof LED Lighting, there are seven things you should know:
- Explosion Proof does not mean that the lighting source -whether it’s an LED or not- doesn’t spark; it just means that the items susceptible to spark are isolated in explosion-proof boxes that contain ignition repeatedly, avoiding propagation outside the box. In the same vein, “explosion proof” does not mean your LEDs will survive an explosion, just that they won’t be the cause for an external explosion.
- Explosion Proof LEDs are bump and break resistant. Traditional hazardous area lighting used fluorescent or incandescent bulbs that had to be treated delicately, because they break easily. While they do not pose a fire hazard, they can be dangerous in confined spaces where workers may cut themselves or broken pieces or inhale the toxic fumes from the fluorescent bulbs. LEDs are stronger in general; they use heat-resistant materials and tempered glass, which is stronger and long-lasting, in addition to being free of mercury and toxic substances.
- Explosion Proof LEDs are very energy efficient, they use up to 90% of the energy to provide light and have no heat or conversion loss to account for, this means that they use a lot less power to function and have low wattage consumption. Organizations save on-site energy from portable generators and other in-situ sources, providing more sustainable and profitable operations. In other words, you’ll save money running explosion proof LEDs for the same or better light output your current explosion proof lamps give you.
- Flexible Options: LEDs come in modular designs that can be combined to allow light outputs to be easily increased or lowered to match required light levels, this allows a multitude of options to be used. From dish umbrella, to column and polygon shapes you can set them up to meet your needs, easily adapted to existing access points all while saving energy and money.
- Explosion Proof Lighting is classified by ratings and zones. Ratings are used by professionals, like engineers, architects and electricians, to find the ideal place for the light source to be used in, as well as under what conditions they will perform best. When you’re shopping around for options look at the Certifications: Class I, Division 1, Class I Division 2 and Zones 0, 1 and 2. Class I, Division 1, encompasses Zone 0 and Zone 1 areas, while Class I, Division 2 only qualifies for Zone 2 areas.
- Zone 0 is a hazardous location where an explosive gas, vapor or liquid atmosphere is present continuously or for long periods of time.
- Zone 1 is a location with frequent presence of ignitable gas, vapor or liquid exist under normal operating conditions, between 10 to 1,000 hrs/year
- Zone 2 is a location where flammable gas, vapor or liquid is not present or unlikely to be present during normal operating conditions, and unwanted or hazardous substances will only be present for 10 hrs/year or 0 to 0.1% of the time.
- Explosion Proof LEDs Save Your Operation Money: LED explosion proof lights and fixtures are very affordable compared with their incandescent or fluorescent counterparts, they can be fitted to just about any corporate or individual budget, with an easy offset over time, where they essentially pay themselves back, considering that they last longer, won’t require replacement bulbs and consume very little power to provide clear, crisp and cool lighting.
- Long Lasting Investment: most LED lights have a 50,000 hours estimated life span, making them the safest and most effective investment in hazardous area lighting equipment for your company or team. With low wattage options and high lumen output, these are bright, efficient and cost-effective luminaires for dangerous work, regardless of the space or industry.
Do you have any questions regarding hazardous area lighting, explosion proof LED lighting or LEDs? Drop them below or contact us and we will get back to you asap.
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Want more information on Portable Explosion Proof Lighting? Feel free to contact us.
After looking more into Chapter 500 (using the NEC), I am now more confused than ever
Some follows ups and general questions related to a Class I Division II location:
I couldn’t find a definition of arc-producing equipment but it looks like all equipment in the informational note in 500.8(B)(1) are potential sources of ignition
(Luminaires and other heat-producing apparatus, Switches, Circuit breakers, Plugs and Receptacles). 500.8(B)(1) indicates that this equipment is to be identified for use in the specific hazardous location.
For reference, 500.8(B)(1) Approval for Class and Properties:
Equipment shall be identified not only for the class of location but also for the explosive, combustible, or ignitible properties of the specific gas, vapor, dust, or fibers/flyings that will be present. In addition, Class I equipment shall not have any exposed surface that operates at a temperature in excess of the ignition temperature of the specific gas or vapor. Class II equipment shall not have an external temperature higher than that specified in 500.8(D)(2). Class III equipment shall not exceed the maximum surface temperatures specified in 503.5.
Question: Just verifying that all luminaires, switches, circuit breakers, plugs and receptacles potential sources of ignition? Also, any ideas why motors aren’t mentioned?
Question: I don’t see HVAC equipment mentioned. If the equipment is outside of a hazardous area but has ductwork inside a hazardous area (which draws air back into the equipment), could there be a potential for an explosion at the equipment?
Going onto 500.8(C) Marking, it indicates:
Equipment shall be marked to show the environment for which it has been evaluated. Unless otherwise specified or allowed in (C)(6), the marking shall include the information specified in (C)(1) through (C)(5):
(1) Class. The marking shall specify the class(es) for which the equipment is suitable.
(2) Division. The marking shall specify the division if the equipment is suitable for Division 2 only. Equipment suitable for Division 1 shall be permitted to omit the division marking.
(3) Material Classification Group. The marking shall specify the applicable material classification group(s) in accordance with 500.6.
(4) Equipment Temperature. The marking shall specify the temperature class or operating temperature at a 40°C ambient temperature, or at the higher ambient temperature if the equipment is rated and marked for an ambient temperature of greater than 40°C. The temperature class, if provided, shall be indicated using the temperature class (T Codes) shown in Table 500.8(C). Equipment for Class I and Class II shall be marked with the maximum safe operating temperature, as determined by simultaneous exposure to the combinations of Class I and Class II conditions.
(5) Ambient Temperature Range. For equipment rated for a temperature range other than –25°C to +40°C, the marking shall specify the special range of ambient temperatures in degrees Celsius. The marking shall include either the symbol “Ta” or “Tamb.”
And in 500.8(C)(6) Special Allowances it indicates:
(a) General-Purpose Equipment. Fixed general-purpose equipment in Class I locations,
other than fixed luminaires, that is acceptable for use in Class I, Division 2 locations shall not be required to be marked with the class, division, group, temperature class, or ambient temperature range.
Question: I can’t find a definition of “General-Purpose Equipment”. What is this referring to in 500.8(C)(6)?
Question: It looks like Luminaires in a Class I Division II area is required to be marked with the Class, Division, Group, Equipment Temperature, and Ambient Temperature range – is that correct?
Question: It looks like in a Class I Division I area, all luminaires, switches, circuit breakers, plugs and receptacles are required to be marked with the Class, Division, Group, Equipment Temperature, and Ambient Temperature range – correct?
In Looking at 500.7 Protection Techniques:
(A) Explosionproof Apparatus. This protection technique shall be permitted for equipment in Class I, Division 1 or 2 locations.
(B) Dust Ignitionproof. This protection technique shall be permitted for equipment in Class II, Division 1 or 2 locations.
(C) Dusttight. This protection technique shall be permitted for equipment in Class II, Division 2 or Class III, Division 1 or 2 locations.
(D) Purged and Pressurized. This protection technique shall be permitted for equipment in any hazardous (classified) location for which it is identified.
(E) Intrinsic Safety. This protection technique shall be permitted for equipment in Class I, Division 1 or 2; or Class II, Division 1 or 2; or Class III, Division 1 or 2 locations.
(F) Nonincendive Circuit. This protection technique shall be permitted for equipment in Class I, Division 2; Class II, Division 2; or Class III, Division 1 or 2 locations.
(G) Nonincendive Equipment. This protection technique shall be permitted for equipment in Class I, Division 2; Class II, Division 2; or Class III, Division 1 or 2 locations.
(H) Nonincendive Component. This protection technique shall be permitted for equipment in Class I, Division 2; Class II, Division 2; or Class III, Division 1 or 2 locations.
(I) Oil Immersion. This protection technique shall be permitted for current-interrupting contacts in Class I, Division 2 locations as described in 501.115(B)(1)(2).
(J) Hermetically Sealed. This protection technique shall be permitted for equipment in Class I, Division 2; Class II, Division 2; or Class III, Division 1 or 2 locations.
(K) Combustible Gas Detection System. A combustible gas detection system shall be permitted as a means of protection in industrial establishments with restricted public access and where the conditions of maintenance
Question: It looks like that lighting fixtures in a Class I Division II area are required to either be explosion proof or hermetically sealed for all practical purposes. I don’t think the other protection techniques are practical or apply. Thoughts?
...
I couldn’t find a definition of arc-producing equipment but it looks like all equipment in the informational note in 500.8(B)(1) are potential sources of ignition (Luminaires and other heat-producing apparatus, Switches, Circuit breakers, Plugs and Receptacles). 500.8(B)(1) indicates that this equipment is to be identified for use in the specific hazardous location.
Heat producing devices are not arc producing devices. Things that interrupt the flow of current such as circuit breakers, switches, relay contacts and others are arc producing devices and are required to be in an explosionproof enclosure where installed in a Class I, Division 2 location.
For reference, 500.8(B)(1) Approval for Class and Properties:
Equipment shall be identified not only for the class of location but also for the explosive, combustible, or ignitible properties of the specific gas, vapor, dust, or fibers/flyings that will be present. In addition, Class I equipment shall not have any exposed surface that operates at a temperature in excess of the ignition temperature of the specific gas or vapor. Class II equipment shall not have an external temperature higher than that specified in 500.8(D)(2). Class III equipment shall not exceed the maximum surface temperatures specified in 503.5.
There are maximum surface temperature rules for equipment installed in all three Classes. The maximum permitted surface temperature for equipment that is installed in a Class II location is often lower than that for a Class I location because the hazard, combustible dust, is in direct contact with the heat producing equipment and exposure to heat, over time can actually lower the ignition temperature of the combustible dust.
In general the maximum surface temperature for a Class I location is 80% of the auto ignition temperature of the flammable gas. This temperature can be high. For example gasoline vapors have an autoignition temperature between 477° and 536°F. That would permit the equipment to have a surface temperature of 380°F requiring the use of equipment with a temperature code of 3A or higher. (the maximum temperature goes down as the temperature code goes up)
Question: Just verifying that all luminaires, switches, circuit breakers, plugs and receptacles potential sources of ignition? Also, any ideas why motors aren’t mentioned?
Yes those are all potential sources of ignition, but in general, luminaires are not required to be explosionproof in a Class I, Division 2 location.
Motors are covered in 501.125 and where installed in a Class I, Division 1 location must be explosionproof or use one of the other protections found in list items (2) through (4) of 501.125(A). The most common application for three motors in a Class I, Division 2 location is 501.125(B)(3) as those motors do not have any arc producing contacts. Most single phase motors have some type of a starting contact and would be required to be explosionproof where installed in a Class I, Division 2 location.
Question: I don’t see HVAC equipment mentioned. If the equipment is outside of a hazardous area but has ductwork inside a hazardous area (which draws air back into the equipment), could there be a potential for an explosion at the equipment?"
If the duct work is transporting the flammable gas as the electrical equipment is in the air flow, than that equipment would have to be suitable for the Class and Division. In most cases, the electrical equipment is not in the air flow and would not be in the classified area.
This points out the importance of the area classification documents required by 500.4. No electrical installation associated with a classified area should be started without having the area classification documents in your possession.
Going onto 500.8(C) Marking, it indicates:
Equipment shall be marked to show the environment for which it has been evaluated. Unless otherwise specified or allowed in (C)(6), the marking shall include the information specified in (C)(1) through (C)(5):
...
And in 500.8(C)(6) Special Allowances it indicates:
(a) General-Purpose Equipment. Fixed general-purpose equipment in Class I locations, other than fixed luminaires, that is acceptable for use in Class I, Division 2 locations shall not be required to be marked with the class, division, group, temperature class, or ambient temperature range.
Question: I can’t find a definition of “General-Purpose Equipment”. What is this referring to in 500.8(C)(6)?
Things like conduit bodies, junctions boxes, conduit unions, and things like that, used in a Division 2 area do not need any markings or identification
.
Question: It looks like Luminaires in a Class I Division II area is required to be marked with the Class, Division, Group, Equipment Temperature, and Ambient Temperature range – is that correct?
Yes, they must have those markings for use in a Class I, Division 2 location.
Question: It looks like in a Class I Division I area, all luminaires, switches, circuit breakers, plugs and receptacles are required to be marked with the Class, Division, Group, Equipment Temperature, and Ambient Temperature range – correct?
I think only the luminaires have an equipment temperature marking, but all of the other markings are required. Note that the ambient temperature can be an issue with outside explosionproof enclosures as they need a special marking if the ambient will be below 13°F.
In Looking at 500.7 Protection Techniques:
....
Question: It looks like that lighting fixtures in a Class I Division II area are required to either be explosion proof or hermetically sealed for all practical purposes. I don’t think the other protection techniques are practical or apply. Thoughts?
Hermetically sealed applies to equipment that has an arc producing device. Hermetic seals can be used in a Division 2 location in lieu of an explosionproof enclosure.
For luminaires you need to look at 501.130(B), and in general they only need a temperature marking.
Most of the real rules for Class I locations are found in Article 501, and that is where you should be looking. The information in Article 500 is more general, and the specific rules for Class I, II, and III are found in Articles 501, 502, and 503 respectively.
Note that any code references I have cited are from the NEC.
Note I deleted some original text to get under the character limit.