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The Benefits of Explosion Proof Lighting Solutions
Explosion proof LED Lights are made with the highest standards of construction and quality in order to perform in the toughest environments. LEDs offer superior illumination and are more energy-efficient and require less maintenance than traditional technologies like halogen or incandescent. Their durable housing with gasketted seals ensures the inner components of the fixtures are protected from gas, debris, and vapor intrusion as well as protecting the working environment against sparks that could ignite flammable gases or vapors.
What is a Hazardous Location?
A hazardous location is defined by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and National Electric Code (NEC) as "areas where fire or explosion hazards may exist due to flammable gases or vapors, flammable liquids, combustible dust, or ignitable fibers or flyings." Electrical equipment, including LED Lighting, that must be installed in hazardous locations must be specifically designed and tested to ensure that it does not risk initiating an explosion or fire due to arcing contacts or high surface temperature of the fixture. Of course, not all hazardous locations are the same and different hazardous locations require a different specification of light fixture. In the U.S., the hazardous location classification system is defined by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 70 and National Electric Code (NEC). NFPA 70 NEC utilizes the Class/Division system and has also added an Americanized version of the International Electrochemical Commission's (IEC) Zone system.
NFPA 70 NEC Classes, Divisions and Groups System
Articles 500 through 503 cover requirements for electrical and electronic equipment and wiring for all voltages in Class I, Divisions 1 and 2; Class II, Divisions 1 and 2; and Class III Divisions 1 and 2 locations. This method provides a description of what hazardous materials may be present along with probability that it is present to determine the appropriate fixture for the hazardous location. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has adopted the Class and Division portion of this article and requires all equipment used in hazardous locations to be marked with Class, Group and operating temperature or approved temperature range.
In this system, the Class rating identifies the type of explosive or ignitable substances which are present in the environment while the Division rating defines the chances of the hazardous material being present in a concentration that could cause an explosion or ignite. Different groups of gases and vapors (found in Class I) are grouped by their physical properties and ease of ignition. In Class II combustible dusts, there are also different groups based on different physical properties of the dust.
| Hazardous Location Classes, Divisions, and Groups | ||
| Class | Division | Group |
| I - Possible presence of flammable gases or vapors | 1 - Hazard exists under normal operating conditions and/or where the hazard is caused by frequent maintenance, repair work, or equipment failure. | A - Acetylene B - Hydrogen, butadiene, ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, acrolein C - Ethylene, cyclopropane, ethyl ether D - Acetone, ammonia, benzene, butance, ethanol, gasoline, hexane, methane, methanol, methane, naphtha, natural gas, propane, toluene |
| 2 - Hazard exists under abnormal operating conditions. | ||
| II - Possible presence of combustible dust | 1 - Hazard exists under normal operating conditions and/or where the hazard is caused by frequent maintenance, repair work, or equipment failure. | E - Combustible metal dusts - aluminum, commercial alloys, magnesium F - Combustible carbonaceous dusts - carbon black, charcoal, coal, coke dusts G - Other combustible dusts - Chemicals, flour, grain, plastic, wood |
| 2 - Hazard exists under abnormal operating conditions. | ||
| III - Possible presence of ignitable fibers/flyings | 1 - Hazard exists under normal operating conditions and/or where the hazard is caused by frequent maintenance, repair work, or equipment failure. | N/A |
| 2 - Hazard exists under abnormal operating conditions. | ||
NFPA 70 NEC Americanized Zone Classification System
Articles 505 and 506 cover the Americanized Zone Classification system is an alternative to the Class and Division systems above. Zone defines the whether the space contains gas or dust as well as the probability of hazardous material being present in a concentration that would ignite. Zones take into account how often the hazardous material is present.
| Hazardous Location Zones | |
| Gases, Vapors, Mists | Zone 0 - Gas or Vapor is present at all times under normal operating conditions. (Present over 1000hrs/yr or 10% of the time) |
| Zone 1 - Gas or Vapor is present for long periods of time under normal operating conditions. (10-1000hrs/yr or 0.1 - 10% of the time) | |
| Zone 2 - Gas or Vapor is not likely to occur under normal operating conditions. Only present under abnormal conditions such as leaks or mechanical system failure. (less than 10hrs/yr or <0.1% of the time) | |
| Dusts, Fibers, Flyings | Zone 20 - Combustible dusts or ignitable fibers/flyings are continuously present during normal operating conditions. (Present over 1000hrs/yr or 10% of the time) |
| Zone 21 - Combustible dust or ignitable fibers/flyings are likely under normal circumstances or may exist frequently due to maintenance or repair operations. (10-1000hrs/yr or 0.1 - 10% of the time) | |
| Zone 22 - Combustible dust or ignitable fibers/fyings are not likely to occur under normal operating conditions but if it does occur will only occur for a short period. (less than 10hrs/yr or <0.1% of the time) | |
Location Groups are also defined by the types of hazardous material and partially the location of the surrounding environment.
| Hazardous Location Groups | ||
| Group I | Group II | Group III |
| Mines susceptible to firedamp gases naturally occurring in a mine. | Explosive gas atmospheres (other than mines) susceptible to firedamp gasses - subdivided into subgroups | Explosive Dusts - subdivided into subgroups |
| A - Environments containing acetone, ammonia, ethyl alcohol, gasoline, methane, propane, or gases/vapors of equivalent hazard. | A - Environments containing airborne solid particles greater than 500 microns | |
| B - Environments containing acetaldehyde, ethylene, or gases/vapors of equivalent hazard. | B - Environments containing airborne combustible dusts other than combustible metal dusts. | |
| C - Environments containing acetylene, hydrogen, or gases/vapors of equivalent hazard. | C - Environments containing airborne combustible metal dusts. | |
What to Look for in an Explosion Proof Light Fixture
It is crucial to understand the hazards present in any given space as described in the above section for any hazardous location which requires explosion proof lighting. Once you know the fixture requirements, you can begin choosing the type or shape of light like any other space. Explosion proof LED light fixtures come in all shapes, sizes, and wattages. Notably, round UFO High Bay Lights, 4ft Linear Lights, Area and Flood Lights, and Flush-Mount Jelly Jars are some of the most popular fixture styles of explosion proof lighting.