Hazardous location lighting is essential if you want to prevent potential fires. You need to be able to distinguish between different types of hazardous lighting, regardless of whether you are a distributor or sales representative for lighting and electrical supplies. You or your client could be in danger of setting off a fire that causes property damage and even death.
This is why we created this guide. You can make sure that best hazardous location lights are used safely once you have all the information.
What Is Hazardous Location Lighting?
Hazardous area lighting is a light fixture, you can safely use in an area where a fire could start. This area is also known as a dangerous location or hazardous area. Explosion and fire hazards can be present in a dangerous area.
These hazards include fibers, dust, vapors as well as gases. These hazards can be flammable in the presence or absence of light.
Electrical equipment can ignite due to high temperatures or electrical arching. There are standards and regulations in place to help people classify these dangers and identify the locations.
Equipment that has been specifically designed for these environments is subject to safety standards and regulations.
The Regulations regarding hazardous location lighting are extremely important. This is why it’s essential to ensure that your light fixtures are certified for hazardous locations. You must also follow hazardous location lighting safety guidelines.
What Are Hazardous Areas Defined?
It is important to know how to identify hazardous areas to choose the best HazLoc lighting fixtures. You are deciding the likelihood that combustible material can burn in the area you have designated as a hazardous area.
There are many ways to identify hazardous areas because there are so many types. These include the North American Division System (NADS) and the Class System (CS). You can also split some Class System types into groups.
1.) Hazardous Location Divisions
There are two hazardous divisions: Division 1 and Division 2. Division 1 contains liquid-produced volatiles that can be combustible and flammable vapors. These vapors will always be present under normal operating conditions.
Division 2 contains the same types and amounts of gases and vapors as Division 1. They are not usually present in normal operating conditions.
The area in Division 2 is slightly safer than the one in Division 1. These areas are safer because workers there control and contain ignitable elements using systems like proper ventilation. It is important to use the right HazLoc lamps in these areas.
2.) Hazardous Location Classes
The Class System allows you to divide materials by type. There are three types of classes: Class I (or II), and Class III (or III). Class I is composed of combustible gases that are liquid-produced and flammable vapors. Class II includes combustible dust. Class III includes ignitable fibers and flyings.
3.) Hazardous Location Groups
You can divide materials into different groups within the Class System. These groups include Groups A, B, and C in Class I, and D in class II. Groups E and F in Class II are also included. Here is how they are defined:
- Group A: Acetylene
- Group B: Hydrogen
- Group C: Ethylene
- Group D: Propane
- Group E: Metal Dust
- Group F: Carbonaceous Dusts
- Group G: Non-Conducting Dust (these include plastics, wood, grain, and flour)
The gases in the Class I groups (A-D), are not to be confused with gases. The highest explosive pressures are found in Group A, but they get less explosive as you move down the list towards D. They are still explosive.
These substances are classified into different classes (E-G). They all contain the dust that can potentially light on fire.
After you have learned how to identify the various divisions, classes, and groups, you can determine which HazLoc safe lighting type you should use at each location. This will ensure safety when using lights in Hazardous Locations.
The Risks Of Not Using Hazardous Location Lighting
Hazardous location lighting is not recommended. There are many potential risks. One, improperly matching hazardous lighting to your company’s lights can put you at legal risk.
OSHA, NFPA or NEC/CEC standards are mandatory for companies that install lighting in dangerous locations. If they fail to comply with these standards and someone finds out, the company could be sued which could result in a substantial amount of money being lost.
Hazardous lighting can also pose a risk to your health. You could risk exposing your clients to hazardous lighting information that could lead to the property being damaged in a fire. In addition, life and health could be put at risk.
What Is The Difference Between Hazardous Location Classes & Divisions?
It is important to be familiar with the differences between zones, classes, divisions, and divisions to ensure safety. A gasoline storage area would be classified as Class 1 Division 1. This means you need to be as safe as possible.
You’re safer if you deal with Class 1, Zone 2. We’ll be reviewing each of these definitions in the next section. This will allow you to know what precautions to take with lighting.
Class1 Division 1 Vs. Class1 Division 2
Class 1 Division 1 and Class 1 Division 2 both fall under the Class 1 Division umbrella. Both are areas in which liquids, gases, and vapors could be ignited or flammable.
These places would be classified as Class 1. Let’s now look at the differences between Class 1 division 1 and Class 2 division 2.
Class 1 Division1
Class 1 Division 1 refers to a place in which all of the above is true. These potential dangers can be found on an ordinary day when operations are running as they should.
Class 1 Division 2
The Class 1 Division 1 area is where all of the above is true, but only a few potential dangers are present. You should therefore install HazLoc lights to protect yourself from potential dangers even if they do not appear all the time.
Class 1 Zones 0, 1 And 2
There are Zones 0, 1, and 2 within Class 1. These zones are places where liquids, gases, or vapors could become ignitable, or flammable. There are subtle differences among each zone.
These dangerous materials are most often found in Zone 0.
These dangerous materials are present in Zone 1 but for a short time and under normal operating conditions. These dangerous materials are unlikely to be found in Zone 2. It is possible, however, so it is smart to still install HazLoc lamps designed for Class 1.
Class I Hazardous Location Examples
A Class I Location is a place that is hazardous because of the high possibility of ignition or explosion. These locations include:
- Refineries for petroleum
- Storage and dispensing of gasoline
- Installation of propane gas in rooms
- Dry cleaning plants (where fluid vapors might be present).
- Spray paint booths, finishing areas, and spray paint booths
- Paint shops and other facilities
- Hangers for aircraft with fuel servicing areas
- Utility gas plants
- Chemical plants
- Plants for detergent manufacturing
- Alcohol production facilities
- Printing and textile dying
- Storage and handling of natural gas or liquified petroleum gases in certain areas
Class II Hazardous Location Examples
A Class II Location is a place that is dangerous if it contains large quantities of combustible powder, which could ignite or explode. These locations include:
- Starch and candy factories or production plants
- Plastics production plants or factories
- Factories and production plants that produce medicines
- Where fireworks are produced, factories or production plants
- Coal mines
- Flour and feed mills
- Grain elevators
- Aluminum and magnesium powder-producing plants
Class III Hazardous Location Examples
If some flyings or fibers easily ignite, then a Class III Location is considered dangerous. These elements cannot be suspended in the air but can accumulate around machinery and lighting fixtures. Heat can also ignite them. These are some examples:
- The plants that shape, pulverize, or cut wood to create sawdust or flyings
- Textile mills, cotton gins
- Cotton seed mills
- Flax seed processing plants
- Workshops for leather goods
- Shoe factories
