Updated on 25 March 2022
The superior features of ATEX lighting mean these essential products are built to last while providing a safe work environment.
Choosing the correct hazardous area lighting can be a matter of life or death for anyone working in industries with potentially explosive atmospheres. Fixtures that provide a strong, stable luminaire in enclosed and dark spaces are crucial for productive and safe work environments. Hazardous area lighting fixtures and safety equipment eliminate explosion risks and fire ignition in environments where flammable gas and combustible dust are omnipresent.
Companies operating in these dangerous environments are required to install and use specialist safety equipment that won’t put workers’ safety at risk. ATEX is a European certification that covers equipment intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres and defines the essential health and safety requirements and conformity assessment procedures. These rigorous tests and procedures are applied before any ATEX products are allowed in the EU market. This includes a range of explosion-proof lighting essential to maintaining the health and safety of staff.
Commercial settings that need ATEX lighting include oil, gas and petrochemical industries where there are obvious explosive risks from fuel and fumes. Mines and flour mills have a large volume of combustible dust in the air, as well as paint-spraying businesses, to name a few. Hazardous area lighting is the only option in these working environments due to the inherent risks of explosions or fires.
Intrinsically Safe ATEX Lighting
ATEX lighting is guaranteed to be intrinsically safe, which is a term dedicated to equipment used in hazardous areas. For explosion-proof lighting, these products must pass rigorous certification tests.
Approved ATEX lighting products can be fixed in place or portable if workers need to move lamps to different areas of a building or external environments. These lights are constructed in more robust housing to prevent any sparks from escaping into the atmosphere and igniting a fire or explosion. Heat sinks prevent overheating so the lights don’t present a risk in explosive atmospheres — whereas naked bulbs and other types of lighting found in more common products would present immediate danger.
Explosion-proof lighting also prevents a build-up of static electricity that could trigger a blast as these products are made from antistatic materials that are safer to use in hazardous areas. For example, if workers need to inspect an empty gas or petroleum tank at a site for leaks, they will need portable ATEX lighting to ensure they can see properly and remain safe even in the presence of potentially dangerous flammable vapours.
Depending on the Zone Classification of the hazardous area in which you need explosion-proof lighting, there are different fixtures you need and factors to consider. The powerful NightSearcher SL – 370 Lumen ATEX Rechargeable Searchlight or the handy NightSearcher ATEX Headtorch Model SAFATEX Pro are ideal for enclosed settings like mines and permit hands-free movement.
Hazardous Area Lighting Is Built to Last
Explosion-proof lighting that goes through the rigorous ATEX approval process is robust, durable and manufactured to a significantly higher standard than regular lighting. The products are guaranteed to last longer and operate effectively even under harsh conditions. These products can withstand incredibly high heat from oil and gas facilities in the desert, down to mining operations and manufacturing sites where cold temperatures are required to protect products. Explosion-proof lighting is designed to work in any harsh environment to keep operations well-lit and crews and workers safe from harm.
ATEX lighting is also kinder to the environment and a company’s bottom line. That’s because the LEDs emit less heat and therefore are more energy-efficient, leading to lower overall energy costs — including not having to replace them as frequently as standard LEDs and bulbs.
If you’re looking for explosion-proof lighting for your business, you can order high-quality ATEX portable lighting right here at the ATEXOnline store. We deliver worldwide!