Hazardous Location Emergency Lights Summary

The requirement for emergency lighting in public or commercial facilities includes emergency lighting in hazardous location. What makes an area hazardous a far as lighting is concerned? The presence of any flammable substances, especially hazardous gases or vapors can be hazardous, when mixed with electrical devices, such as lights.

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Lighting, whether regular lighting, or emergency lighting, used in these areas must be designed in such a way as to not increase the risk in these hazardous location. Essentially, this means insuring that the lights have no possibility of creating a spark that can cause a fire.

Class 1 Division 2 emergency lights are the most popular and common type of hazardous location emergency light. Class 1 Div 1 and Class 1 Div 2 emergency lights are also known as explosion proof emergency lights.

Hazardous Location Emergency Lights are designed for the most extreme environments. All models are UL Listed and made in the USA.

Defining Hazardous Locations

The National Electric Code (NEC) and International Electric Code (IEC) specify design requirements for lights, including emergency lights, which are used in hazardous locations. While the two sets of regulations are different, there is much that overlaps between the two. You need to verify which regulation your local building inspection and fire authorities are referring to, before construction or remodeling.

The NEC divides hazardous locations into three classes, as defined by different hazardous materials used in those areas. They also define two divisions, for the areas, depending upon the likelihood of those hazardous materials used in those particular areas. When buying an emergency lighting fixture, you need to know both the class and division of the application.

Classes:

• Class 1 – Flammable gases or vapors
• Class 2 – Flammable dust
• Class 3 – Flammable fibers or flyings

Divisions:

• Division 1 – Hazardous materials are in the area as a normal part of operations
• Division 2 – Hazardous materials can be in the area, but only as an abnormal part of operations

Typically, Division 1 is limited to areas where operations occur using those hazardous materials. Because they are exposed to the air, the air is assumed to be filled with those flammable materials. Division 2 areas are adjacent areas where the hazardous materials are either stored or transported. Since the hazardous materials are in sealed containers, the only time they would be in the air would be during an accident or spill.

Designing for Hazardous Materials

Generally speaking, emergency lights designed for use in hazardous areas are designed for Class 1 flammable materials; in either division 1 or division 2 application. Since flammable gases or vapors are the greatest risk of any flammable material, by designing for Class 1 insures that the light fixtures are safe in all hazardous materials applications.

To make emergency light fixtures safe for use in these situations, the designers have to accomplish two things:

• Insure that no gases or vapors can reach any electrical connection
• Insure that the case is rugged enough to not rupture in the case of internal explosion or striking

Class 1 emergency lights are designed in such a way as to have the cases totally sealed from the entrance of gases or vapors. This insures that there can be no chance of an internal electrical spark starting a fire. Please note that care must be used to insure that these seals remain undamaged when the unit is opened for maintenance or inspection.