HAZLOC – Hazardous Locations headlamp considerations
When considering a headlamp that will be used in potential hazardous locations, one should look at the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) certifications that each product has been certified to have passed.
The following information should be used as discussion points when considering the safety of the headlamp lighting one may consider using in potential hazardous locations.
(The following certification information was obtained from the Underwriters Laboratories web site, for the most current versions please go to the Underwriters Laboratories web site or contact them directly).
Class I (Flammable gases, vapors or liquids) certification and the Class II (Combustible dust) certification are mutually exclusive to each other. If a product has a Class I certification, it does not mean that the product automatically conforms to Class II certification requirements. A product must pass individual class requirements for both class certifications to be issued.
Instead of defining Class level alone, one may want to look at this in a step by step process to ensure that you get the product that best fits the environmental exposure you are considering.
First - define Class 1 environments you would expect to encounter
(Flammable gases, vapors or liquids) Division I or Division II as a requirement.
Class I, Division I
A Class I, Division I location is a location…
Class I, Division II
A Class I, Division II location is a location…
Second - define Gas types that you would expect to encounter
Division I & II Gas Groups
Third - define Class 2 environments you would expect to encounter
(Combustible dust) Division I or Division II as a requirement
Class II, Division I
A Class II, Division 1 location is a location…
Class II, Division II
A Class II, Division 2 location is a location…
Fourth - define Dust types that you would expect to encounter
Fifth – Review your selected Classes and Divisions and your gases and dusts
You should now have something that looks like:
Class I Division II A, C, D (Flammable gases, vapors or liquids)
And
Class II Division II G (Combustible dust)
Sixth – Review it again !
In our opinion, it is strongly suggested that these results should be looked at as a threshold and not to let the threshold experience “creep” by allowing it to move into a higher threshold just for the sake of think a higher requirement is better. Safer is better but one has to also look at what features and functionality in equipment may be lost by increasing that threshold into an area that you are very unlikely or never to experience.
Now that you have discussed the HAZLOC certification to see which ones you need to operate in, you now need to consider durability and functionality in the environment the product is going to be exposes.
You have a number of features to consider.
· Luminosity (not just on high settings)
· Field of view
· Power source (AAA batteries vs AA or others types)
· Operational run time (Most products do not state what the Low setting light output is)
· Robustness
· Switches and adjustment features
· Size or Bulk
· Water resistance
· Dust resistance
· Ease of battery replacement
· Versatility
· Programmability (customizable programming is coming in the near future)
· Life span
· Cost effectiveness
· Warranty
If you would like help in selecting a headlamp solution, feel free to email us with your questions.
Good luck!
Emergency Support Services
[email protected]
The following information should be used as discussion points when considering the safety of the headlamp lighting one may consider using in potential hazardous locations.
(The following certification information was obtained from the Underwriters Laboratories web site, for the most current versions please go to the Underwriters Laboratories web site or contact them directly).
Class I (Flammable gases, vapors or liquids) certification and the Class II (Combustible dust) certification are mutually exclusive to each other. If a product has a Class I certification, it does not mean that the product automatically conforms to Class II certification requirements. A product must pass individual class requirements for both class certifications to be issued.
Instead of defining Class level alone, one may want to look at this in a step by step process to ensure that you get the product that best fits the environmental exposure you are considering.
First - define Class 1 environments you would expect to encounter
(Flammable gases, vapors or liquids) Division I or Division II as a requirement.
Class I, Division I
A Class I, Division I location is a location…
- In which ignitable concentrations of flammable gases, flammable liquid–produced vapors, or combustible liquid–produced vapors can exist under normal operating conditions, or
- In which ignitable concentrations of such flammable gases, flammable liquid–produced vapors, or combustible liquids above their flash points may exist frequently because of repair or maintenance operations or because of leakage, or
- In which breakdown or faulty operation of equipment or processes might release ignitable concentrations of flammable gases, flammable liquid–produced vapors, or combustible liquid–produced vapors and might also cause simultaneous failure of electrical equipment in such a way as to directly cause the electrical equipment to become a source of ignition.
Class I, Division II
A Class I, Division II location is a location…
- In which volatile flammable gases, flammable liquid–produced vapors, or combustible liquid–produced vapors are handled, processed, or used, but in which the liquids, vapors, or gases will normally be confined within closed containers or closed systems from which they can escape only in case of accidental rupture or breakdown of such containers or systems or in case of abnormal operation of equipment, or
- In which ignitable concentrations of flammable gases, flammable liquid–produced vapors, or combustible liquid–produced vapors are normally prevented by positive mechanical ventilation and which might become hazardous through failure or abnormal operation of the ventilating equipment, or
- That is adjacent to a Class I, Division I location, and to which ignitable concentrations of flammable gases, flammable liquid–produced vapors, or combustible liquid–produced vapors above their flash points might occasionally be communicated unless such communication is prevented by adequate positive -pressure ventilation from a source of clean air and effective safeguards against ventilation failure are provided.
Second - define Gas types that you would expect to encounter
Division I & II Gas Groups
- Group A: Acetylene
- Group B: Hydrogen
- Group C: Ethylene
- Group D : Propane, Gasoline, Naphtha, Benzene, Butane, Ethyl Alcohol, Acetone, Methane.
- : Flammable gas, flammable liquid–produced vapor, or combustible liquid–produced vapor mixed with air that may burn or explode, having either a maximum experimental safe gap (MESG) value greater than 0.75 mm or a minimum igniting current ratio (MIC ratio) greater than 0.80
Third - define Class 2 environments you would expect to encounter
(Combustible dust) Division I or Division II as a requirement
Class II, Division I
A Class II, Division 1 location is a location…
- In which combustible dust is in the air under normal operating conditions in quantities sufficient to produce explosive or ignitable mixtures, or
- Where mechanical failure or abnormal operation of machinery or equipment might cause such explosive or ignitable mixtures to be produced, and might also provide a source of ignition through simultaneous failure of electrical equipment, through operation of protection devices, or from other causes, or
- In which Group E combustible dusts may be present in quantities sufficient to be hazardous.
Class II, Division II
A Class II, Division 2 location is a location…
- In which combustible dust due to abnormal operations may be present in the air in quantities sufficient to produce explosive or ignitible mixtures; or
- Where combustible dust accumulations are present but are normally insufficient to interfere with the normal operation of electrical equipment or other apparatus, but could as a result of infrequent malfunctioning of handling or processing equipment become suspended in the air; or
- In which combustible dust accumulations on, in, or in the vicinity of the electrical equipment could be sufficient to interfere with the safe dissipation of heat from electrical equipment, or could be ignitable by abnormal operation or failure of electrical equipment.
Fourth - define Dust types that you would expect to encounter
- Group E : Atmospheres containing combustible metal dusts, including aluminum, magnesium, and their commercial alloys, or other combustible dusts whose particle size, abrasiveness, and conductivity present similar hazards in the use of electrical equipment.
- Group F: Atmospheres containing combustible carbonaceous dusts that have more than 8 percent total entrapped volatiles (see ASTM D 3175-02, Standard Test Method for Volatile Matter in the Analysis
- Group G: Atmospheres containing combustible dusts not included in Group E or F, including flour, grain, wood, plastic, and chemicals.
Fifth – Review your selected Classes and Divisions and your gases and dusts
You should now have something that looks like:
Class I Division II A, C, D (Flammable gases, vapors or liquids)
And
Class II Division II G (Combustible dust)
Sixth – Review it again !
In our opinion, it is strongly suggested that these results should be looked at as a threshold and not to let the threshold experience “creep” by allowing it to move into a higher threshold just for the sake of think a higher requirement is better. Safer is better but one has to also look at what features and functionality in equipment may be lost by increasing that threshold into an area that you are very unlikely or never to experience.
Now that you have discussed the HAZLOC certification to see which ones you need to operate in, you now need to consider durability and functionality in the environment the product is going to be exposes.
You have a number of features to consider.
· Luminosity (not just on high settings)
· Field of view
· Power source (AAA batteries vs AA or others types)
· Operational run time (Most products do not state what the Low setting light output is)
· Robustness
· Switches and adjustment features
· Size or Bulk
· Water resistance
· Dust resistance
· Ease of battery replacement
· Versatility
· Programmability (customizable programming is coming in the near future)
· Life span
· Cost effectiveness
· Warranty
If you would like help in selecting a headlamp solution, feel free to email us with your questions.
Good luck!
Emergency Support Services
[email protected]