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Class 1 Division 2 Emergency Lights

Class 1 Division 2 Emergency Lights Overview

Flammable gas and vapor would cause standard emergency lights to ignite, but Class 1 Division 2 Emergency Lights are designed to remain functional in these hazardous environments. They use gasketed housing to ensure electrical components are kept safe.

Class 1 Division 2 Emergency Light Construction

The National Electric Code (NEC) and International Electric Code (IEC) set very specific requirements for emergency lighting fixtures that are installed in environments that contain flammable gas and vapor. These requirements ensure that the fixture will provide reliable emergency illumination and, more importantly, will not explode. 

View Our Class 1 Division 2 Emergency Light

 

The NEC categorizes emergency lights by what type of flammable material they are capable of withstanding. 

  • Class 1: areas that contain flammable gas or vapor
  • Class 2: areas that contain combustible dust
  • Class 3: areas that contain ignitable fibers or flyings

 

The NEC also uses divisions to indicate how often the fixture can be exposed to hazardous elements
  • Division 1: flammable materials are present during normal conditions. The fixture is installed in a room that always has flammable gas, vapor, etc during normal operating hours of the facility.
  • Division 2: flammable materials are present during abnormal conditions. This fixture is installed in areas that contain flammable elements housed in containers or barrels that may accidentally spill or leak.

Class 1 Division 1 emergency lights are appropriate for environments that always contain flammable elements, whereas a Class 1 Division 2 fixtures are designed to be occasionally exposed to ignitable materials
 
These specifications are left intentionally broad so commercial facilities can work with safety inspectors to find an appropriate fixture for each individual environment. It is important that the facility manager has a good understanding of codes and requirements so fines and accidents are avoided.
 
The IEC uses similar, but slightly different classifications for fixtures in hazardous locations. NEC's Class 1 Division 2 standard is roughly equates to IEC's Zone 2 rating.
 

How These Lights Are Different

Emergency lights that have a class/division rating and are intended for use when surrounded by hazardous materials are different from standard emergency lights in that the housing is fully sealed. Electrical components generate heat and can spark if there are poor connections or corrosion. This would cause flammable gas or vapor to ignite, but thanks to the fully gasketed design, reliability and safety are ensured. 

Division 1 lights are intended for use in environments where flammable materials are always present, and are therefor subject to higher standards than division 2 lights. Because of their advanced technology, division 1 lights cost more than their division 2 counterparts.

Most facilities separate division 1 and division 2 environments to ensure the appropriate emergency light is installed in the area. Walls and automatically closing doors are used to section off one area from the other, saving money on purchase and installation costs.



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