Hazardous Location Lighting

Hazardous location fittings are bought against a classification, not against a room name. Before anything can be quoted, somebody has to have decided what class, division or zone the space is, and what material group and temperature code apply. Get that from the engineer or the area classification drawing. Guessing it is not a saving.

South Florida generates more of this work than people expect. Marinas and boatyards, fuel dispensing, wastewater treatment, paint spray booths and certain food processing areas all involve classified spaces.

What has to be nailed down before quoting

• Class, then Division or Zone. Under NEC Article 500, Class I is flammable gases and vapours, Class II is combustible dust, Class III is easily ignitable fibres and flyings. Division 1 means the hazard is present in normal operation. Division 2 means it is present only when something fails.
• The Zone system is a finer cut of the same axis, not a rebrand. Articles 505 and 506 split what Division 1 lumps together: Zone 0 is continuous presence, Zone 1 is likely in normal operation, Zone 2 is not likely. Zone 0 plus Zone 1 corresponds roughly to Division 1, and Zone 2 to Division 2. The value of the Zone approach is that you spend on continuous-presence protection only where the presence really is continuous.
• Material group. For Class I the groups run A through D under the Division system, or IIA, IIB and IIC under the Zone system, ordered by how easily the atmosphere ignites. Hydrogen and acetylene are the demanding end.
• Temperature code. The T-code caps the maximum surface temperature the fitting may reach, and it has to sit below the ignition temperature of the atmosphere present. A fitting can be correctly rated for the class and division and still be wrong on T-code.
• Listings. UL 844 is the standard for luminaires for use in hazardous classified locations; UL 1598 is the general luminaire standard. Both may appear on a submittal and they are not interchangeable.
• Certain occupancies are pre-classified. NEC Articles 511 through 517 cover commercial garages, aircraft hangars, motor fuel dispensing, spray application and health care, so the designer does not have to classify those areas from first principles. If your space is one of those, say so, because it shortens the conversation.
• Enclosure material is a second decision on the coast. A marina fitting is fighting salt as well as the classified atmosphere. Stainless, copper-free aluminum and the gasket specification all matter.

Manufacturers in this category

8 of the 639 manufacturers in my index make hazardous-location fixtures. 3 are mine and shown here, with one of the others for comparison. The rest, with who represents each one in South Florida, are in the manufacturer index.

Not seeing the line you were specified? Search all 639 manufacturers or look up the rep for your territory. I quote lines beyond the ones listed here.

What to send me for a price

• The area classification: class, division or zone, material group and temperature code.
• The fixture schedule or the catalog numbers being replaced.
• Mounting details: ceiling, pendant, wall bracket, pole, and the height.
• Whether the location is wet, corrosive or near salt water.
• Any certification paperwork the authority having jurisdiction has said it wants to see.

Common questions

Related: High bay and industrial · Emergency and exit lighting · Outdoor and landscape lighting · All categories · Request a quote

SESCO lines I represent for hazardous location lighting

3 of the 163 SESCO lines cover this category. Any of them can be priced from your fixture schedule.

Appleton · L.C. Doane · SpecGrade

Not seeing a line? The full manufacturer index covers the whole market, or just send me the project.