Working in hazardous environments like oil refineries, gas plants, and chemical facilities demands more than just operational efficiency – it requires strict safety compliance. These are all examples of hazardous industries, where specialized solutions are essential to ensure both safety and productivity. One of the most critical aspects of safety in these environments is lighting.
Here’s a brief overview: this guide covers essential aspects of explosion protection, hazardous area classifications, and equipment standards. From understanding hazardous zones to choosing the right explosion proof lighting, this guide breaks down how to meet Ex Zone compliance with ease – especially with solutions like the MineGlow SafeGlo IECEx LED strip lighting, purpose-built for the oil and gas industry.
What Are Hazardous Areas?
Hazardous areas are locations where flammable gases, vapours, liquids, or combustible dusts may be present, creating a significant risk of fire or explosion if an ignition source is introduced. These environments may contain substances such as explosive gases, flammable liquids, or other hazardous materials that pose specific safety risks.
Typical examples include:
- Oil and gas production sites
- Petrochemical refineries
- Petrochemical plants
- Chemical storage tanks
- LNG facilities and offshore platforms
In these hazardous environments, special precautions and standards apply.
As such, all electrical equipment – including lighting, power supplies and battery back up systems – must be rigorously tested and certified to prevent ignition and ensure operational safety.
Understanding Hazardous Area Classifications
Hazardous areas are classified in zones based on the frequency and duration of the presence of explosive atmospheres. Each hazardous area zone is defined by the likelihood and persistence of explosive gas or explosive dust atmospheres, as follows:
- Zone 0: An area where flammable substances are present continuously or for long periods, creating a constant risk of explosive gas atmospheres.
- Zone 1: An explosive atmosphere is likely during normal operations.
- Zone 2: An explosive atmosphere is unlikely but may occur under abnormal conditions.
These classifications, guide the selection of lighting and electrical equipment that meet the minimum safety requirements for such hazardous area zones. In Australia, the IECEx scheme is the most widely accepted certification for compliance in these environments.
Internationally, the ATEX directive and ATEX directives set out safety regulations and technical standards for hazardous area equipment in the European Union. ATEX certification and an ATEX certificate are required for products used in explosive atmospheres, ensuring ATEX compliance. While ATEX and IECEx have different documentation and assessment processes, both play a key role in supporting free trade of hazardous area equipment by harmonising safety standards and facilitating regulatory acceptance across global markets.
What Are Equipment Protection Levels (EPLs)?
EPLs define the level of protection, electrical equipment intended for use in hazardous areas must offer to prevent ignition. These levels are based on:
- The type of explosive atmosphere (gas or dust)
- The required level of risk mitigation
- The equipment’s construction – such as flameproof or increased safety enclosures
Temperature classifications are also a key factor in equipment selection, as electrical equipment is assigned to specific temperature classes (T1 to T6) based on its maximum surface temperature to prevent ignition within a flammable atmospheres.
Therefore in an oil and gas environment, using IECEx-certified explosion proof LED strip lights ensures compliance with EPL standards and enhances operational safety.
Why Explosion Proof Lighting Matters
In EX Zones, lighting is about providing good visibility – safely. Explosion proof lighting, as part of a broader range of explosion proof equipment, is engineered to prevent the ignition of flammable gases or dust. These fixtures are constructed to ensure containment of an internal spark and heat.
Benefits of explosion proof LED lighting:
- IECEx Certified to operate safely in hazardous area zones
- Withstands harsh environments, including corrosion, water ingress (IP67) and extreme temperatures (80° C)
- Provides glare-free, consistent lighting to provide “midday” lighting conditions
- Needs less lighting fixtures – a single LED light strip vs. 6-10 traditional fixtures
- a Single LED Strip Light can span up to 30m
MineGlow’s SafeGlo LED strip lights are engineered for exactly these challenges, delivering reliable and superior worksite illumination designed for hazardous areas, with a flexible, easy-to-install EX strip light energised off a single power supply.
In addition to improving energy efficiency by up to 60% compared to metal halide lamps and vastly lowering maintenance and inspections costs by up to 47%. (Only a single LED Strip light and power supply to inspect)
Making SafeGlo ideal for Australia’s harsh operational conditions in hazardous environments.
Electrical Equipment and Combustible Dust Hazards
Hazards aren’t limited to just combustible gases. Many other hazardous industrial environments – like distilleries, grain storage, paint shops, food processing & pharmaceuticals facilities, or chemical plants – have flammable materials present and face the same risks. In these settings, explosion proof lighting fixtures and power supplies, are essential to prevent the migration of flammable or toxic substances into electrical equipment.
Dust particles can ignite just as easily as gases, if exposed to sparks or hot surfaces, these flammable materials increase the risk of fire or explosion. That’s why explosion proof lighting must be selected based on both zone classification and environmental type (gas or dust).
SafeGlo is certified for both gas and dust environments, Zone 1/21 & 2/22.
What Does Explosion Proof Really Mean?
Explosion proof lighting is not about preventing an explosion from occurring – it’s about containing any ignition source within the fixture, so that it cannot interact with a potentially explosive atmosphere.
This is achieved through:
- Flameproof housing (also known as flameproof enclosure or Ex d)
- Heat management systems
- Reinforced wiring and cable glands
- Rigorous third-party certification
SafeGlo’s explosion proof LED lighting combine these safety mechanisms within the MineGlow portable explosion proof power supply – a major advantage when needing to rapidly deploy temporary lighting in a hazardous area.
IECEx Certification: Your Compliance Guarantee
IECEx is the gold standards for hazardous area compliance.
MineGlow’s SafeGlo Lighting is fully certified:
- IECEx Certification – Zone 1/21, 2/22 Ex mb I Mb, Ex mb IIC T6 Gb, Ex mb IIIC T80°C Db
- Certificate no: TPS 19.0047X
- ATEX Compliance – II 2D Ex mb op is IIIC T80°C Db
- Certificate no: TUV IT 19 ATEX 086 X Rev.1
Why it matters:
- Recognised globally
- Based on international standards (IEC)
- Ensures product testing, factory inspections, and traceability
- Mandatory for EX Zone lighting for Australian oil and gas sites
Every SafeGlo lighting system comes with full IECEx documentation, simplifying compliance for procurement and HSE teams across industries.
Safety Protocols and Regulatory Standards
Lighting is only one part of the safety equation. To remain compliant in hazardous areas, companies must also:
- Implement structured safety protocols
- Conduct regular inspections and maintenance
- Maintain certification records
- Train personnel in proper equipment installation, use and emergency response
- Manage risks associated with high pressure environments
MineGlow supports clients with not just certified products, but also technical documentation and Australian-based support for audits, inspections, and procurement.
Installation and Maintenance Made Simple
Proper installation and ongoing maintenance of electrical equipment in hazardous locations are essential for both safety and regulatory compliance. The National Electrical Code (NEC) outlines strict requirements for electrical installations in hazardous areas, including specifications for equipment protection levels, temperature classes, and power supply arrangements. Adhering to these standards helps prevent accidental ignition and ensures reliable operation in challenging environments.
To streamline the process, it’s wise to partner with specialist distributors who have extensive experience supplying explosion proof lighting fixtures, junction boxes, and other equipment intended for hazardous areas. These experts can provide valuable guidance on product selection and ensuring they are installed correctly according to hazardous area zone classifications.
Regular maintenance is equally important. This includes routine inspections for signs of wear or damage, cleaning to prevent dust accumulation, and timely replacement of any compromised components. By following a proactive maintenance schedule, you can extend the lifespan of your explosion proof lighting and electrical equipment, minimize downtime, and uphold the highest safety standards in hazardous environments.
Empowering Your Team: Training Essentials
Ensuring that your team is properly trained is a cornerstone of safe operations in explosive environments. Comprehensive training programs should cover hazardous area classification, the correct use of electrical equipment, and understanding equipment protection levels. This knowledge empowers personnel to recognize risks and operate safely within hazardous environments.
International standards, such as those set by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and European Directives, provide clear guidelines for training requirements. In regions like Western Australia, regulatory bodies mandate that workers complete specialized training and certification before working with electrical equipment in hazardous areas with explosive enviromments. Employers are responsible for verifying that their staff are competent and for providing regular refresher courses to keep skills and knowledge up to date.
By investing in ongoing training, you not only comply with legal requirements but also foster a culture of safety and preparedness, reducing the risk of incidents and ensuring that your team is equipped to handle the unique challenges of hazardous area zone operations.
Be Prepared: Emergency Procedures for Hazardous Areas
Preparation is key to minimizing fire and explosion risks in hazardous areas. Having robust emergency procedures in place ensures that your team can respond quickly and effectively to incidents such as gas leaks, equipment malfunctions, or accidental releases of hazardous substances. These procedures should include clear emergency response plans, evacuation routes, and access to first aid kits and protective systems.
Guidelines from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) outline essential requirements for emergency preparedness in hazardous areas, including the provision of fire extinguishers, emergency showers, and eye wash stations. Regular drills and training exercises help reinforce these procedures, ensuring that all personnel are familiar with their roles and responsibilities during an emergency.
By prioritizing occupational safety and maintaining well-documented emergency protocols, you can significantly reduce the risk of injury or property damage, creating a safer working environment for everyone involved in hazardous area operations.
Simplifying Ex Zone Compliance With SafeGlo
Ex zone compliance can be complex – but it doesn’t have to be.
By selecting IECEx-certified LED strip lighting like SafeGlo, you ensure that your site meets the highest safety standards while gaining the flexibility to deploy lighting quickly and efficiently in any hazardous location with a 80% reduction in the amount of traditional explosion proof lighting equipment required.
SafeGlo is:
- IECEx and ATEX certified
- Rated for higher ambient temperatures than competitors
- Designed for fast installation and full portability
- Backed by local support from MineGlow
- Suitable for use in other facilities beyond the main industries, providing reliable lighting in a wide range of hazardous environments
Upgrade Your Lighting, Simplify Your Compliance
Ready to reduce compliance risk and installation costs, improve lighting performance, and keep your crew safe?
Contact MineGlow today to discuss how SafeGlo explosion proof LED strip lighting can support your hazardous area lighting requirements with proven, compliant solutions – built for the oil, gas, dust and other hazardous areas.
