Explosive-proof LED strip lights the way in hazardous areas

Hazardous area LED strip light specialist and trading partner of x-Glo Lighting, Mineglow, has launched IECEx certified explosive-proof LED strip lights in Oceania. The x-Glo IECEx range is designed to reduce the risk of explosions in gas and oil rigs, coalmines and other industrial applications, being purpose-built for environments where fire or explosion hazards exist due to flammable gases or explosive substances such as vapours, mists or dusts. The LED strip light solution provides protection by encapsulating electrical ignitions inside the light. Mineglow General Manager Carinne Pater said the IECEx certified lighting improves health and safety by protecting workers from the risk of accidental ignitions of flammable or explosive materials. Pater noted that the best way to prevent explosions in high-risk industrial areas is to remove potential ignition sources, adding that lights are some of the most common causes of explosion ignition.

“Our solution minimises risk by isolating and containing sparks within the strip to prevent explosions from escaping and potentially igniting the gases and particles in the atmosphere. The low profile of our lighting solution also means that they can’t be knocked and shatter. This greatly minimises the risk of an explosive reaction from spreading or igniting volatile substances in the area, so in terms of health and safety — the benefits are significant,” Pater said. An underground coalmine in Australia, offshore floating production storage and loading unit in Western Australia and a paint manufacturing plant in New South Wales have all adopted Mineglow’s x-Glo explosive-proof LED strip lights. In doing so, they have increased their operational efficiency and workplace safety, while reducing maintenance and operating costs.

The x-Glo LED solution is IECEx, ATEX and RoHS approved and certified for gas zones one and two, and dust zones 21 and 22. The lights are encapsulated with silicone, making them resistant to dust, humidity, chemicals and extreme environmental temperatures without enabling the risk of explosion. The LED-strip design also offers benefits over conventional lighting, due to its flexibility, efficiency, durability and ease of deployment.

“This range is unique as it combines IECEx certified protection and peace of mind with all the benefits of premium, industrial-grade LED strip lighting. Beyond energy efficiency alone, industrial-grade LED strip lighting is renowned for its flexibility to install quickly and easily in hard-to-reach places, is fully customisable in length and requires zero maintenance,” Pater said. Due to their flexibility, the lights are easy to install and can be mounted to any surface, including curved surfaces and corners, to provide consistent lighting to illuminate large areas. A single strip of lighting runs up to 30 metres and can be powered with 24, 36 or 48 V (AC or DC), giving customers the option to choose the level of illumination for their application.

Mineglow’s range has a 50,000-hour lifespan and can provide a daylight spectrum light in white 6500K for continuous lighting in hazardous areas and red, amber and green for emergency directional lighting for illuminating escape routes. Pater said LED explosion-proof lighting solutions are becoming a safer, more cost-efficient solution to alternative complex lighting infrastructures, particularly in the Asia–Pacific region.

“With the increasing regulations on worker safety globally, we’re seeing a lot of growth in the explosive-proof lighting market. It’s fantastic that we can provide a flexible LED strip lighting solution that’s truly unique and purpose-built for harsh conditions,” Pater said. Pater added that the replacement of incandescent and compact fluorescent lamps continues to grow with the improvement of diode technology that aids higher power LEDs with higher lumen output. “Using high-quality SMD LED chips, our explosive-proof range offers high brightness, colour consistency, uniformity and most importantly, high reliability,” Pater said.

Image credit: Mineglow