Winter Nights, Safer Sites: ATEX Lighting Solutions That Work in the Dark

Published 22 Oct 2025

As winter sets in and daylight hours shrink, ensuring your site remains safe and productive becomes more critical than ever. Poor visibility not only increases the risk of accidents but can also impact operational efficiency. As the nights grow longer this winter, it’s time to ask: Are you prepared for the dark nights?

At Thorne & Derrick, we understand the challenges winter brings to hazardous areas. Our ATEX lighting solutions are engineered to perform in the toughest environments — keeping your workforce safe and your operations compliant.

Hazardous Area Lighting in Industrial Stairwell

Winter Safety Tips: Keeping Your Site Bright, Safe & Compliant

As daylight hours shorten, ensure your site remains safe, compliant, and operational throughout the darker months. Use the checklist below to help prepare your team and equipment for winter conditions.

Winter Safety Checklist

  • Inspect ATEX Lighting: Ensure all luminaires are checked, cleaned, and fully operational before the winter season
  • Portable Lighting: Keep portable and temporary ATEX lights available for maintenance and emergency tasks
  • Illuminated Walkways: Verify all access routes, stairways, and critical zones remain well-lit in low-visibility conditions
  • Emergency Backup Systems: Test all emergency lighting units and power supplies to ensure continuity during outages
  • Lighting Survey: Schedule a professional lighting survey to identify dark spots and verify compliance with ATEX, IECEx, or UKEX standards

Why Winter Lighting Matters for Hazardous Areas

Winter brings shorter days, poor weather, and darker working conditions. On industrial and hazardous sites, inadequate lighting can cause:

  • Increased risk of slips, trips, and falls
  • Reduced operational efficiency and productivity
  • Higher likelihood of accidents in explosive zones

Effective hazardous area lighting guarantees clear visibility, regulatory compliance, and the safety of your workforce.

ATEX Lighting Zone, Ratings & Certification

Hazardous Area Lighting Solutions from Thorne & Derrick

We supply a complete range of explosion-proof lighting and industrial LED luminaires designed for the toughest conditions:

  • Temporary & Portable Lighting – Ideal for maintenance and inspection work
  • Permanent Fixed Lighting – Reliable, long-life lighting for ongoing operations
  • Lighting Surveys & Design – Site-specific designs that ensure compliance and performance

Key Benefits of Proper Winter Lighting

  • Enhanced Safety – Prevent accidents and maintain compliance
  • Improved Efficiency – Maintain operations despite limited daylight
  • Energy Savings – Modern LED systems cut energy use significantly

With UK stock and next-day delivery, Thorne & Derrick ensures your site stays safe, visible, and compliant throughout the winter months.

ATEX Lighting at Gas Filling Plant - Calor Gas Port Clarence

Case Study: ATEX Lighting Upgrade for Calor Gas Port Clarence

Thorne & Derrick, in collaboration with Raytec, delivered a time-critical ATEX lighting upgrade at Calor Gas’s Port Clarence facility — a hazardous gas filling site requiring robust, compliant lighting.

The outdated SON system had failed, posing operational and safety risks. A total of 122 Raytec ATEX LED luminaires — including Mid Power Bays, Linears, and Floodlights — were installed to restore visibility, reduce energy consumption, and ensure full winter readiness.

Project Highlights

  • Enhanced safety and operational visibility across hazardous zones
  • Significant reduction in energy use and maintenance costs
  • Improved light control with minimal spill to surrounding areas

ATEX Lighting for Gas Filling Plants

Durable, energy-efficient, and IECEx/ATEX-certified lighting engineered for explosive and hazardous environments.

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“Raytec’s LED lighting has transformed safety and visibility within our filling facility. The new system restored full visibility, reduced light spill, and delivered measurable energy savings. Thorne & Derrick’s support from survey to installation was excellent.”

– Calor Gas

FAQ: Winter Lighting

What makes lighting suitable for hazardous areas?

ATEX, IECEx, and UKEX-certified lighting ensures electrical equipment can operate safely in explosive or flammable atmospheres.

How can I reduce energy costs while maintaining site safety?

Upgrading to high-efficiency LED lighting with precision optics reduces energy consumption and maintenance downtime.

Does Thorne & Derrick offer lighting design services?

Yes — we provide a free lighting design service to ensure your layout meets ATEX/IECEx/UKEX standards while optimising illumination, safety, and efficiency.

Winter Nights. Safer Sites.

Don’t compromise safety or productivity this winter. With Thorne & Derrick’s hazardous area lighting solutions, you can keep your workforce visible, protected, and compliant — no matter how dark it gets.