Emergency Ex Lighting: Guide To On Site Safety

Published 24 Sep 2019

Emergency Ex Lighting

Emergency Ex Lighting

Raytec Emergency Hazardous Area Lighting

Emergency Ex lighting is used to supply back-up illumination in hazardous areas using an in-built battery which provides light output in the event that mains power is lost – effective emergency hazardous area lighting solution absolutely critical to achieving the highest levels of safety on site.

This article looks at the advancements in emergency luminaires thanks to the development of LED technology, and explores why hazardous area lighting is so important to on-site safety.

Why is Emergency Lighting Important?

Safety is paramount in emergency lighting applications. Although the presence of gas or dust denotes a ‘hazardous area’, applications in which Ex lighting is required, such as offshore oil and gas, are also commonly high risk in terms of their general safety and the highest safety measures are required at all times to minimise the risk on-site.

A light output that is available during a power outtage (when the main power is down) is crucial to site safety – if the site has an unstable power supply emergency lighting is imperative.

For example, offshore applications rely on the use of generators as their primary source of power; these generators are often unstable and prone to power outages which increase the reliance on emergency lighting, and make the choice of LED luminaires even more important.

With existing technology, even short term voltage drops cause significant disruption given the delay in the luminaire being able to restrike, as previously discussed. Moving between power and emergency modes is simple making the LED luminaire the most suitable solution for applications with unstable power supplies.

Why LED for Emergency Fittings?

The emergence of LED technology has meant that emergency Ex lighting has become a feasible, functional lighting solution. Although it’s not impossible to find an emergency variant of a  traditional luminaire (i.e. SON or Metal Halide), these units have their limitations.

Design

Generally speaking emergency batteries can be bulky and expensive therefore it is uncommon for emergency lighting to use traditional technologies.

In contrast, LED luminaires require only a fraction of the power; for example a 400W SON Floodlight can be replaced by a 136W SPARTAN LED equivalent.

Emergency backup batteries don’t need to be as powerful as normal ones which enables the battery to be more compact in size and weight helping to reduce the cost of the overall unit.

Functionality

The functionality of the traditional emergency lighting units is the main barrier not only the size, weight and cost. A high power draw means that under emergency conditions the units can only provide output for a fraction of the time compared to a superior LED alternative.

A SPARTAN LED Floodlight can provide 50% light output for up to 2 hours.

LED light fittings also allow an instant restrike when mains power is lost, ensuring there is outtage when the emergency battery kicks in. Traditional light fittings may take up to 15 minutes to fully strike when power is lost; too long a period of time when an emergency strikes a hazardous area.

SPARTAN Emergency Flood Luminaire – UAE Jack-Up Rig

Other Benefits of Emergency LED Lighting

Emergency LED lighting also provide greater resilience than traditional Ex light fittings. Each scenario is likely to have different specifications for its emergency lighting; some may prioritise light output under emergency conditions, while others may require an extended running time by using a lower output level.

Conveniently SPARTAN luminaires can be set up to have a different light output under emergency conditions. This helps the balance between light output and running time, and the most suitable solution for each application.

The modular design of the LED lighting allows flexibility meaning a standard variant of the SPARTAN luminaires can be enhanced to an emergency light fitting at anytime with a additional battery back up module so a unit can be upgraded rather than replaced, saving time and cost.

Lighting Fittings Linear | High Bay | Bulkhead | Floodlights | Zone 1 & Zone 2 Hazardous Area Lighting

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Thorne & Derrick are Specialist Distributors of Hazardous Area & Explosion Proof Equipment with IECEx & ATEX Certifications to the onshore and offshore oil, gas, petrochemicals and process industries.

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