Safety Certifications

Safety has to be the number one concern for anyone who ventures into potentially hazardous situations.

Among the many hazards, fire and explosions caused by ignition of flammable gasses, dust, fibers and fine metal particles found in the air can be the most devastating. Many organizations including the NFPA (in America) and the European Commission on Safety have sponsored research, backed legislation, and created standards to help prevent fires and explosions.

Potential Flashlight Hazards

Strangely enough, the ordinary flashlight can ignite flammable gasses and particles unless precautions are taken to make it safe. Potential safety risks include the hot surface of a light bulb or the hotter exposed filament of a broken light bulb. Sparks from bouncing batteries or heat from a battery which has been accidentally shorted can be devastating. Electronic components like capacitors or inductors which store energy can cause sparks or hot spots. Some gases and particles are more flammable than others. By subjecting the entire flashlight and its most potentially dangerous components to; various types of gasses and particles the safety of a flashlight can be rated for safe use in potentially explosive atmospheres.

Flashlight Ratings for Hazardous Locations

When choosing a flashlight it is extremely important that the rating applied to the flashlight be understood and the light not be used in areas which exceed the rating of the flashlight. The ratings reveal the type of gas mixture allowed, the temperature of the hottest element in the light and list the specific brand and model number of battery permitted. If the rating is not printed on the light assume that it has not been tested and is potentially a fire hazard. The standards and tests used to rate flashlights are listed later on below. They are readily available from standards resellers on the internet.

Reading the Rating on a Flashlight

American Ratings
In order to understand the rating printed on a flashlight let us look at the rating on the side of our UK4AA eLED CPO light as an example.

UK 4AA ELED CPO-AS5
The exact name and model number of the flashlight

UNDERWATER KINETICS, POWAY, CA USA
Name and location of the manufacturer

CL I,II, III DIV 1 GROUP A-G, T4 Exia

CONFORMS TO UL STD 783, UL STD 913, AND CERTIFIED TO CSA STD C22.2 No. 157.
List of standards to which the light was tested.  Note that one standard may refer to many other standards

WARNING: RISK OF IGNITION –DO NOT OPEN IN HAZARDOUS LOCATIONS. CHECK INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE USE.
Required warning by the standard

DO NOT MIX BATTERIES OF DIFFERENT MAKE OR OLD AND NEW. USE ONLY 4 AA 1.5V ENERGIZER E91,DURACELL MN1500, OR RAYOVAC 815 BATTERIES
Required waning based on recent battery related explosions. Only the batteries listed have been tested for use in the hazardous locations described above. No other battery should be used.

HADARDOUS LOCATION STANDARDS FOR LIGHT TESTING

American Standards

European Standards

Testing Laboratories

CSA – Canadian Standards Association (http://www.csa.ca/)

 

SNCH – Société Nationale de Certification et d’Homologation  (http://www.snch.lu/snch/home.nsf)

 

 

SEV – Electorsuisse (http://www.electrosuisse.ch/)

FM – FM Global (http://www.fmglobal.com/)

 

UL, ULC - Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (http://www.ul.com/)

 

ETL – Intertek Testing Laboratories (http://www.intertek-etlsemko.com)

UK LIGHTS RATED FOR USE IN HAZARDOUS LOCATIONS

American Standards

European ATEX Standards