Verify the Safety and Compliance of Hazardous Location Lighting Products
Hazardous location lighting products must operate safely in environments where flammable gases, vapors, combustible dusts, or ignitable fibers may be present. Whether you're developing LED luminaires for oil and gas facilities, mining operations, chemical processing plants, marine installations, or industrial manufacturing sites, demonstrating compliance with the applicable hazardous location standards is essential for market access.
Intertek provides testing, certification, and global market access services for hazardous location lighting products. Our experts help manufacturers navigate North American HazLoc requirements, IECEx certification, ATEX Directive requirements, and regional approval schemes to bring compliant products to market faster. We also help manufacturers understand the differences between protection methods such as flameproof, intrinsic safety, increased safety, and dust ignition protection so products are evaluated against the correct requirements.
Hazardous location luminaires must meet complex safety and certification requirements that vary by product design, protection method, application, and target market. Download our fact sheet to learn more.
Hazardous Location Lighting Testing Services
Intertek provides testing and certification for:
- Fixed hazardous location luminaires
- LED hazardous location luminaires
- Portable flashlights, lanterns, and cap lamps
- Area, roadway, high-bay, and low-bay lighting intended for classified locations
- Lighting intended for industrial, oil and gas, chemical-processing, mining, marine, and offshore environments
Applicable Standards for Hazardous Location Lighting
Hazardous location lighting products often require compliance with both general luminaire safety standards and standards specific to explosive atmospheres. Applicable requirements depend on the product design, intended installation, protection concept, and target market.
North American Standards
- UL 844 – Luminaires for Use in Hazardous (Classified) Locations
- CSA C22.2 No. 137 – Electric Luminaires for Use in Hazardous Locations
- UL 1598 – Luminaires
- CSA C22.2 No. 250 – Luminaires
- UL 8750 – LED Equipment for Use in Lighting Products
- UL 783 – Electric Flashlights and Lanterns for Use in Hazardous Locations
- UL 913 – Intrinsically Safe Apparatus and Associated Apparatus
- UL 121201 / CSA C22.2 No. 213 – Nonincendive Electrical Equipment for Hazardous Locations
International Standards
- IEC 60598 Series – Luminaires
- IEC/EN/UL/CSA 60079 Series – Explosive Atmospheres
- IEC 60529 – IP Code
- IEC 62262 – IK Mechanical Impact Protection
Hazardous Location Protection Methods
Selecting the appropriate protection concept is critical for certification. Intertek helps manufacturers determine which protection method applies to their product and intended installation. Learn more about Hazloc Protection Methods.
Performance and Environmental Testing
In addition to hazardous location certification, lighting manufacturers may require performance testing to demonstrate durability and reliability.
Intertek performs:
- Photometric testing (ANSI/IES LM-79, IES LM-46)
- Surge testing (ANSI/IEEE C62.41.2)
- Corrosion testing (ASTM B117)
- Luminaire vibration testing (ANSI C136.31)
- Environmental testing
- Ingress Protection (IP) testing
- Mechanical impact (IK) testing
Products submitted to the DesignLights Consortium® as hazardous-location luminaires may be subject to additional DLC documentation and certification requirements, including evidence of the applicable hazardous-location certification and classification. Manufacturers should consult the current DLC Technical Requirements before submission.
Why Choose Intertek for Hazardous Location Lighting Certification?
Intertek combines hazardous location expertise with one of the industry's broadest global certification networks. Our capabilities include:
- OSHA Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) for Hazardous Locations and Unclassified Locations (US Listings).
- Standards Council of Canada-accredited certification body and testing laboratory for applicable Canadian standards
- IECEx Equipment Certification
- ATEX Conformity Assessments for the European Union
- UKCA/UKEX Conformity Assessment for Great Britain
- Hazardous Locations training, including an accredited CompEx Training Center
- Site services including Hazardous Area Classification, Risk Assessments, and Inspections
Whether you're certifying a new explosion-proof luminaire, expanding into international markets, or updating an existing product to meet evolving standards, Intertek can help streamline compliance and accelerate certification.
Hazardous Location Lighting - Frequently Asked Questions (cFAQs)
Hazardous location luminaires are evaluated to standards selected according to their target market, hazardous-area classification, protection method, construction, and intended installation. Relevant standards may include UL 844, CSA C22.2 No. 137, applicable parts of the IEC 60079 series, and general luminaire requirements such as UL 1598, CSA C22.2 No. 250.0, or IEC 60598-1.
Explosion-proof (Ex d) lighting contains an internal explosion within the enclosure, while intrinsically safe (Ex i) lighting limits electrical energy so ignition cannot occur, even under specified fault conditions.
Depending on the product, application, specification, and qualification program, manufacturers may also need photometric, surge, vibration, corrosion, ingress-protection, mechanical-impact, environmental, or other performance testing.
Yes. Intertek supports North American certification, IECEx, ATEX, UKEX, and other regional hazardous location certification programs through its global network of hazardous location experts.
Knowledge Center
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Commercial Displays: Compliance to ANSI/UL 970 Fact Sheet
Lighting for Hazardous Locations Fact Sheet
Germicidal Lighting Fact Sheet
Horticultural Lighting Safety & Performance Criteria Fact Sheet
Product Listing & Marking Strategies White Paper
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Automotive Lighting: Photometric Concepts, Calibration, and Measurement White Paper
Class P Program for LED Light Engines Fact Sheet
ANSI/UL 8750: Overview and Tips for Manufacturers
Ingress Protection for Lighting Products IP vs. NEMA Ratings White Paper
California Energy Commission (CEC) Title 20 and Title 24 White Paper
Resources
- Global Lighting Standards
- ETL Listed Mark - proof of product compliance to North American safety standards
- Reese's Law – ANSI/UL 4200A-2023
- Sustainability Solutions for Lighting
- My Test Central
- Product Directories
- Certification Marks
- Global Market Access
- SatelliteTM Client Test Program
- Intertek Protek - The world’s first industry-agnostic, end-to-end health, safety and wellbeing assurance program
- Intertek Performance Gateway
