Class 1 Division 2 lighting is designed for hazardous locations where flammable gases or vapors are not normally present in ignitable concentrations but may appear under abnormal conditions. It is commonly used in facilities such as oil and gas plants, chemical processing areas, and fuel storage sites. Using properly certified lighting in these environments is essential to maintain safety, regulatory compliance, and reliable operations.
Moreover, in the long term, choosing the appropriate Class 1 Div 2 LED lighting can also enhance energy efficiency, reduce maintenance costs, and improve overall operational efficiency.
This guide covers Class 1 Div 2 lighting and how to choose safe and compliant lighting solutions for hazardous locations.
Class 1 Div 2 lighting is a lighting equipment specifically designed for hazardous locations.
Here, "Class 1" refers to the area where flammable gas or vapor is present. "Division 2" refers to the fact that these gases do not normally present but may appear under abnormal conditions, such as equipment failure or system leaks. For example, this may occur during equipment malfunction, accidental release from pipelines. So, such areas are usually safe, but occasionally they can become dangerous environments.
Class 1 Div 2 lighting must avoid sparks and control surface temperature. In this way, even if flammable gas suddenly appears around, it will not be ignited. It is often used in oil and gas plants, chemical plants, battery workshops, refineries and other places.
Certification is the testing and auditing of lamps by authoritative institutions to confirm that they meet the safety requirements of hazardous locations. Common Class 1 Div 2 certification authorities include:
● UL（Underwriters Laboratories）
● CSA（Canadian Standards Association）
● ETL（Intertek ETL Listed）
These certification bodies will inspect the explosion-proof structure, spark-proof capacity, electrical design and material selection of the lamps.
In addition, in some international projects, ATEX or IECEx certifications may also be involved. These standards are mainly used in Europe and other international markets. Although the systems are different, the goal is the same, which is to ensure the safe operation of equipment in hazardous locations.
In Class 1, it is further divided into Division 1 and Division 2. The main difference between the two lies in the frequency and possibility of the appearance of flammable materials.
Class 1 Division 1 refers to the gas that would occur under normal circumstances. That is to say, hazardous substances are often present and may even persist. For example, oil and gas processing areas, near leakage points, reactor opening areas, etc. Ignition risks can occur at any time here, so the strictest explosion-proof equipment must be used. The lighting must also be fireproof, prevent surface overheating and ensure complete sealing.
In short, the equipment requirements for Div 2 are slightly lower than those for Div 1.
Class 1 Div 2 lighting is part of industrial risk control. It builds a solid firewall for industrial sites in the face of invisible dangers through physical isolation and heat management. These industries will often use Class 1 Div 2 lighting to protect personnel and equipment.
Chemical plants use a large amount of solvents, alcohols, hydrocarbons and other volatile chemicals. Although many areas are well ventilated and gas concentrations are normally low, pipeline leaks, loose valves, or pump damage can still create hazardous conditions.
In these areas, such as outside the storage tank, around the pump room, near the mixing equipment, the chemical plant will install Class 1 Div 2 lighting. These fixtures can prevent sparks and high surface temperatures, and avoid igniting sudden vapors.
Loads of crude oil and natural gas are processed on the drilling platform. Many working areas are open spaces. Under normal circumstances, the gas will be rapidly diluted by the sea breeze.
For example, the external areas of pipelines, the vicinity of gas processing equipment, the mud pump area, and the walkways below the platform. These areas may still leak flammable gas due to valve failure, loose connections, and pressure fluctuations. Therefore, the platform will extensively use Class 1 Division 2 lighting to ensure that even in the event of an accident, there will be no ignition source.
Oil refineries are common Class 1 Division 2 hazardous locations. In these areas, although the air is not always filled with flammable substances under normal operating conditions, due to the large amount of volatile liquids, flammable gases or vapors involved in the processing, once equipment leakage, failure or maintenance operations occur, these flammable substances may reach a concentration sufficient to cause an explosion. Class 1 Div 2 lighting is specially designed to withstand the harsh corrosive environment and extreme weather in the oil refinery.
In many hazardous locations, enterprises require reliable, safe and long-life lighting systems. Class 1 Div 2 lighting can help enterprises achieve a higher return on investment.
Most modern Class 1 Div 2 fixtures adopt LED technology. The energy efficiency of LEDs is much higher than that of traditional metal halide and fluorescent lamps.
Here is a simple comparison chart between LED and metal halide:
| Feature | LED | Metal Halide |
|---|---|---|
| Energy Savings | 50–70% more energy efficient | Higher energy consumption |
| Lifespan | 50,000–100,000 hours | 10,000–20,000 hours |
| Luminous Efficiency | 130–200 lm/W | 60–90 lm/W |
LEDs are more power-efficient and convert more electrical energy into light. Under the same brightness, LEDs consume less electricity. The energy-saving effect is particularly obvious in places like hazardous locations where 24-hour lighting is required.
It is very troublesome and more expensive to replace lamps in hazardous areas. The service life of the Class 1 Div 2 fixtures is very long, which means fewer replacement times.
At hazardous locations, maintenance personnel need to stop working, wear protective equipment, and even obtain work permits. It can take several hours or even up to 24 hours for approval. In process industries, unplanned downtime can cost $10,000 to $250,000 per hour, depending on the facility. Reducing the replacement of lamps not only saves material costs but also reduces labor and downtime expenses.
Another important factor affecting ROI is lumen maintenance, often measured as L70 or L90. L70 means the light output remains at 70% of its original brightness after a specified operating time. Many industrial LED fixtures reach L70 at 50,000–100,000 hours, while metal halide lamps can experience significant lumen depreciation after only a few thousand hours. Better lumen maintenance ensures consistent illumination over time, reducing the need for early replacement.
The Class 1 Div 2 LED lamp features high color rendering, instantaneous brightness and uniform light output. Better lighting will enhance efficiency, reduce misoperation and improve work quality. All of these can lead to an increase in production efficiency, thereby enhancing the return on investment.
Hazardous locations must comply with strict safety standards or similar explosion-proof certifications. Certified Class 1 Division 2 lighting solutions help enterprises meet regulatory requirements while ensuring safe operation.
LEDVANCE offers high-quality class 1 division 2 light fixtures for hazardous areas, including high bay, floodlight, linear, and jelly jar. Our product design features a robust and durable design, and meets UL844, CSA certifications. They can meet the demands of settings such as factories, energy, chemicals and warehousing.
LEDVANCE hazardous lighting products are designed specifically for optimal lighting performance. Our indoor and outdoor lighting fixtures are explosion-proof and extremely durable, meeting or exceeding all safety standards for hazardous areas in various industries.
Key Features:
● Explosion-proof: Designed to prevent sparks and resist flammable gases.
● Flexible mounting options: Can be installed on walls, ceilings, or poles.
● Long lifespan: Lasts up to 100,000 hours, reducing replacements.
● Energy efficiency: Uses LED technology to save electricity costs.
● Low maintenance: Requires fewer checks and replacements.
Choosing the right Class 1 Div 2 lighting is not just a routine equipment selection, but a significant investment in the safety management of hazardous locations. Compared with traditional light sources, LED Class 1 Div 2 lighting can provide continuous and reliable lighting guarantees in harsh industrial environments. At the same time, combined with standardized installation methods and strict compliance with relevant standards, it can help enterprises maintain compliant, safe, and efficient operations.
LEDVANCE can provide customized solutions based on your industry applications and on-site environment. If you are choosing the appropriate Class 1 Div 2 lighting solution for your project or wish to upgrade existing hazardous location lighting, please feel free to contact us for professional advice and product recommendations.
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