Typical areas around a port requiring Ex certified lighting includes;



Docking Areas – this is where tankers or cargo ships will discharge. Discharging of explosive substances, such as crude oil or LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas), means that using explosion protected equipment on and around the docks is critical. With operations happening 24 hours a day, safe and effective lighting solutions are vitally important



Storage Facilities - tank farms or storage warehouses are a major part of modern ports. This is where commodities such as bulk grain will be held until they can be distributed elsewhere. With the storage of oil and gas products, major ports are now often linked directly to refineries via pipelines, requiring significant infrastructure for storage and distribution at the port itself.



It is extremely important that Ex certified lighting is installed in these types of application to maintain flexibility, functionality and safety on-site. This Application Focus piece will explore the key features to look out for when specifying a luminaire for a port environment.



Emergency Lighting



Ports and terminals are high-risk environments and rely on the use of emergency lighting to ensure the safety of everybody on-site should a power failure occur.



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Duration &amp; Output



It’s important to check the emergency duration of a luminaire to ensure it provides back-up illumination for a sufficient length of time, but you should also consider the percentage light output of the luminaire in emergency mode. It is common for output to drop significantly when switching to emergency mode.



Most emergency luminaires provide 25% light output for 3 hours as standard, but if required can run at up to 100% light output for shorter durations. This provides the ultimate performance and flexibility for emergency lighting in hazardous areas.



Prior to installation, it’s recommended to complete a lighting design scheme based on both normal and emergency conditions. This will ensure sufficient light levels are being achieved and the correct number of luminaire’s have been specified.



Automated Testing



Modern emergency luminaires, are helping to make emergency systems more reliable. Designed to ensure optimum battery performance, they provide a self-testing function which automatically cycles the battery to ensure its health and to measure its capacity.



Dust-Only Certification



Protecting against dust is a key factor for any area of a port where bulk grain is being handled or stored. If the only explosion risk in these areas comes from dust, i.e. grain, a smart specification can save costs by specifying an Ex luminaire certified for protection against dust only (unlike most luminaires which are certified for gas and dust).



A number of SPARTAN Ex products are available as a dedicated Zone 21 variant for exactly these kinds of applications, providing a cost-effective solution in areas where there is no explosion risk from gas, only dust.



Lighting Design



Lighting design should be considered an essential part of specifying lighting for port applications. With larger ports utilising thousands of operators, achieving the correct light levels on-site will improve safety and operational efficiency. For specifiers, going through the design process will also ensure confidence in the final solution, meaning there are no surprises when it comes to the actual installation.



Raytec’s lighting design service is completely free of charge, providing you with a visual 3D representation of the final lighting solution, with detailed lux levels and a true indication of lighting performance. Our lighting design experts will guide you through the entire process, ensuring the optimum solution is achieved.



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Ex lighting for Ports and Terminals