Heavy industry is a sector that includes metallurgy, chemical, shipbuilding, energy or mining, among others. It is characterized by large-scale production, the use of heavy machinery and technological processes carried out in extremely harsh environmental conditions. High temperature, humidity, the presence of dust, the risk of explosions or aggressive environments (such as salty air in ports) make the selection of appropriate lighting not only a matter of working comfort, but above all safety and reliability.
What kind of lighting will work in heavy industry?
Industrial lighting used in these industries must meet certain criteria:
- Resistance to high temperatures, vibration, moisture and dust,
- Long life and low operating costs,
- Safety for use in explosive or shock-prone areas,
- Compliance with industry standards – including ATEX, IECEx, IP65-IP69, IK08-IK10, among others.
Lighting in heavy industry is usually divided into several basic types, tailored to the specific working environment:
Lighting for explosive atmospheres (Ex)
Chemical plants, petrochemical plants, refineries, paint shops or dust silos can contain explosive atmospheres. In such places, safety standards require equipment that meets stringent ATEX and IECEx certifications to ensure that the risk of sparks or excessive temperature increases is minimized.
Lighting in such spaces must prevent sparks and exclude the possibility of overheating, which could ignite an explosive atmosphere. Parameters such as luminaire surface temperature, temperature classes (e.g. T4, T5) and types of protection (e.g. Ex d, Ex e, Ex n) are key here.
Low-voltage lighting (24 V AC)
In spaces with higher humidity, where there is a risk of contact between the installation and water or humans (e.g. industrial washing plants, food processing plants, power plants), it is recommended to use luminaires operating at 24 V safety voltage. This significantly reduces the risk of electrical hazards, protecting the health and lives of workers.
Low-voltage lighting reduces the risk of electric shock, which is important from the point of view of health and safety. In addition, these luminaires are often designed with an increased waterproof rating (IP66/IP69K), which protects them from water and steam.
An example is the Square LED 24 V luminaire – dedicated to work in wet and dangerous industrial zones, where traditional electrical installations could pose a risk of shock.
Luminaires for high-temperature operation
Some technological processes generate high ambient temperatures – metallurgical furnaces, foundries, drying halls, incinerators. In such environments, standard LED luminaires can quickly fail due to overheating.
The solution is specialized LED luminaires suitable for operation even at temperatures up to 70°C, equipped with ceramic diodes, advanced cooling systems and a thermally optimized housing.
Lighting for marine environments
Ports, shipyards, docks or ships are places with extremely aggressive environments – high humidity, air salinity, changing weather conditions, as well as shock and vibration.
This is where marine luminaires with additional corrosion protection (powder coating, stainless steel components), reinforced mountings and high mechanical resistance (IK10) come in handy.
Choose with us a solution that meets the requirements of your industry. Contact us and we will help you select the right LED luminaires for your specific project.
