Hazardous area luminaries available ex-stock

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Feb 13, 2001

WF Electrical says it has has seen demand for its zone 2 rated hazardous lighting increase by 250-300% and now stocks an extensive range of Zone 2 rated hazardous area luminaires and fittings

WF Electrical has seen demand for its zone 2 rated hazardous lighting increase by 250-300%.

As a consequence the company has made available from stock an extensive range of Zone 2 rated hazardous area luminaries and fittings from Legrand.

This is a major new initiative that serves the growing need from the UK marketplace for Zone 2 lighting equipment.

Internationally, hazardous area luminaries are certificated to Zone 1 standard, but the UK also has the Zone 2 category for lower risk lighting.

Zone 2 is a unique category found in Britain and only a few other countries where there is a strong British influence, India and certain Middle Eastern countries for example.

Until recently only a very limited range of zone 2 lighting, produced in the UK, was available here.

Until now, lighting manufacturers have largely ignored the Zone 2 specification, opting instead to provide Zone 1 as standard since there is greater manufacturing volume for these products.

However, Zone 1 equipment is significantly more expensive - between 40% and 60% - and contractors and installers have been faced with little or no option but to fit the higher specification equipment in Zone 2 areas.

Moreover, since most Zone 1 equipment is imported, there can be lengthy lead times on delivery, typically two months.

Legrand's decision to manufacture Zone 2 lighting equipment has been based on a number of factors.

These include the fact that Zone 2 equipment now carries the international "Ex" certification; that WF Electrical, as one of the leading suppliers of hazardous area luminaries, was prepared to market the products strongly; and the fact that to meet the growth in demand, WF was prepare to stock substantial quantities of the products.

With some Zone 1 equipment costing up to ?800, the savings in being able to install the more appropriate Zone 2 equivalent will be very attractive to UK electrical engineers.