Safety Ratings
It can be extremely dangerous to use any light that has not been specifically designed for that type of location. These hazardous locations are areas where fire or explosion hazards may exist do to the presence of flammable gases, liquids, vapors, dusts or ignitable fibers or flyings. In these areas, your flashlight must meet strict safety regulations certified by Underwriters Laboratories (UL).

Different Hazardous Locations Require Different Lights
The National Electric Code (NEC) defines hazardous locations by "Class" and "Division". There are three "Classes" and two "Divisions". Based on the physical properties of their combustible materials, hazardous classes are further defined by "Groups". The following are the most common Class, Division, and Group ratings used by UL:

Class I:

• There is a danger of explosion and the location is made hazardous by the presence of potentially flammable gases, liquids or vapors.

• Such vapors or gases may include:

Group A - Acetylene
Group B - Hydrogen
Group C - Ethylene, Carbon Monoxide
Group D - Propane, Gasoline, Naphtha, Benzene, Butane, Ethyl Alcohol, Acetone,
                and Methane

• Environments where these situations may occur are paint storage facilities, spray booths, oil rigs or oil refineries.

Class II:

• There is a danger of explosion and the locations is made hazardous by the presence of potentially flammable concentrations of conductive dust or flying fibers.

• Such dust or fibers may include:

Group E - Combustible metal dust including aluminum, magnesium and their
                commercial alloys
Group F - Carbonaceous dusts including coal, carbon black and charcoal
Group G - Combustible grain dust, flour, wood and plastic

• Environments where these situations may occur are paper mills, woodworking facilities, textile mills, grain silos, hay storage facilities, cotton gins, coal mines or munitions factories.

Class III:

• There is a danger of explosion or flash fire due to the presence of ignitable fibers due potentially flammable concentrations of flying fibers.

• Such flying fibers may include:

Group E - Combustible metal dust including aluminum, magnesium and their                 commercial alloys
Group F - Carbonaceous dusts including coal, carbon black and charcoal
Group G - Combustible grain dust, flour, wood and plastic

• Environments where these situations may occur are paper mills, woodworking facilities, textile mills, grain silos, hay storage facilities, cotton gins, coal mines or munitions factories.

Division Designation
Division designation refers to the likelihood that ignitable concentrations of flammable materials are present. The following is a general overview of each division:

Division 1:

• Division 1 designates and environment where ignitable concentrations of flammable gases, liquids, vapors or dusts can exist some of the time or all of the time under normal operating conditions or where easily ignitable fibers and flyings are manufactured, handled or used.

Division 2:

• Division 2 designates locations where ignitable concentrations are not likely to exist under normal operation conditions or where Class 3 materials are stored or handled.

This is a simplified explanation of safety ratings. It is not intended as a substitute for a thorough understanding of the subject. You or the designated responsible authority are responsible for the proper selection and application, in a properly defined area, of any hazardous location approved product.