Cooper Crouse-Hinds has announced that its explosion-proof Ex-Lite series of LED escape sign luminaires is now able to operate in ambient temperatures down to -40ºC. The Ex-Lite series of escape sign luminaires in LED technology is suited for use in Zone 1 and Zone 21 hazardous areas, including oil, gas and petrochemical applications.
The new extended permissible ambient operating temperature means the luminaire is now ideal for installation in countries where ambient temperatures are extremely low, or in applications where the specified operating temperature is extremely low. The Ex-Lite escape sign luminaire with LED technology is designed to meet the requirements of a number of different safety concepts. Due to its wide input voltage range (from 110-254V AC and up to 250V DC), the luminaire can be used anywhere across the world. In addition, the luminaire has a visibility range of up to 28 metres and is available in a wide variety of pictograms to suit all customer requirements. The Ex-Lite series of explosion-protected escape sign luminaires fulfils the requirements of ATEX Directive 94/9/EC and EN 60598, section 2.22 for emergency lighting. The units are therefore suitable for marking escape routes and exits in potentially explosive atmospheres. The Ex-Lite series utilises white, high efficiency LEDs as the light source. This guarantees mainte-nance-free operation, as the illuminant does not need replacing throughout the complete service life of the luminaire, which is approximately 50,000 hours. The supply electronics are also designed for the life of the luminaire, with intrinsically safe LED circuits.
The housing of the Ex-Lite is made from robust light aluminium alloy and is protected to IP66, which means the unit is ideal for harsh environments, for both indoor and outdoor applications. The luminaire is protected to Category II 2G Ex e ib mb IIC T6 (+40ºC) T5 (+50ºC) Gb in ac-cordance with the ATEX Directive for use in potentially explosive gas atmospheres (Zones 1 and 2). The luminaire is also suitable for potentially explosive dust atmospheres (Zones 21 and 22) and is certified to Category II 2D Ex tb IIIC T80 deg C Db IP66 in accordance with the ATEX Directive. The luminaire also complies with the latest equivalent IEC standards for gas and dust. An emergency lighting version of the Ex-Lite is also available. With a self-contained battery, the Ex-Lite N features an NC battery and automatic function monitoring with operating time test. This version is suitable for ambient temperatures down to -20ºC.
