Explosion proof fixtures are a necessity for environments which output potentially explosive or flammable fumes, produce dust of dirt in the air, or similar situations in which a gas could enter the fixture and cause damage to the light or well-being of the facility.

If you are currently running or working with a facility which requires these explosion proof light fixtures, the list of 3 must-haves below will clear the air and hopefully set you on the right track to ensuring you have the proper setup and design.

First on the list, we are going to talk about the actual technology within the fixture and why it is so important.

While a big part of vapor proof lights is the actual fixture and its design, we think the luminaire within the fixture is equally as important.

We simply can’t recommend any other technology other than LED because we truly believe in it. To give you a little bit of insight on industrial LEDs, here are some of the reasons why companies of all sorts are converting to LED:

As you can see, just from these three main benefits that all sorts of facilities are realizing can really be game changing in terms of savings.

For these reasons (and more), we thought it was a must to have it first on the list.

Interested in learning more? Find Class 1 Div 2. For this reason, we suggest you always inquire with a reputable and knowledgeable company that offers and deals with explosion proof lighting when inquiring about your lighting project.

If you can’t find a reputable company to ask your questions, just LED explosion proofs offer the long-term solution is clear.

Especially when you consider in rebates, your initial upfront investment can be reduced greatly. While these rebates do vary from place to place, they are most often available when you buy DLC qualified fixtures. Not only are DLC qualified fixtures going to make you more eligible for rebates through your utility company, but they also provide other benefits. The biggest benefit of buying DLC qualified lights is they have ben tried and tested and, in most cases, do what they claim. In a busy world of lighting, not all products do exactly what they say. This is most common when a light is not qualified by something like the DLC.

Our main advice is this; to get the best value buy only DLC qualified fixtures. If you don’t, you may actually end up spending more upfront (by not getting any rebates) as well as more energy usage overtime, due to a less efficient build.

Another major cost saver can come through retrofitting. The only time you can retrofit is if your fixture is still functional and can fit a LED retrofit in it. If you do not match these requirements, then a full replacement will (typically) be required.

If you can, we suggest you retrofit. It saves money in two ways: retrofit kits are cheaper than full fixture replacements and the cost to retrofit is typically less time consuming and thus, less expensive.

In Summary

We know that a sensitive environment can be stressful to deal with, especially when it comes to the lighting system and the safety of the facility.

The above 3 must-haves are just the beginning, and each situation can vary greatly. As always, we suggest you consult with some lighting professionals to truly discover what you may require for your facility and operations.

Home repairs and electrical work can seem difficult to understand, which can make reading the billing for this work after it is completed even harder. If you are working with an electrician you can trust, the entire process will be transparent and you can feel free to ask questions along the way. Starting with an estimate, and open lines of communication, the bill for an electrician’s work should not be hard to decipher when the work is done.

Your Original Estimate

When you first speak with an electrician, explain what work you would like done and show the space that requires the work. This will give the electrician the opportunity to ask you questions about the current systems, the age of your property, or your precise expectations before work is done. Complications that may arise later can be planned for with this first visit and estimate. Old wiring, tight spaces, and incompatibilities can all be discovered before work even starts.

Parts and Labor

You can discuss parts and labor in the first estimate. If your electrician cannot give you an estimate on the time it might take to complete the job, or will not show you a price list for parts, you might not want to do business with that electrician.

Honest electricians will show you the price for parts, in person or on their website, so you can be sure of the costs before you begin. The estimate on how long it will take to complete the job is a the electrician’s best guess, but you can troubleshoot with him or her to see what might make the work take longer than planned. A quality electrician will be able to name issues that may arise, and estimate what those complications require in advance of taking the job.

During a recent trip down to Washington, DC I stopped by the National Mall to tour the astonishingly energy efficient homes on display as part of the Department of Energy’s Solar Decathalon.  The Solar Decathlon is one of the DOE’s signature programs to promote cutting edge design and green techonology.

Picking the right light bulbs for your home doesn't need to be a challenge. While there are many different styles, brightness options and colors in your local hardware store, identifying the best bulb for a given lighting scenario is relatively straightforward.

One measurement you should pay attention to on the packaging for light bulbs is color temperature, usually represented by a four digit number next to a K (which stands for Kelvin, the unit for measuring absolute temperature). Color temperature determines the softness, or warmness, of the light that is emitted by the bulb. A light with a lower Kelvin number will typically have a yellowish tint, while higher numbers indicate a cooler, or bluish, shade of light.

Here is a basic breakdown of how these temperatures affect the mood and feel of the room they're in: