Safety Ratings
Your job is likely to take you into areas where flammable
or explosive gases or vapors or dust particles might be
present. In such situations, your flashlight will have to
meet certain strict safety regulations certified by Underwiters
Laboratories (UL). Here’s a list of the most common
ratings used by UL:
Class I, Division I; Class I, Division II:
There is danger of explosion due to
a) potentially flammable concentrations of gases/vapors
b) mechanical breakdown, accidents or improper use of equipment
and a combination of hazardous gases or vapors
Such gases/vapors might include
Group A — acetylene
Group B — acrolein, butadiene, ethylene oxide, propylene
oxide, hydrogen gas
Group C — acetldehyde, ethylene, ether vapors
Group D — acetone, ammonia, benzene, butane, cyclopropane,
gasoline, hexane, methane, methanol, natural gas, naptha,
propane
Typical environments in which these situations might
occur are oil refineries, paint storage facilities, oil
rigs or spray booths
Class II, Division I; Class II, Division II:
There is danger of explosion due to
a) potentially flammable concentrations of conductive dust
or flying fibers
b) mechanical breakdown, accidents or improper use of equipment
and a combination of combustible dust or flying fibers
Such dust/fibers might include
Group E — combustible metal dust including aluminum,
magnesium and their commercial alloys
Group F — combustible coal dust, carbon black, charcoal
Group G — combustible grain dust, flour, wood, plastic
Typical environments in which these situations might
occur are coal mines, grain silos, munitions factories,
hay storage facilities, paper mills, woodworking facilities,
textile mills or cotton gins
Class III, Division I; Class III, Division II:
There is danger of explosion/flash fire due to
a) presence of easily ignitable fibers due to potentially
flammable concentrations of flying fibers
b) mechanical breakdown, accidents or abnormal use of equipment
Such flying fibers might include
Group E — combustible metal dust including aluminum,
magnesium and their commercial alloys
Group F — combustible coal dust, carbon black, charcoal
Group G — combustible grain dust, flour, wood, plastic
Typical environments in which these situations might
occur are coal mines, grain silos, munitions factories,
hay storage facilities, paper mills, woodworking facilities,
textile mills or cotton gins
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