Electricity + Control February 2018

SENSORS, SWITCHES + TRANSDUCERS

recommendation for light output. The Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) publishes appropriate light levels and distributions for more than 100 in- dustrial and manufacturing tasks in its exhaustive Lighting Handbook. For this reason, lighting de- signers often begin an initial assessment by taking an inventory of spaces in a facility, including the occupants and their functions. Table 1 shows recommended lux levels for dif- ferent industrial applications and for different ages of workers. A lux meter can be used to get live or before and after lux levels to help ensure your illu- mination levels are sufficient for the space, task, and people. To learn more, see our Lux/Lumens calculator.

heat. Not all of these will be required for every application. Contact an engineer to discuss your specific application requirements. Water, oil, and dust Along with other kinds of electrical equipment, lights can be rated based on Ingress Protection (IP) Code designations. Lights rated IP67 and above are dust and water resistant, making them ideal choices for many industrial lighting applications, including machine lighting and machine tool en- vironments. Enclosures rated IP67 can withstand temporary immersion in water. Lights rated IP68g are resistant to oil and wa- ter penetration. IP69K rated enclosures withstand high-pressure wash-down environments neces- sary for sanitation procedures common to food, beverage, and pharmaceutical manufacturers. Vibration and impact Dust and water resistance is important, but lighting fixtures in industrial environments may also need to withstand vibration or impact from heavy equip- ment. Incandescent and fluorescent technologies use glass enclosures that can shatter upon impact, exposing workers and other equipment to risk. Constant vibration can also reduce the lifetime of some lighting solutions, especially those with fine filaments and other delicate components. On the other hand, LED lights do not use glass en- closures or filaments, and are therefore extremely resistant to vibration and impact. Extreme temperatures Industrial facilities may also be subject to extreme ambient temperatures that make certain technol- ogy options ideal. LEDs perform better in cold conditions compared with traditional technologies. LED lights are ideal for refrigerated warehouses with temperatures as low as -40°C. LED manufacturers continue to make improve- ments in designing for higher temperatures, using high-grade housing materials that dissipate heat and temperature sensors that automatically dim lights as heat increases.

Industrial facilities have a wide variety of tasks, machines and purposes. Industrial lighting can be categorised as area lighting or task lighting. Determining the appro- priate level of light for a given application can be challenging. Take Note!

1

2

3

Table 1: Lux/Lumens calculators. Application Recommended Lux Ages 25 - 65

Lighting products can

Recommended Lux Ages 65+

be designed to withstand rough conditions inside typical industrial facilities.

Warehouse Work area General assembly Detailed assembly Fine inspection

100 150

200 300

1 000

2 000

2 000

4 000

5 000

10 000

Considerations for lighting in extreme conditions Lighting products can be designed to withstand rough conditions inside typical industrial facilities. Three things to look for in lighting for industrial en- vironments are resistance to water, oil, and dust; protection against impact and vibration; and tem- perature protection mechanisms to ensure the light performs safely and effectively even in high

The WLS27 LED strip light has automatic temperature protection built into the unit. Above 50°C, the light dims to manage heat and protect product lifetime.

Enquiries: Brandon Topham. Tel. +27 (0) 11 453 2468 or Email. brandon.topham@retautomation.com

Electricity + Control

FEBRUARY 2018

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