ATEX Lighting: Zone 1 & Zone 2 Hazardous Area Lighting Guide

ATEX lighting is lighting certified to work safely where flammable gas, vapour or combustible dust can be present. Choosing the wrong fitting is not only a compliance problem – an uncertified light can ignite the atmosphere it is meant to illuminate. This guide explains how zones, equipment categories, protection methods and temperature classes fit together, so you can specify the right Zone 1 or Zone 2 luminaire first time.

Hazardous area zones and equipment categories

Under the ATEX Equipment Directive 2014/34/EU, and the IECEx scheme used outside Europe, hazardous areas are classified by how often an explosive atmosphere is present. The zone decides which equipment category your lighting must carry.

Gas zone	Dust zone	Explosive atmosphere is…	Minimum ATEX category	Typical lighting
Zone 0	Zone 20	Present continuously or for long periods	1G / 1D	Rarely lit directly – light is usually projected in from Zone 1 or through a window
Zone 1	Zone 21	Likely in normal operation	2G / 2D	Ex d or Ex de floodlights, linear and well-glass fittings
Zone 2	Zone 22	Unlikely, and only for short periods	3G / 3D (2G also allowed)	Ex nR / Ex ec linear LED, bulkheads, floodlights

A fitting certified for a higher category can always be used in a lower-risk zone: a Zone 1 light is acceptable in Zone 2, but a Zone 2 light must never be installed in Zone 1. Many sites standardise on Zone 1 fittings for this reason, while others save cost by using Zone 2 fittings wherever the area classification allows.

Types of ATEX light fittings

ATEX floodlights

Used for tank farms, loading bays, jetties, offshore decks and process plant perimeters. Modern LED floodlights for hazardous areas range from around 2,500 to more than 25,000 lumens, with symmetrical or asymmetrical optics and crane versions with anti-vibration mounts. Browse Zone 1 ATEX floodlights.

Linear ATEX light fittings

The modern replacement for twin-tube fluorescent fittings in walkways, pump rooms, compressor houses and paint shops. LED linear fittings cut energy use and remove the need for tube changes inside the hazardous area. See Zone 1 linear fittings and Zone 2 linear fittings.

Bulkheads and well-glass fittings

Compact fittings for stairways, gangways, skids and small enclosures. See Zone 1 bulkheads.

Emergency ATEX lighting

Self-contained emergency versions add a battery and charger inside the certified housing to provide escape lighting – typically 1 to 3 hours – when mains power fails. Escape lighting in hazardous areas must meet both the ATEX certification and the emergency lighting requirements of EN 60598-2-22.

Portable and temporary ATEX lighting

Hand lamps, torches, airlamps and temporary festoon or tank lighting for maintenance, shutdowns and confined-space entry. Battery or pneumatic power avoids trailing mains cables through the zone.

Status lights and beacons

Signalling rather than illumination: alarm beacons, status indicators and combined sounder-beacons. See our ATEX beacons.

Protection concepts for hazardous area lighting

Code	Name	How it prevents ignition	Use
Ex d / Ex db	Flameproof	The enclosure contains any internal explosion and cools escaping gases through precise flame paths	Zone 1 and 2, high-power floodlights
Ex e / Ex eb	Increased safety	Extra measures prevent arcs, sparks and hot spots occurring at all	Zone 1 and 2, terminal chambers and linear fittings
Ex de	Combination	Flameproof LED/driver compartment with an increased-safety terminal box	Zone 1 – easier wiring than a full Ex d fitting
Ex nR / Ex ec	Restricted breathing / non-sparking	Sealed housing limits gas ingress; components do not spark in normal operation	Zone 2 only
Ex tb / Ex tc	Protection by enclosure (dust)	Dust-tight housing (IP6X) with a limited surface temperature	Zone 21 / Zone 22
Ex ia / Ex ib	Intrinsic safety	Energy is limited so no spark can ignite the atmosphere	Low-power indicators and torches

How to read an ATEX marking

A typical Zone 1 floodlight marking looks like this: CE Ex II 2 G D – Ex db eb IIC T4 Gb – Ex tb IIIC T100°C Db – IP66.

• II 2 G D – equipment group II (surface industries), category 2, for gas and dust.
• Ex db eb – flameproof and increased-safety protection.
• IIC – gas group. IIC (hydrogen, acetylene) covers IIB (ethylene) and IIA (propane, most hydrocarbons).
• T4 – maximum surface temperature 135 °C. The fitting’s T-class must be lower than the auto-ignition temperature of the gas present (T1 450 °C, T2 300 °C, T3 200 °C, T4 135 °C, T5 100 °C, T6 85 °C).
• Gb / Db – equipment protection level matching Zone 1 / Zone 21.
• IP66 – dust-tight and protected against powerful water jets.

How to choose a hazardous area light – checklist

1. Zone from your hazardous area classification drawing (Zone 1, 2, 21 or 22).
2. Gas group and temperature class of the substances handled – IIC T4 covers most applications.
3. Ambient temperature range – standard fittings are usually rated −20 °C to +40 °C; offshore, desert and cold-store sites often need −40 °C to +60 °C versions.
4. Light output and optics – lux level required (for example 100–200 lux for walkways, 300+ lux for work areas) and beam pattern.
5. Emergency function – maintained or non-maintained, and duration.
6. Mounting and environment – vibration, corrosive or marine atmosphere (stainless steel or GRP), cable entries and gland threads.
7. Certification – ATEX for Europe, IECEx for international projects, UKEX for Great Britain.

Converting from fluorescent or HID to LED typically reduces energy consumption by 50–70% and removes most re-lamping work inside the hazardous area, which also reduces permit-to-work time.

Explore the full range: ATEX lighting for Zone 1 and Zone 2 – more than 300 certified fittings from leading hazardous-area manufacturers.

Frequently asked questions

What is ATEX lighting?

ATEX lighting is a light fitting certified under the EU ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU for use in potentially explosive atmospheres caused by gas, vapour or combustible dust. Its design prevents sparks or hot surfaces from igniting the atmosphere.

What is the difference between Zone 1 and Zone 2 lighting?

Zone 1 lighting (category 2G) can be used where an explosive atmosphere is likely in normal operation. Zone 2 lighting (category 3G) is only for areas where it is unlikely and short-lived. Zone 1 fittings can be used in Zone 2, but not the other way round.

Can I use Zone 1 lights in Zone 2?

Yes. Equipment certified for a higher-risk zone may always be installed in a lower-risk zone, so a Zone 1 (2G) light is acceptable in Zone 2.

What does T4 mean on an ATEX light?

T4 means the maximum surface temperature of the fitting will not exceed 135 °C. It must be lower than the ignition temperature of the gas present on site.

Is IECEx the same as ATEX?

They use the same technical standards (IEC 60079 series) but are different certification schemes. ATEX is legally required in the EU; IECEx is accepted in many other countries. Many fittings carry both.

Do you supply ATEX lighting across Europe?

Yes. Wesourcia supplies certified Zone 1, Zone 2, Zone 21 and Zone 22 lighting to customers across Europe with certificates and datasheets included in the quotation.