Chemical Storage Terminal Modernizes Zone 1 Lighting with RFEPL8280 300W ATEX LED Flood Lights
June 28, 2026
Project Background
A European chemical storage and logistics terminal, handling Class I flammable liquids and solvents across 12 hectares of tank farms and loading bays, faced mounting operational challenges with its aging lighting infrastructure. The facility's 60 legacy explosion proof fixtures—a mix of 400W high-pressure sodium and 250W metal halide luminaires—suffered from poor color rendering, high energy consumption, and persistent maintenance demands in a Zone 1 classified environment.
The Challenge
- Strict ATEX Zone 1 (gas) and Zone 21 (dust) compliance requirements across solvent storage and powder handling areas
- Extremely poor color recognition under HPS lighting (CRI ~25), creating safety risks during valve identification and gauge reading tasks
- Operating temperature range from -30°C winter lows to +55°C summer highs in unshaded tank farm areas
- Total cost of ownership escalating due to annual re-lamping and ballast replacements
The Solution: RFEPL8280 300W Explosion Proof LED Flood Lights
The terminal engineering team conducted a six-month pilot with 12 RFEPL8280 300W units installed across two tank farm zones and one truck loading bay. The selection was driven by the product's comprehensive certification and performance profile:
| Evaluation Criterion | RFEPL8280 300W Performance |
|---|---|
| Safety Certification | Ex db mb IIb T6, CE, ROHS, CCC, ATEX — full compliance |
| Color Rendering | CRI ≥80 (vs. ~25 for existing HPS) |
| Light Source | LUMILEDS chips with LM-80 certified lumen maintenance |
| Operating Temperature | -40°C to +60°C, 10%-90% humidity |
| Water/Dust Protection | IP65, WF2 rated |
| Power Efficiency | AC100-277V, PF ≥0.95 |
Pilot Results & Full Deployment
The six-month pilot demonstrated compelling results across all key performance indicators. Based on the data, the terminal proceeded with a full-scale rollout, replacing all 60 legacy fixtures with 55 RFEPL8280 300W units:
- Energy Consumption: Reduced from approximately 23kW system load to 16.5kW—a 28% direct energy saving, with additional savings from the elimination of ballast losses
- Color Recognition: Operators reported dramatic improvement in valve handle color identification and gauge readability, directly contributing to fewer procedural errors during loading operations
- Maintenance Burden: The terminal's electrical team projected zero re-lamping interventions over the next decade, reallocating approximately 120 man-hours annually to other critical maintenance tasks
- Winter Reliability: Instant-on performance at -30°C eliminated the warm-up delays that had previously caused operational slowdowns during winter night shifts
Engineer's Assessment
"The RFEPL8280's combination of T6 temperature classification, robust IP65 construction, and LUMILEDS-based LED platform made it the only viable retrofit option that satisfied our engineering, safety, and procurement criteria simultaneously. The 50,000-hour rated lifespan transforms our lighting from a recurring operational headache into a long-term capital asset."