What makes Op-Is Important in the Ex-Mark?
Simply put, the presence of an ignition risk in a hazardous area application indicates the possibility of an explosion that might result in fatalities or severe property damage. Using luminaires without the op-is mark poses a risk since they have not been tested or approved to guarantee that optical radiation does not pose a threat, even if the possibility of an ignition caused by optical radiation may be low. Is the risk worthwhile to take?
Since the ATEX directive was just recently updated to include op-is, any luminaires placed before that date will not have the op-is label. Although it may be impossible to replace a complete installation of older luminaires in order to comply, any new luminaires installed should take the new criteria into consideration.
