New LED System for Harsh and Hazardous Environments

Chalmit, which describes itself as the world’s leading manufacturer of lighting for harsh and hazardous environments, has launched the Protecta X LED. The revolutionary, new luminaire, which it says is up to 50% brighter than any traditional linear light on the market, has user-definable light distribution, a lifespan of over 120,000 hours at 25°C, is easier to maintain, and thanks to an optional battery stick, can be installed in half the time.

Chalmit, part of the Hubbell Harsh & Hazardous group, is a leading supplier of lighting to the oil and gas industry; its luminaires are used by the sector’s leading companies, including Shell, BP, Adma, Opco and many more. The Protecta X is Chalmit’s largest ever investment in product development; with four patents pending it is expected to lead to a whole new generation of LED lighting within the sector.

Ken Eddleston, Chalmit’s Lighting Product Manager elaborates: “Traditional linear luminaires have dominated the low-level lighting of hazardous areas for over 50 years. But linear lights were originally designed to house fluorescent lamps, since then LEDs have come in, but the linear enclosure hasn’t really changed, leaving the performance of LEDs compromised.

“We felt it was time to change all this. So, we gave the luminaires a complete re-think, putting customer needs and light performance front and centre of our design process. Rather than accepting the constraints of a traditional linear enclosure, our design team started from scratch and asked what design would ensure the absolute best from the LED? The result is the Protecta X – the highest performing LED linear for harsh and hazardous applications ever developed.”

The Protecta X has specialised optics which deliver the light of a 4ft linear in a lightweight and slimline luminaire package. The optics control the light, generating a highly targeted, bright, white output over the desired area, and limiting the amount of wasted spill light. The optics are available in a variety of distinct distributions, designed for key site applications – such as mounted from handrails for walkway illumination and localised lighting in low/ medium bay applications. This higher, more focused output means fewer luminaires are required, reducing, installation, inspection times and overall project costs. Furthermore, the Protecta X is 50% more energy efficient than a fluorescent luminaire, reducing energy costs too.