In keeping with the updates to the standard for intrinsic safety and advancements in LED technology the Underwater Kinetics 3AA CPO torches have undergone an update.
The update includes:
1. A switch of test laboratories from Intertek (ETL) to Underwriters Laboratories (UL) for testing and issuance of the test certificate. Both ETL and UL are international notified bodies and are highly regarded for their ability to test to the UL913 standard for intrinsic safety.
2. A change in standards occurred which required an update in the certification of the 3AA CPO light. The original certificate was issued under UL913 edition 5. This had to be updated to UL913 edition 8, as the edition 5 certificate was being phased out.
3. Several design changes were required to comply with UL913 edition 8, as well as the new release of the ATEX standards in Europe.
i. The plastic enclosure was required to be “static dissipative” so that the light could not accumulate a static charge and cause a spark in a hazardous location.
ii. The LED was updated to latest level of efficiency so that a brightness increase could be achieved without a noticeable increase in power consumption.
iii. The standard required that all electrically conductive elements be separated by 0.5 mm of insulation. The battery cans are made of electrically conductive steel and covered with a layer of plastic for insulation. As the thickness of the plastic insulation did not add up to 0.5 mm, the two battery cells are now encased in a plastic insulative tube.
iv. In order to maintain the outer dimensions of the body of the flashlight the metal liner of the case has been removed in order to make room for the plastic tube.
4. The text of the certification on the torch body is slightly revised:
The original ETL text read:
UK 3AA ELED CPO-AT UNDERWATER KINETICS, POWAY, CA USA
CL I,II, III DIV 1 GROUP A-G, T4 Exia CONFORMS TO UL STD 783, UL STD 913, & CERTIFIED TO CSA STD C22.2 No. 157.
WARNING: RISK OF IGNITION –DO NOT OPEN IN HAZARDOUS LOCATIONS. CHECK INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE USE. DO NOT MIX BATTERIES OF DIFFERENT MAKE OR OLD AND NEW. USE ONLY 3 AA 1.5V ENERGIZER E91, DURACELL MN1500, OR RAYOVAC 815 BATTERIES
The new UL text reads:
UNDERWATER KINETICS, POWAY, CA USA
INTRINSICALLY SAFE (SECURITE INTRINSEQUE)
Ex ia CL I, DIV 1 GP A-D T4, CL II, DIV 1 GP E- G CL III, DIV 1, -20 < Ta < +40°C
WARNING: RISK OF IGNITION – DO NOT OPEN IN HAZARDOUS LOCATIONS. CHECK INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE USE. DO NOT MIX BATTERIES OF DIFFERENT MAKE OR OLD AND NEW. USE ONLY (UTILISER SEULEMENT) 3 AA 1.5V ENERGIZER E91, DURACELL MN1500, RAYOVAC HIGH ENERGY
What does this mean for Pac Fire & our customers?
Both are both Class I, II, III Division 1 groups A-G, meaning that there is no change to the environments that the torches are certified to operate safely in and the UL torch is marginally lighter than the ETL torch.
3AA Torches manufactured after NOVEMBER 2019 have had a few notable design changes. A plastic enclosure for two of the batteries has been added and the metal liner of the torch body has been removed. Please refer to Figure 1 (Original Design) and Figure 2 (Updated Design) below.
What products are affected?
Underwater Kinetics 3AA CPO Torch – UKT10034+
