Ross,
Does the Hazardous Areas equipment in Ireland go under the BASEEFA certification or under the CENELEC certification, or something totally different, these days?.
As far as your petrol station goes though, provided the lighting equipment is above 3 metres there shouldn't be a problem.
Lots of service stations here use ordinary Low-Bay Metal-Halide fittings built into the roof canopy and also have Neon lighting around the sides of the canopy.
To a degree, fluorescent fittings with electronic control gear would be a lot safer than their wire-wound counterparts from a fire risk perspective.
However, as for that dodgy connection in the manhole.
Them connections should have been done in a certified Ex-d(flame-proof) or Ex-e (increased safety) enclosure.
Over here in New Zealand, before any Hazardous Area equipment is commissioned, it has to be inspected by an Independant inspector (ie, third party to the installer).
Inspecting installations like these is a Trade in itself here.
[This message has been edited by Trumpy (edited 12-13-2005).]
