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ILLUMINATING PROGRESS: HOW INTEGRATION AND INNOVATION ARE POWERING HAZARDOUS AREA SAFETY
By Petrel SMT Q&A
n the hazardous area lighting industry, compliance, innovation and reliability aren’t just goals, they're essential. Petrel, a long- established UK manufacturer, has been raising the standard in this space for decades. Now, as part of the Pioneer Safety Group, the company is embracing an even broader role in delivering integrated safety solutions. In this exclusive interview, we speak with Mark Pemberton, Managing Director of Petrel, who has worked in the specialist electronics and lighting industry since 1993. Mark shares insights into how Petrel is responding to industry needs, the benefits of combining lighting and signalling systems and how early design engagement can reduce project risk and ensure long-term compliance.
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1. What’s the biggest advantage of combining lighting and
signalling into one solution? The biggest benefit is simplification. By sourcing both lighting and signalling from one trusted group, such as the Pioneer Safety Group, our customers reduce the number of suppliers, streamline procurement and ensure technical compatibility. This approach also helps support regulatory compliance, as the integrated offering is backed by a group with specialist knowledge across hazardous area safety systems. For our customers, knowing they have the backing and support of the wider Pioneer Group is important.
2. What types of environments benefit most from an integrated system?
Integrated solutions are particularly valuable in environments where safety, compliance and operational efficiency are critical. These include offshore oil and gas platforms, where both lighting and signalling must withstand corrosive and explosive atmospheres; petrochemical storage and manufacturing plants with high-risk zoning; pharmaceutical and food production areas requiring clean, well-lit environments with clear warning systems; and general industrial or heavy manufacturing settings. In each case, combining expertise in lighting and signalling helps ensure a compliant and consistent approach to hazardous area safety.
3. How does your lighting design service support project planning from day one?
Our in-house lighting design service offers early engagement with clients, providing free design support that includes compliance checks, light simulations and layout proposals. This ensures
accurate light levels, avoids over-specification and gives all stakeholders confidence before installation begins.
4. What are the typical issues your team helps customers overcome during the design stage?
During the design phase, our team plays a crucial role in helping customers avoid common and costly mistakes. We ensure that all specified lighting levels are achieved throughout the site, eliminating dark spots that could compromise safety or compliance. At the same time, we work to prevent over-specification, which can lead to unnecessary cost increases and inefficient use of equipment. Most importantly, we embed regulatory compliance, such as ATEX, IECEx and UKCA standards, into the design process from the outset, helping clients avoid redesigns, delays, or non-conformance issues later in the project.
5. What customer feedback have you had about the new integrated offering?
Our clients appreciate our integrated offering, highlighting the ease and efficiency it brings to their procurement and project planning. By sourcing both lighting and signalling solutions from brands within the Pioneer Safety Group, clients gain confidence in the technical compatibility and regulatory compliance of their systems. This reassurance reduces the administrative burden during audits and inspections, as all products are known to meet the highest safety standards. This single-supplier approach also simplifies communication and
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coordination, making project delivery smoother and more efficient.
6. How has being part of the Pioneer Safety Group improved
Petrel’s service or offer? Becoming part of the Pioneer Safety Group has significantly strengthened Petrel’s overall proposition. It has enabled access to complementary hazardous area technologies, such as signalling, control systems and instrumentation, allowing us to offer our customers, more complete and integrated solutions. The Group’s investment in Petrel’s facilities and stockholding has shortened lead times and increased production capacity. Perhaps most importantly, it has fostered collaborative innovation across brands, enhancing our ability to solve complex customer challenges in hazardous environments with greater speed and technical confidence.
7. What one thing would you recommend to teams starting out with hazardous area lighting
or signalling? Get advice early and don’t assume compliance. For our customers who engage with us as specialists early in the planning stage, nine times out of ten it is a smoother project. Regulations can be complex and vary by region, so expert advice ensures your solution is safe, compliant and cost-effective. Petrel’s free design support helps our customers avoid common pitfalls from the start and I’d urge readers to contact us to find out more about this service.
www.petrel-ex.co.uk/contractors electricalengineeringmagazine.co.uk
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