How do you illuminate an oven, dryer or stove in an industrial environment?

Lighting in an industrial oven, dryer or stove requires a completely different approach than standard industrial lighting. The combination of extreme heat, steam, dust and sometimes chemical vapors makes this one of the most demanding applications in industry. In this article, we answer the most frequently asked questions about LED lighting at high temperatures, so you know exactly what to look out for.

What temperatures must an luminaire withstand in an industrial oven?

A fixture for use in or immediately adjacent to an industrial oven must be at least resistant to ambient temperatures of +80°C to +120°C. In steelworks, ceramic ovens and drying tunnels, ambient temperatures regularly rise above +100°C, and in addition, there is also exposure to infrared radiation that further increases the thermal load.

Standard LED fixtures are designed for ambient temperatures of up to about +40°C or +50°C. Above this temperature, the LED components begin to degrade, the light output decreases, and the lifespan quickly decreases. In extreme cases, overheating can lead to premature failure of the driver or the light source itself.

Therefore, for applications in industrial ovens and dryers, it is essential to choose fixtures that have been specifically developed for high ambient temperatures. This not only means heat-resistant enclosures, but also drivers and optics that have been dimensioned for the thermal load of the specific location.

What is the difference between heat-resistant and standard LED fixtures?

The main difference lies in the thermal engineering of the fixture. Standard LED fixtures assume that the environment is cool enough to dissipate heat through the housing. Heat-resistant fixtures reverse this principle: they are designed to keep the internal components within safe limits even at high ambient temperatures.

Specifically, there are a number of technical differences:

Housing material: Heat-resistant fixtures use high-quality alloys or specially treated aluminum that does not deform or oxidize when exposed to heat for extended periods.
Driver technology: The driver, the electronic heart of the LED fixture, is provided in heat-resistant versions with components that are resistant to higher operating temperatures.
Thermal design: The cooling ribs, heat-conducting materials and the internal structure are specifically designed to dissipate heat under extreme conditions.
Sealing: At high temperatures, the sealing is also critical. Silicone rings and special gaskets prevent hot gases or steam from entering the fixture.
Infrared resistance: In environments such as steel mills, reflective coatings and special glasses protect the luminaires from the intense radiant heat.

Choosing a standard luminaire for a high-temperature environment almost always leads to high maintenance costs, short lifespan, and safety risks. More background on what technically goes into High-temperature lighting You can find it on the website of JEL Products.

Which IP and ATEX standards apply to lighting in ovens and dryers?

For lighting in ovens and dryers, a high IP protection class is required, with IP65 as IP67 the minimum standard and IP66 optional. An IP65 fixture is completely dustproof and resistant to water jets, which is sufficient in most drying tunnels and industrial ovens. In environments with steam, high-pressure cleaning, or condensation, IP66 a higher rating is preferable.

As far as ATEX is concerned: it is only mandatory when there is a risk of explosion due to flammable gases, vapours or dust. In a standard dry tunnel or heating oven, ATEX is usually not applicable. But in environments where flammable solvents, paint particles or organic dust are also present, that picture changes quickly. In that case, the luminaire must be certified for the appropriate ATEX zone and category. If you are unsure whether your environment is subject to ATEX regulations, have it assessed by a certified installer or safety expert.

For the sake of completeness: the IP and IK rating says something about the protection of the luminaire against solid particles and moisture, but nothing about temperature resistance. These two aspects complement each other and both must be taken into account when choosing the luminaire.

What should you pay attention to when installing lighting in high-temperature environments?

Good installation is at least as important in high-temperature environments as the choice of luminaire itself. Incorrect installation or a poorly chosen mounting position can even cause the best luminaire to fail prematurely.

When assembling, pay attention to the following points:

Distance to the heat source: The closer to the oven or heating element, the higher the thermal load. Determine the exact ambient temperature at the intended mounting position before choosing a fixture.
Cable entry and sealing: Use heat-resistant cables and ensure that the cable entry is sealed with temperature-resistant seals. Standard rubber rings lose their sealing effect when exposed to heat for prolonged periods.
Fixing material: Use stainless steel mounting bolts and brackets. Galvanized steel or standard steel can corrode or deform at high temperatures.
Accessibility for maintenance: Armatures in high-temperature environments generally require a higher maintenance schedule. Install them so that they are accessible without having to completely shut down the installation.
Thermal expansion: Materials deteriorate with heat. When installing, take into account the movement and expansion of the structure on which the luminaire is mounted.

Good preparation and a well-thought-out lighting design prevent costly retrofits later on. In environments where the installation is difficult to access or the production cannot be easily stopped, this is especially important.

Which LED fixtures are suitable for temperatures up to +120°C?

LED fixtures that operate reliably at ambient temperatures up to +120°C are a specialty in themselves. Orca JEL Products His Barracuda high-temperature floodlights are specifically designed for this temperature range. They are designed for use in steel mills and other industrial environments with extreme heat and infrared radiation, and have been tested for reliable operation up to +120°C.

In addition to these floodlights, we JEL Products also offer fixtures for climate chambers and cold environments from -45°C. Together with the HT line up up to +120°C, we have lighting for both freezing tunnels and hot production environments. View the full overview of available Industrial LED luminaires to see which solutions are suitable for your specific situation.

When choosing a fixture for extreme temperatures, it is always wise to weigh the exact ambient temperature and the presence of infrared radiation in the design. A fixture that appears suitable on paper may fail in practice if the thermal load is higher than expected.

Practical example: Farm Frites

At Farm Frites, the LED lighting in the drying tunnels and production ovens failed several times. The previously chosen fixtures were not able to withstand the high thermal stress and the intensive cleaning routine. A special power supply design for stainless steel was Snapper HT developed for this project, the Snapper HT-SS, with borosilicate glass, a HACCP-compliant design and protection class IP69K. 78 fixtures were supplied. At 35 W per fixture, the installation achieves 200 to 500 lux in the oven, with a uniformity between 0.65 and 0.85.

In an oven or dryer, temperature is rarely the only factor. Cleaning with high pressure and high temperature causes strong temperature fluctuations, and borosilicate glass is resistant to these fluctuations and does not break under thermal shock. Therefore, a fixture for such an environment is chosen for the entire usage profile: the heat during production, the cleaning cycles, and the requirements for food safety. Anyone who selects only the maximum temperature risks the lighting still failing and the production line coming to a standstill.

How lighting in ovens and dryers JEL Products helps

JEL Products helps companies find and implement the right lighting solution for high-temperature environments. This goes beyond just providing a fixture; the approach includes the entire process:

Analysis of ambient temperature, infrared radiation load and existing risk factors at the specific location
Lighting design tailored to the requirements of the production environment, including mounting advice
Supply of heat-resistant LED luminaires such as the Orca en Barracuda, suitable for temperatures up to +120°C
At ATEX zones, lighting for the parts outside the zones, with referral to a certified Ex manufacturer for the zones themselves
Support during installation and commissioning, even in hard-to-reach or dangerous environments
Advice on maintenance planning to prevent downtime and unplanned downtime

Do you have a specific question about lighting in your oven, dryer, or other high-temperature environment? Please contact us via the JEL Products Contact Page for a no-obligation consultation with a specialist.

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