Updated 1 October 2026. Written for buyers in the UAE oil and gas, petrochemical and fuel sectors. Our product prices and stock checked on the day we published.
Buyers from oil and gas companies message us for flashlights fairly often, and the latest one put it in four words: "IP68 Ex, any brand." It's a fair request, and it's one we have to answer honestly. None of the lights we sell are Ex certified, and neither Olight nor Acebeam lists an Ex certified flashlight in its range. This page explains what Ex actually means, why IP68 is not the same thing, and which of our lights you can use on a site, and where you can't.
The short answer
Ex certification and IP68 are two different things. IP68 means dust and water can't get in. Ex means the light can't ignite flammable gas or dust around it. A torch can be fully submersible and still be a spark source in a gas cloud.
If the light will be used inside a classified hazardous area, you need an Ex certified light, usually ATEX or IECEx, and no IP68 consumer torch is a substitute. If it will be used outside those areas (workshops, warehouses, yards, vehicles, offices), a good IP68 light is fine, and that's where ours fit.
What "Ex" means
"Ex" marks equipment that has been tested and certified as safe to use in an explosive atmosphere: a place where flammable gas, vapour or dust can be in the air. The two certifications UAE buyers ask for most are:
- ATEX: the European Union's scheme (Directive 2014/34/EU). Look for the Ex hexagon symbol on the light.
- IECEx: the international scheme run under the IEC. IECEx certificates can be checked online on the IECEx website, which is the quickest way to confirm a light is genuinely certified.
North American lights use a different system (Class I, Division 1 or 2). It covers the same idea, but check that your site accepts it before you buy.
Zones: where the rules apply
Sites with flammable gas are divided into zones, based on how often an explosive atmosphere is likely to be there:
| Gas zone | What it means | Equipment level needed |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 0 | Explosive atmosphere present continuously or for long periods | Ga |
| Zone 1 | Likely to occur in normal operation | Ga or Gb |
| Zone 2 | Not likely in normal operation, and only briefly if it does | Ga, Gb or Gc |
Dust has its own zones (20, 21 and 22) on the same principle. Which parts of your site fall into which zone is set out in the site's area classification, so ask your HSE team before you buy anything. The zone decides the certification level you need.
How to read an Ex marking
A certified flashlight carries a marking such as Ex ia IIC T4 Ga. Each part tells you something:
- Ex ia: the protection type. Flashlights are usually "intrinsically safe" (Ex i), meaning the electrical energy inside is kept too low to ignite anything. "ia" is the highest level, suitable for Zone 0; "ib" for Zone 1; "ic" for Zone 2.
- IIC: the gas group. IIA covers gases such as propane, IIB covers gases such as ethylene, and IIC covers the most easily ignited gases, hydrogen and acetylene. A IIC light can also be used for IIB and IIA.
- T4: the temperature class, the highest surface temperature the light can reach. T4 is 135°C; T6, the strictest, is 85°C.
- Ga: the equipment protection level, matching the zone table above.
If a seller can't show you this marking and a certificate number, treat the "explosion-proof" claim as unproven.
Why an IP68 torch isn't explosion-proof
A modern rechargeable torch is built to push as much power as possible through a small LED. That's exactly what you don't want near flammable gas. A lithium-ion cell can deliver a lot of current, a switch or a loose battery contact can spark, and a high-power LED head gets hot. An intrinsically safe light is designed the other way round: it limits the energy so that even a fault can't ignite the atmosphere. That's also why certified Ex lights are usually much less bright than consumer torches.
IP68 doesn't change any of this. It's a rating for keeping dust and water out, nothing more. Our IP ratings explainer covers what IP68 does mean.
Where our IP68 lights do fit
Plenty of work on an oil, gas or industrial site happens outside classified zones: maintenance workshops, warehouses, laydown yards, vehicles, control buildings, and the drive in and out at night. For those jobs, these are the IP68 lights we'd suggest. None of them are Ex certified, and none should be taken into a classified hazardous area.
| Light | Type | Key figures | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acebeam H35 | Industrial headlamp | 2,600 lm white, 200 lm red with SOS, 70° adjustable bracket, swappable 18650, IP68 | AED 307 |
| Olight Perun 3 | Headlamp / right-angle light | 3,000 lm, red light, magnetic tail, 5,000 mAh 21700, IP68 | AED 369 |
| Acebeam T29 | Long-range flashlight | 2,900 lm, 1,400 m reach, 1.5 m drop rating, IP68 | AED 449 |
| Acebeam L35 2.0 | Duty flashlight | 5,000 lm, 650 m reach, strike bezel, IP68 to 5 m | AED 499 |
For hands-free maintenance work, the H35 is the one built for it: the bracket tilts between close work and distance, and it runs on a standard 18650 you can swap on shift. For patrols around a perimeter or a yard, the T29 reaches furthest and the L35 2.0 lights a wider area. Our work lights guide and security patrol guide go into more detail.
A note on heat and batteries on site
Lithium-ion cells don't like a UAE summer in a parked pickup. Keep lights and spare cells out of closed vehicles in the heat, and carry spares in a case rather than loose with tools. Our summer heat guide and spare battery guide cover both.
Our advice
If your requirement says Ex, buy a certified Ex light, check the marking against your zone and gas group, and confirm the certificate number. Don't let anyone talk you into an IP68 torch as a substitute, including us.
If the light is for general site use outside hazardous areas, the lights above are in stock in Dubai. All four are over our AED 300 free-delivery line, delivery usually takes 1 to 3 days, cash on delivery is available across the UAE, and you have 14 days to return.
Need Ex certified lights in quantity? Email seller@lumens.ae with the certification (ATEX or IECEx), the zone and gas group, and the quantity, and we'll check what we can source.
Further reading
- Is your flashlight actually waterproof? IP ratings explained
- Work lights that earn their place on a UAE job
- Acebeam H30 vs H35
- Buying genuine Olight and Acebeam in the UAE
This guide explains how Ex certification works in general terms. It is not a substitute for your site's area classification or your HSE team's requirements. Product figures are the manufacturers' published ratings; prices are live at the time of writing and can change.
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