Electrical Industry Articles and Stories

Hazardous locations have stricter requirements for fixtures and luminaires than other industrial areas. Hazardous locations include those areas where flammable dusts, fumes, liquids and gases may be present, either in storage or during processing.

Most electricians and contractors are familiar with the concept of hazardous locations – areas where a fire or explosion could occur through the presence of flammable vapors or gases, combustible dust or easily ignitable fibers or flyings.

Look up in most U.S. kitchens and you’ll likely see recessed downlights shining back at you. These fixtures have been the go-to option for decades – not just in kitchens, but throughout the house – for providing area lighting that doesn’t interrupt a ceiling’s clean lines

The concept of 3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, initially surfaced in the 1980s, thanks largely to the innovative work of engineer Chuck Hull. Hull invented a process called 'stereolithography', or SLA, a method that allowed for the creation of 3D models layer by layer, literally bringing ideas to life. It was a revolutionary breakthrough that sparked the beginning of the 3D printing era.

The beauty of recessed can downlights is their seeming sleekness. They barely interrupt the ceiling plane, which can be an especially big bonus in homes with lower ceiling heights and in clean-lined contemporary room plans.

Recently, my wife and I had the “pleasure” of visiting a relatively new hospital complex. For almost a year, I watched the 5-story edifice being built as I traveled up and down Highway 49 in Northwest Arkansas.