Rank: New forum user 
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Hi all,
We have outside containers used to store materials for our manufacturing (mainly cardboard boxes, packaging) - no explosives, areosols or anything ATEX-related is stored in them. The lighting currently used are portable small-tube lights that are magnetic and require frequent charging - with poor lighting visibility as a result. We're in the middle of looking at replacing these with ones that produce more light. I was told the reason they were portable lights currently was because someone (many moons ago) said no during a fire risk assessment for a hard-wired lighting system (but didn't not mention this in any report), (no one now, knows why it was a no. I'm presuming it's 'cause it's metal and can cause electrical-safety concerns, plus being outside for dampness etc..). If we can confirm the below is in place: *bonded and earthed *RCD protection *SWA cabling, moisture resistant IP-rated fittings *Correct consumer unit/fuse protection *Certified to BS 7671
Would it still be a hard 'no'? Do any of you know why someone would assessed this as a no, from your experiences or have any recommendations etc?
We have sourced rechargable alternatives, however we wanted to double-check the hard-wiring option first.
Many thanks,
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Rank: Super forum user
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Hi LeaLea One for an electrical specialist, but you have spotted that water ingress might be an issue, and hence the IP rating.
That aside it seems to me that you wouldn't be having this debate if the storage was inside a building. Instead, you would define a minimum clearance between lighting units and what is being stored. What that minimum clearance should be would depend on the nature of the light fittings and how easily ignited the materials stored are. One of our Forum electrical experts might come along before these Forums are shut down on 5 January 2026. Yours is the sort of question that highlights why it is so short sighted that the apparent intention is to exclude people who are NOT Members of IOSH from the replacement Forums that are promised. I would always defer to someone who knows BS7671 inside out on a question such as this and most of the people who do know that BS inside out are NOT Members of IOSH.
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 1 user thanked peter gotch for this useful post.
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