Explosion-Proof Aerial Lift FAQs
Answers to the questions procurement engineers, safety officers, and facility managers ask most often about Bailey's explosion-proof aerial lifts.
What certifications are required for explosion-proof aerial lifts?
Explosion-proof aerial lifts must meet ANSI A92.20 (the modern North American standard for mobile elevating work platforms, replacing ANSI A92.5/A92.6), FM Class 3600 / 3610 / 3615 for electrical safety in hazardous locations, and UL 583 for battery-powered industrial trucks. NFPA 505 covers fire safety for industrial trucks, and OSHA 29 CFR 1910.178 governs operation in classified locations. Bailey engineers and certifies every explosion-proof lift to all applicable standards for the customer's specific Class and Division.
What's the difference between Class I Division 1 and Class I Division 2?
Class I covers locations where flammable gases or vapors may be present. Division 1 means ignitable concentrations exist under normal operating conditions — think aircraft fuel cells, paint spray booths, or solvent-based coating lines. Division 2 means concentrations are present only abnormally, such as during an upset or leak. Equipment for Division 1 must be physically explosion-containing or intrinsically safe; Division 2 equipment is designed not to ignite under normal operation. Bailey builds aerial lifts certified for Class I Division 1 hazardous locations — the most stringent rating in the U.S.
Can a standard aerial lift be retrofitted to be explosion-proof?
Surface-level retrofits exist, but Bailey does not consider them safe. True explosion-proof certification requires re-engineering the load-sensing system, sealing every electrical enclosure to FM standards, eliminating spark sources from the entire control system, and validating stability under altered weight distributions. A retrofitter can replace some components, but stability calculations, control-system safety reviews, and accountability for the certification chain are typically not performed. Bailey designs explosion-proof lifts from the chassis up so the entire machine — mechanical, hydraulic, electrical, and control-system — is engineered as a single certified unit.
What industries need ANSI A92.20–certified explosion-proof lifts?
Aircraft maintenance and MRO facilities, aerospace paint and coatings operations, defense contractor depots, semiconductor and pharmaceutical manufacturing where solvents are present, oil & gas refining, chemical processing plants, and battery / energy-storage manufacturing all require ANSI A92.20 plus appropriate Class/Division certification. Customers include major defense primes and aerospace OEMs whose hangars contain Class I Division 1 zones around fuel cells and engine bays.
How much does a custom explosion-proof aerial lift cost?
Custom explosion-proof lifts typically run from the mid-six figures to over $1M depending on reach height, platform capacity, certification level (Division 1 vs Division 2), and any specialty attachments such as cleanroom compliance, ESD protection, or non-sparking platforms. Pricing for off-the-shelf EX scissor and boom lift models starts lower. Contact Bailey with your specific Class, Division, height, and capacity requirements for a firm quote.
What's the difference between EE-rated and EX-rated aerial lifts?
EE-rated (Electrically Enclosed) lifts have key electrical components — motors, wiring, switches — sealed inside enclosures so sparks or heat cannot reach the surrounding atmosphere. EX-rated (Explosion-Proof) is the highest level: the entire machine is engineered for use in explosive atmospheres, with no internal spark, arc, or heat source able to ignite the surrounding environment. EX is required for Class I Division 1; EE may be sufficient for Class I Division 2 depending on the specific risk assessment.
What's the typical lead time for a Bailey explosion-proof lift?
Standard EX scissor and boom lift models ship in 12–20 weeks. Fully custom configurations (specialty heights, cleanroom-grade EX combinations, or unusual capacity requirements) typically run 24–40 weeks because of certification testing and validation cycles. Bailey can provide an exact lead time once your specifications are finalized.
