Appleton® Launches New RELED & RNLED Luminaire Series Built for the World’s Most Demanding Hazardous Environments

May 14, 2026

Energy-efficient LED luminaires deliver ATEX/IECEx-certified performance with 150,000+ hour rated life, stainless steel enclosure, dual mounting configurations, and optional emergency capability

Emerson announced the Appleton™ RNLED and RELED Series, two new lines of recessed and surface-mount LED luminaires engineered as energy-efficient upgrades to Appleton RE Series fluorescent fixtures. Certified to ATEX and IECEx hazardous location standards, Appleton RNLED and RELED Series luminaires deliver similar light distribution as the fluorescent fixtures they functionally replace while making the leap to solid-state LED technology to ensure a longer service life, instant-on directional illumination, and dramatically lower energy and maintenance costs.

Highly versatile and configurable, the luminaires are offered in three distinct platform geometries — 2‘ linear, 4‘ linear, 2‘ x 2‘ square — covering the broadest range of ceiling configurations and lighting requirements with lumen outputs from 1,508 to 7,789 lumens and four color temperatures (5000K, 4000K, 3000K, and 2200K). Adding to this flexibility, the RNLED and RELED Series can be ordered with 1.5-hour or 3-hour emergency battery backup options featuring an automated self-test every 14 days, or every year (full test). Rounding out the impressive feature set is 0–10V continuous dimming capability for integration with Appleton Group Lighting Controls infrastructure, including the Appleton Mercmaster Control or Areamaster Connect LED luminaires.

Appleton RNLED and RELED Series luminaires are suited for the full range of hazardous and corrosive industrial environments including offshore rigs, chemical and petrochemical plants, paint booths, washdown areas in food, beverage and pharmaceutical production, marine terminals, and advanced manufacturing. 

Hazardous Location Certification and Robust Design

Appleton RNLED and RELED Series luminaires are physically identical in form and function, differentiated by hazardous area certification scope.

Appleton RELED luminaires are dual-certified for Gas Groups in ATEX/IECEx Zone 1 and Zone 2, and Dust Groups in Zone 21 and Zone 22, making it the specification choice for primary hazardous zones where high ignition-risk classification is mandatory. Appleton RNLED luminaires are certified for Zone 2, Zone 21 and Zone 22 applications, delivering ATEX/IECEx compliance at optimized cost. 

All models are certified to robust mechanical standards, including resistance to vibration, corrosion, and impact, ensuring consistent reliability across the product line. The luminaire’s IP66-rated, gasketed enclosures can be specified in rugged 304 stainless steel, 316L stainless steel, or painted 304 stainless steel, each selected for specific corrosion resistance profiles in chemical, marine, offshore, and washdown-intensive environments. The high-impact-resistance housing is rated to 20 Joules (IK10), with a wire guard fitted on tempered glass cover to protect against mechanical impact in high-traffic industrial zones. 

In addition, advanced thermal management maintains safe junction temperatures across the full operating temperature range, preserving both lumen output and driver longevity over the fixture’s service life. This contributes to a calculated lumen maintenance life of L70 > 150,000 hours at +55°C (+131°F).

Engineered for Simplified Deployment

The RNLED and RELED Series are engineered for simple deployment without compromising electrical compatibility or serviceability. Universal high-efficiency drivers accept 100–277 Vac (50/60 Hz) and 125–300 Vdc, eliminating the need for voltage-specific SKU selection across multi-region projects. High power factor (>0.95) minimizes reactive load on facility electrical infrastructure, while standard 6 kV surge suppression protects against transient overvoltage events common in industrial environments.

The field-replaceable LED driver is a standout serviceability feature: maintenance technicians can swap the driver module on-site, reducing mean time to repair in hazardous area environments.

Appleton RNLED and RELED Series luminaires are backed by a 10-year standard warranty, one of the longest in the electrical industry. To learn more, visit www.appleton.emerson.com.

Learn more at www.appleton.emerson.com/appleton.