Procurers of hand-held tools for construction renovation firms routinely put a lot of thought into purchasing the right type of hard hats, hammers, power tools and other equipment to maximize employee productivity and safety on a construction site.

But the same purchasers may be uninformed about the wide range of options available to them when it comes to a true workplace staple—the flashlight.

Flashlights are so commonly used that most contractors may think they know everything there is to know about their features and functionality. But thanks to continuing advances in lighting technology, professionals have a wide range of high-performance flashlights from which to choose, from lightweight, hand-held rechargeable lights that can shine super-bright light wherever it's needed to specialized lights for more exacting tasks.

Using the right light can make all the difference in speeding inspection time, maintaining a safe work environment and in general, increasing overall efficiency. But there's a science to selecting the appropriate light for the task at hand; following is a primer for construction professionals.

A good place to start is on the subject of the flashlight and hazardous environments. Because flashlights can act as a source of ignition in the presence of fire, ignitable gases or liquids, choosing the correct light for the application requires a thorough understanding of the working environment, and a realistic expectation of how a properly selected flashlight will operate in those conditions.

Hazardous locations, or potentially explosive atmospheres, are areas where fire or explosion hazards may exist due to the presence of ignitable concentrations of flammable gases, liquids, vapors, dusts, or ignitable fibers or flyings. These locations are classified or “grouped” according to the properties of flammable materials that may be present and the likelihood of flammable concentrations. The National Electric Code defines hazardous locations, classifications, and protection techniques. (Copies of the National Electric Code are available at www.nfpa.org.)

Any flashlight that will be used in a hazardous environment or confined space should be properly tested to meet or exceed all applicable safety standards for those locations. International third-party testing organizations, such as Underwriters Laboratories Inc. and Factory Mutual Research, certify the safety of certain flashlights when operated in specified hazardous environments and issue appropriate approval ratings.

Safety considerations also extend to the flashlight casing itself. Bodies fabricated from polymer engineering resin materials are virtually indestructible, shock resistant and non-conductive. These are important considerations, especially in hazardous environments. Polymers also do not retain heat, making them ideal for use where fire or high temperatures may be present.

Other flashlight casing materials available to the construction and industrial trades include anodized, machined aluminum housing and ABS thermoplastic. The choice of casing material can be a matter of personal preference. In addition, the size of flashlights for the construction professional can range from a light-weight penlight that can be tucked in a pocket, all the way to a heavy-duty lantern. The choice would depend on the task of the light or whether it is to be carried through the day on the tool belt of the person rather than in his or her tool kit.

Another step in selecting the most suitable flashlight models for the construction renovation site is to understand the latest innovations in battery technology. Developments such as the lithium ion battery have reached new benchmarks in rechargeability, which has led to flashlights' reduced size and weight. Those with lithium batteries can be as much as 50 percent lighter than their rechargeable nickel-cadmium predecessors. Rechargeables tend to burn brighter than those that use disposable batteries.

Another benefit of rechargeable light is savings. While their initial cost is generally higher than lights powered with disposable batteries, the lifetime savings is significant because they may be recharged up to 1,000 times. The user simply places them in their chargers at the end of each shift so that they are fully charged for the start of the next day. Studies have found that rechargeable nickel-cadmium flashlights provide an average savings of at least $300 in battery costs.

But flashlights with disposable batteries, on the other hand, are still widely used by construction and other industrial professionals. Therefore, understanding how frequently a flashlight will be used is key to selecting between the two varieties.

Under frequent usage, disposable batteries, such as alkaline, will last for approximately two weeks. Disposable batteries have excellent storage life and offer generally longer runtimes for a given bulb power. They are typically lower in initial purchase price and easier to keep spares on hand.

Durability is also an important consideration, as it is not uncommon for a flashlight to be dropped or knocked around on a construction site, resulting in a broken bulb or damaged casing. While this once meant tossing the flashlight to the dumpster—and lost time for the worker who had to stop what he was doing to get a replacement—that's no longer the case.

Professional grade flashlights with features such as non-conductive polymer housings or machined aluminum casings are tough enough to withstand this type of abuse, extending the life of flashlights and increasing worker productivity.

Many construction renovation contractors rely on a single, all-purpose light—either a long-lasting alkaline battery-powered model or one that features a Super High Flux.

“I use a small, lightweight rechargeable light that I can carry in my pocket and pull out whenever I need to examine construction work in progress, like HVAC ductwork or some type of equipment that's been installed in a ceiling or basement,” said Ken Van Dyke, project manager for Bazzani & Associates, a Grand Rapids, Mich. -based architecture and construction firm that specializes in adaptive reuse of older residential and commercial properties.

There also are other models to consider that may be the right choice. In a confined-space entry, professional grade headlamps that can be worn on the head or around a hard hat can give the user hands-free operation. LED/xenon combination lights combine the long-running times and durability of LEDs with the brightness of an incandescent and can be switched according to the specific task being performed. Some lights feature a handy laser pointer for targeting the source of a problem for a coworker or client. Some models of the traditional penlight have been redesigned to include a bendable, extendable cable that enables the user to see into the tightest spots.

Lighting technology continues to evolve with time and consumer demand. Increasingly, industrial professionals are requiring reliable, long-lasting lights that are not only lightweight and compact but also can perform under a variety of conditions that they routinely face.

So, the next time you think about purchasing portable lighting equipment for construction renovation use, be sure to select the right combination of features for the job.