Fluorescent lighting has been a mainstay of sports halls and leisure centres for decades. However, this era will soon come to an end. Mark Stevenson from Thorlux Lighting explains.
The UK Government has recently announced its schedule for phasing out fluorescent lamps, following a similar plan issued by the European Union. The ban arises from changes to the Restriction of Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (RoHS) and will come into effect within 12 months.
Fluorescents are low-pressure gas-discharge lamps that contain between 3 and 46 milligrams of mercury, depending on their age and size. Mercury exposure is highly toxic for humans; it damages the brain, kidneys and lungs, and is linked to several diseases. Furthermore, it causes significant environmental damage, contaminating waterways and soil.
For these reasons, the RoHS directive has restricted the use of mercury since 2006. However, several exemptions were granted; these included fluorescent lamps, as alternatives were limited or impractical at the time.
With modern LED lighting technology, this is no longer the case. LEDs now exceed the lighting performance of even the best fluorescents. They are resilient to numerous factors detrimental to traditional lamps, such as frequent switching, shock or vibration. Many modern LED luminaires are rated for an operating life of 50,000 to 100,000 hours, depending on application conditions.
Above all, LED lighting offers users vastly superior efficiency, requiring a fraction of the electricity traditional lamps need. Intelligent control systems such as Thorlux Lighting’s award-winning SmartScan system can further improve efficacies. This system monitors energy performance and operational information for SmartScan standard and emergency luminaires. These luminaires contain a discrete integral sensor which monitors ambient light and occupancy, controlling output to the correct level and only illuminating when needed. SmartScan-equipped projects frequently benefit from energy savings exceeding 70 per cent compared to conventional technology. With the growth of LED technology, there is no longer a reason to exempt fluorescent lamps from the RoHS restrictions. In the UK, the changes to the regulations will occur by 1st February 2024. Sales of all T5, T8 and compact fluorescent lamps will be banned from then. Some wholesalers may retain stock after this date, but this will not be replenished. With less than 12 months to go, the time is right for operators to plan their lighting future. It is prudent to avoid leaving things until the last minute. However, users should be wary of taking shortcuts that may create more problems than they solve. Replacement LED tubes or adaptors that slot into existing fluorescent fittings might appear a cheaper, easier solution; unfortunately, these retrofit devices have drawbacks – and potential dangers. These include risk of electrocution, voided warranties and safety certification, increased risk of breakage, unacceptable light levels and lack of emergency lighting capacity. The most effective way to adopt LED lighting, providing all the technological benefits without any retrofitting issues, is to switch to a complete, high-efficiency LED lighting system. This change will reduce energy consumption and long-term costs while providing superior performance over a long product life.
