Shatterproof Lamp Safety Set To Rise
Shatterproof Lamp for Safety
The problem of dangerous unregulated shatterproof lamps could become a thing of the past according to Fotolec, Europe’s largest manufacturer of safety lamp coatings.
The Lighting Industry Federation has published a standard for Fragment Retention Lamps (FRLs) — currently in draft form — which should become effective during 2009. Manufacturers of shatterproof lamps believe it will overcome many of the problems that have plagued the sector to date.
Shatterproof coated fluorescent lamps were first introduced 15 years ago to prevent glass contamination from accidental lamp breakage. However, some coatings often become brittle and yellow, and crack well before the end of a lamp’s life, rendering them useless. Some of the worst examples being sold use very thin shrink–wrap type polyethylene terephthalate and polyethylene materials that will not contain glass fragments after seven months use (about 5,000 hours).
This is exacerbated when companies install shatterproof lamps into enclosed splash resistant (IP65) fittings that cause them to degrade even faster.
Fotolec GlassGuard lamps, which are available through Newey & Eyre, comply with the new draft standard IEC 61549 and will satisfy the requirements of the British Retail Consortium, International Food Standards and all other major retail hygiene audit standards. The company claims its coating, which is denoted by a black band, will retain intact even after 20,000 hours of service.
The GlassGuard website has more information about Shatterproof Safety.
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