When it comes to replacing lighting and choosing a lighting solution for your business, it can be difficult to navigate the jungle of countless options. That’s why we decided to write a blog series and describe the benefits of a replaceable light source solution.
*The benefits of lighting with replaceable light source. Part 2: Good availability*
The availability of LED tubes now and in the future is guaranteed by the international standard (EN62776) completed in 2014 but what does it actually mean and what are the advantages?
EN62776 is a harmonised standard for double-capped linear LED tubes prepared by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). In practice, it ensures that replacing T8 and T5 fluorescent tubes with LED tubes is easy and safe.
- The standard makes it possible to replace old fluorescent tubes with LED tubes and, later, use standardised LED tubes regardless of brand.
- The standard defines the characteristics of a LED tube, such as its mechanical durability, physical dimensions and electrical characteristics, and sets down the required markings on the products as well as uniform testing practices.
- The standard defines the characteristics required of LED tubes to make them mutually compatible and ensures the usability of all products on the market is as uniform as possible.
Valtavalo was involved in the standardisation process from the very beginning. We see LED tubes as an excellent counter to the throwaway culture which, unfortunately, often dictates the technologies adopted by society and business alike. It is important to us that the lighting we offer lasts over time and saves the environment – the standard made it easier for high-quality, long-life LED tubes to become more common around the world.
Most of the fixed LED luminaires available on the market are manufacturer-specific, and there is no standardised compatibility between manufacturers. When a luminaire or part of a luminaire breaks down, the same manufacturer must always be contacted if the lighting is to remain consistent. However, there is no guarantee that the same model of luminaire will still be available on the market.
It is therefore worth looking a little further into the future when making your choice. If you need help in your decision-making process, contact us. We are happy to help you in any questions you may have about lighting.
Read also Part 1: Sustainability.
PS. Before replacing fluorescent tubes with LED tubes, it is advisable to check the condition of the old fixtures first to ensure that they will remain functional for the life of the new LED light sources. If not, you can also replace the old fluorescent luminaire with a completely new luminaire designed for replaceable LED light sources. In future, upgrading to the latest lighting technology can be done simply by replacing the old tubes with new standard tubes, with low cost.
