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Check that the protective coating on the lamp meets some kind of impact test and is guaranteed to contain the glass fragments at beginning and at END OF LAMP LIFE. Many on the market do not and fail on impact at 5,000 Hours (8 months). If you are already using shatterproof fluorescent lamps check that they have a black band at one end. If they haven’t then it is likely that they will not contain glass on impact after 8 months use.
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During 2008 new manufacturing standards will be introduced for Fragment Retention Lamps. This will help prevent you choosing unsuitable lamps as they will need to meet IEC61549. Lamp’s carrying the “Black Band” around them at one end already meet the standard and is a sign of quality. If you standardise on these types it will solve any issues or worries you may have about glass contamination from accidental lamp breakage.
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If you are going to, or have installed, shatterproof fluorescent lamps into enclosed IP65 fixtures it is vital that you check the specification of the protective coating with your supplier. In these applications temperatures up to 135°C can easily be reached at the ends of the lamp causing many plastics to rapidly degrade, crack and sometimes melt! Always choose shatterproof lamps that are supplied with a coating warranty.
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Look to purchase lamps that will reduce your maintenance costs and improve light quality. For example if you are currently using standard White 35 Fluorescent lamps you can immediately reduce maintenance costs and increase light levels for longer periods of time by switching over to Tri-Phosphor Col 840 Lamps. These will immediately give you double the life time over standard White 35 types and improve colour rendering to supermarket standards. The good news is that they are not twice the price either!
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If you are currently using High Pressure Sodium Lamps in High Bay fixtures switch over to Fragment Retention Metal Halide. These lamps provide white light as oppose to orange and will improve colour rendering. Metal Halide Lamps do not explode on impact as aggressively as High Pressure Sodium and are much safer for use in food storage & manufacturing environments. Specify the SON Retrofit types as they will operate on existing control gear.
