Lighting Council Australia publishes
ERAC Electrical Regulatory Ruling on LED Tube Safety Concerns when Retrofitting

With the plethora of LED products of varying quality available in the market today, product safety is an issue not to be taken lightly. The Electrical Regulatory Authorities Council (ERAC) of Australia issued an information bulletin in November 2011 stating concerns about the electrical safety of LED tubes and modified luminaires.

Can LED Tubes Cause Electric Shock?

Recent enforcement actions on LED Tubes or T8/T5 fluorescent lamp adaptor replacement tubes by Safety Regulators in Australia, New Zealand, and countries in Europe have shown instances where these products do not comply with essential safety requirements, such as protection against electric shock. In Australia and New Zealand these safety principles are specified in AS/NZS 3820 (Essential Safety Requirements for Low Voltage Electrical Equipment).¹

Currently LED tubes can be powered from either one end or two ends. The safety concern highlighted by ERAC is with regard to two end powered tubes, particularly during installation or removal of the tube, because with this design if one end is connected to power in the batton and the pins on the other end are touched by a person it could result in severe electric shock.

Conversely, one side powered tubes do not have this issue, as the circuit can never be completed through the tube with this design.

There have been reports of failures of insulation causing the metal enclosure body of such devices to become live and present an electric shock risk. Another electrical hazard that may be present in some designs is access to live parts. Some designs are such that while being installed, with one end of the tube inserted in the luminaire, the other end may become live which presents a possible electric shock hazard. This is not a best practice for electrical safety design, as it would require work practices and procedures to reduce the risk of electric shock. A better design would be to remove the risk by ensuring supply to the product is via one end only.¹

There are many two end powered LED tubes still being sold in the Australian market that carry the risk of electric shock and there is unfortunately no way to know the safety of the tube without testing it. Therefore it is advisable to confirm the safety of your tubes before you make a purchase and stick with quality, reputable brands such as EcoWise LED.

With a focus on quality and safety, all EcoWise LED tubes are one side wired and specially manufactured with appropriate and safe insulation around electrical components, using a design approved by TUV Rheinland Australia and certified to be 100% safe and compliant.

What are ERAC’s safety requirements & recommendations?

Currently there is no specific electrical safety standard for these products that could be used to cover all electrical risks. Therefore, designers, manufactures, importers and suppliers would need to apply requirements from several electrical safety standards and engage in good engineering design principles to ensure the products are made in a manner that is electrically safe. Failure to apply appropriate standards in design, manufacturing and testing of these products may result in an unsafe product.

The bulletin goes on to specify recommendations for new or modified LED Tubes, including:

1. The LED Tube shall comply with the requirements of safety standards:- AS/NZS 61347.1, IEC 61347.2.13 and relevant requirements of AS/NZS 60598.1. (Note: IEC 62031 may be used in lieu of IEC 61347.2.13)
2. Irrespective of the standards mentioned above, where the product has unique characteristics, assessments of safety must have adequately covered all risks of the product. This may involve the use of several other Australia and New Zealand standards and/or international standards and other assessments to ensure the product is electrically safe.
3. The LED tube should be assessed to ensure that no access to live parts can be achieved during installation.
4. Full installation instructions and diagrams shall be provided.
5. LED tube shall be capable of being fitted into an unmodified luminaire without causing a safety hazard, although it does not have to function.

EcoWise LED tubes have been Independently tested by TUV Rheinland Australia (accredited by JAS-ANZ) to ensure our tubes are safe and meet or exceed the Australian electrical safety requirements. The tubes fully comply with the Australian standards AS/NZS 60598.1:2003, IEC 61347-2-13 Ed.1 and AS/NZS 61347.1:2002 and have received a Certificate of Approval which is recognised throughout Australia and New Zealand.

What about modifying fluorescent battens /luminaires for use with LED tubes?

ERAC has expressed serious concerns with electrical safety issues of both the LED tubes and T5/T8 fluorescent lamp adaptor assemblies. These concerns are not limited to the lamp products themselves; ERAC is also concerned with the modifications carried out to existing luminaires.

Some LED tubes are not compatible with existing fluorescent tube ballasts and require the internal ballast to be disconnected by an authorised electrician. ERAC highlighted the issue that in making such modifications it is essential that the modified batten will not cause harm whether an LED or fluorescent tube is placed into it, and to ensure that the modified batten is appropriately labelled.

“The great thing about EcoWise LED tubes is that they can directly retrofit into iron core electromagnetic ballast battens (which is the most common type of batten) without having to make any changes. You just take out the old tube and starter and replace with the EcoWise LED tube and starter and you’re done – it’s safe and easy,” says Kylie Lumsden, R&D and Product Manager at EcoWise LED. “If you’re not sure what type of batten you have, look for the starter. If you can see one it is an iron core magnetic ballast and it’s compatible.” EcoWise is also in the process of developing a safe LED tube that is compatible with electronic ballasts.

Wouldn’t all LED tube suppliers be aware of these issues?

These issues, and development of standards, are under discussion by ERAC and the Australian and New Zealand electrical safety standards committee for lighting products (EL-041). During these discussions concern has been raised that some manufacturers, importers, distributors, installers and retailers may not be fully aware of the potential safety risks relevant to the replacement tubes they manufacture, import or supply.

Don’t take a risk in buying an unsafe LED tube from a supplier who is not aware of the potential safety concerns. Always check that the LED tube has been independently tested according to Australian Standards AND is powered from one end only. For more information on LED tube safety, contact EcoWise LED Head Office on (07) 5668 5474 or info@ecowiseled.com.

How Consumers Can Save Money Right Now

Brisbane, Aust. – EcoWise LED can help reduce electricity costs by several hundred dollars per year for the average Australian household or business.

With last month’s announcement that Queensland power costs are set to increase by 21.4% over the next 2 years, it’s more important than ever for consumers to reconsider their lighting options. Quality LED lights are up to 84% more energy efficient than traditional bulbs and, with average household use, can last over 22 years before needing to be replaced.

It is estimated that lighting accounts for 20% – 50% of energy use in most households and with many Australians already struggling to keep up with the current cost of electricity, the upcoming rate increases threaten to further jeopardise low-income families.

Traditionally the prohibitive costs of quality LED bulbs have made them inaccessible to Australian families on a budget. In a first for the Australian market EcoWise LED has made quality LED bulbs an affordable and viable alternative allowing significant savings on energy costs for Aussie homes and businesses.

Additional benefits of LED lighting includes:

• Save Money – Better energy efficiency means an instant cost saving to the consumer.
• Longer Life Span – Quality LED bulbs have a lifespan of up to 50,000 hours of use.
• Reduce Your Carbon Footprint – Lower consumption = less carbon emissions.
• Bright Light – Quality LED bulbs produce the same or better light as traditional bulbs.
• 100% Safe – LED bulbs contain no toxic mercury or UV radiation.
• Eco-Friendly – Reduced mercury contamination in landfill from fluorescent light bulbs.
• Durable – LED bulbs are more durable than their traditional counterparts.
• Less Heat Output – LED bulbs convert most of their energy into light instead of heat, so they run much cooler, saving on cooling costs.

Australian owned and operated, EcoWise LED is committed to helping the Australian consumer reduce the cost of their energy bills by offering premium quality LED lights at easily accessible prices.

To help consumers make an informed choice about their lighting options, EcoWise is offering a free personalised lighting report. Readers can go to http://ecowiseled.com/free-report and find out exactly how much they’re currently spending on lighting in their home or office, and how much they could save each year.

For associated images please visit:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/b8il1dp2c9xk1hm/8xzZCr-wdO

References:
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/electricity-bill-shock/story-e6freoof-1226583094724
http://www.ecowiseled.com/about-us
http://life.gaiam.com/article/are-led-lightbulbs-better-compact-fluorescents

CONTACT:
Katrina O’Neale
Co-Founder & Marketing Manager
PH: +617 5668 5474
M: +61 400 320 011
katrinaoneale@ecowiseled.com

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1. CLEAR THE ROOM of all people & pets immediately and leave it for at least 5 – 10 minutes.
2. DO NOT VACUUM!!! This will stir up the Mercury and increase your exposure! Use stiff paper or cardboard to collect the glass shards and sticky tape to collect any remaining glass or visible powder. TRY NOT TO INHALE as the Mercury powder is colourless and odourless and will be in the surrounding air.
3. Dispose of the waste in a glass jar or other sealable container – NOT A PLASTIC BAG… mercury will leech through a plastic bag.
4. Keep the broken bulb OUTSIDE and away from children & pets until you are able to properly dispose of it. Where possible all fluorescent lighting products should be disposed of through dedicated recycling centres. CLICK HERE to find your closest recycling centre.
5. If possible, continue to air out the affected area, and if possible move any affected rugs / carpets outside for several hours.

Whilst many will argue that the small amount of Mercury in fluorescent lighting is not harmful to your health, the mass adoption of CFL bulbs in homes is only a very recent event, and the long term effects of this household Mercury exposure is not yet known, so it is best to take every precaution you can to avoid any possible health implications.

You can eliminate the risk of Mercury exposure in your home with LED bulbs – the safer, cheaper and better alternative. Browse the EcoWise LED range today.

The post How To Safely Clean Up Broken CFL Bulbs appeared first on EcoWise LED.

The Environmental Protection Agency and some large business, including Wal-Mart, are aggressively promoting the sale of compact fluorescent light bulbs as a way to save energy and fight global warming. They want Americans to buy many millions of them over the coming years.

But the bulbs contain small amounts of mercury, a neurotoxin, and the companies and federal government haven’t come up with effective ways to get Americans to recycle them.

“The problem with the bulbs is that they’ll break before they get to the landfill. They’ll break in containers, or they’ll break in a dumpster or they’ll break in the trucks. Workers may be exposed to very high levels of mercury when that happens,” says John Skinner, executive director of the Solid Waste Association of North America, the trade group for the people who handle trash and recycling.

Skinner says when bulbs break near homes, they can contaminate the soil.

Mercury is a potent neurotoxin, and it’s especially dangerous for children and fetuses. Most exposure to mercury comes from eating fish contaminated with mercury,

Some states, cities and counties have outlawed putting CFL bulbs in the trash, but in most states the practice is legal.

Pete Keller works for Eco Lights Northwest, the only company in Washington state that recycles fluorescent lamps. He says it is illegal to put the bulbs in the trash in some counties in Washington, but most people still throw them out.

“I think most people do want to recycle, but if it’s not made easy, it doesn’t happen,” Keller says. “And they’re small enough to fit in a trash can. So by nature, I think most people are not recyclers. So if it’s small enough to fit in a trash can, that’s where it ends up.”

Experts agree that it’s not easy for most people to recycle these bulbs. Even cities that have curbside recycling won’t take the bulbs. So people have to take them to a hazardous-waste collection day or a special facility.

The head of the Environmental Protection Agency program concedes that not enough has been done to urge people to recycle CFL bulbs and make it easier for them to do so.

Read the full article…

The post CFL Bulbs Have One Hitch: Toxic Mercury appeared first on EcoWise LED.

The untold story of ‘planned obsolescence’ uncovers how many products, including the incandescent light bulb, were designed to fail prematurely making them more consumable and forcing consumers to buy more things, more often.

It’s time to re-educate ourselves towards a more sustainable lifestyle, with LED light bulbs that will last us 30,000 to 50,000 hours or more.

Join the Eco Wise LED revolution today and do your part to reduce useless landfill in a disposable society.

The post Light Bulbs designed to fail: The untold story of ‘planned obsolescence’ appeared first on EcoWise LED.

Since the phase out of incandescent bulbs began in Australia in February 2009, supermarket shelves have been flooded with CFL bulbs as the ‘energy smart’ choice for home lighting. Consuming less than half the electricity as their incandescent counterparts, they appear (at least on the surface) to be a great alternative to the old style power hungry bulbs.

However, as many families are now discovering, these bulbs contain Mercury which is a highly toxic heavy metal which is especially dangerous for children & pregnant women. The bulbs are relatively ‘safe’ unless broken, which sadly is a common occurrence.

The Scientific American reports, when a bulb breaks, “Mercury escapes as vapor that can be inhaled and as a fine powder that can settle into carpet and other textiles. At least one case of mercury poisoning has been linked to fluorescents.”

Mercury is a “potent, developmental neurotoxin that can damage the brain, liver, kidneys and central nervous system,” according to wakeup-world.com. “Even at low levels, mercury is capable of causing a number of health problems including impair motor functioning, cognitive ability and emotional problems. Higher or prolonged exposure can result in much more serious health problems.”

If that wasn’t scary enough, CFL’s also emit ultra-violet rays which have been linked to many health issues including cancer. The Australian Government’s Climate Change website even has a page dedicated to ‘minimising the ultra-violet light exposure’ from CFL bulbs.

“Sitting close to a compact fluorescent lamp (CFL), or halogen lamp, and being able to see the exposed light bulb means that some UV radiation will be received from the lamp,” explains the Government site.

With so many dangers lurking right above our heads we are confronted with two big questions:

1. Why weren’t we warned about these dangers; and
2. What other alternatives are there.

Perhaps the government were not aware of the health risks when they forced these bulbs into the homes of Aussie families, or perhaps they were hoping we wouldn’t find out. Perhaps we’ll never know.

Fortunately there is an alternative that not only eliminates ALL of these health risks but it is also twice as energy efficient as the supposed ‘energy smart’ CFL bulbs.

LED bulbs are by far the best choice for homes & businesses and are completely safe & non-toxic. Although you’ll pay more for an LED bulb they are designed to last anywhere from 10 to 30+ years depending on your usage so the value far outweighs the investment.

Australia’s leading LED supplier is Eco Wise LED, a QLD company that is passionate about helping Aussie families eliminate dangerous CFL bulbs from their homes and offer a range of high quality LED bulbs for home or business use.

Eco Wise LED are offering a no obligation FREE home or business assessment – contact Eco Wise LED to book yours today.

In the case of a broken CFL in your home, you should immediately open any doors & windows. As Jim Berlow, director of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Hazardous Waste Minimization and Management Division recommends:

“Get all the people and pets out of the room for 15 minutes and let the room air out. If you have a central heating system or an HVAC [heating, ventilating and air-conditioning] system, you don’t want it sucking the fumes around, so shut that down.”

“The important thing is not to touch the heavy metal. After airing out the room, the larger pieces of the bulb should be scooped off hard surfaces with stiff paper or cardboard or picked up off carpeted surfaces with gloves to avoid contact. Use sticky tape or duct tape to pick up smaller fragments; then, on hard surfaces, wipe down the area with a damp paper towel or a wet wipe. All materials should be placed in a sealable plastic bag or, even better, in a glass jar with a metal lid.”

“If it gets in the jar, that’s pretty good containment,” Berlow states. “We’ve found that the plastic bags actually don’t contain any mercury fumes, so absolutely, if you’ve got the plastic bag, get it outside when you’re done.” Vacuums or brooms should generally be avoided, as they can spread mercury to other parts of the house.

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