Freed from the need to develop and ensure compliance with upcoming regulation changes, the major producers have instead been concentrating on the aesthetics and ease of use of their products. And light emitting diodes (leds), with their low maintenance and long lives, are becoming more popular.
One such product is exit sign Exodus from ACDC Lighting Systems. The firm is targeting high specification projects for the product, saying that Exodus can be tailored to suit any architectural environment and is designed to complement its surroundings. The design incorporates low voltage suspension cables and lighting from top and bottom, combined with outline engraving.
Tridonic.atco has also introduced an led-based system, which is suitable for retail applications including shop fitting or emergency exit signs. It can also provide intensive colour accentuation where required.
Tridonic.atco's powerLED range uses a process called Chip on Board (cob). The cob LED has the dice assembly mounted directly onto the pc board. This provides a flat surface for full contact and improved dissipation of heat. COB provides an extremely low-profile LED with a wide angle of usable light, typically between 1400 and 1600.
Bardic's LEDlite range offers significant reductions in energy and maintenance costs compared with traditional exit signs, says the manufacturer. Using LEDs as opposed to traditional fluorescent lamps, the Bardic LEDlite illuminated exit signs combine high levels of reliability with high operating efficiency and low running costs. Offering a projected working life of ten years, the LEDs illuminating the sign are moulded into the blade to maximise the light output. This patented technology delivers light evenly across the whole pictogram area.
The LEDs within the blade have a combined power consumption of 5 VA, compared to 15 VA for a conventional luminaire. Where a large number of signs are used this translates into considerable energy savings. Over four years, energy savings from a 50 sign installation could amount to £1400, says Bardic, which claims further savings would be made from reduced maintenance costs.
Each LEDlite has an integral micro-controller that is programmed to carry out tests at predetermined intervals in accordance with BS 5266. The nature of faults is indicated by different coloured LEDs, while an audible alarm alerts staff to the location of a faulty sign.
Aesthetic designs
Thorn Lighting describes its Leopard fitting as "beautiful but rugged". It is the latest addition to the low energy bulkhead range – and, says Thorn, "easily the most important so far".
The luminaire is a vandal-resistant, weatherproof bulkhead with an IP65 rating. It is designed for use indoors or out, in warm or cold atmospheres. The fitting has a square or circular base made of polycarbonate, with an opal, polycarbonate or clear, honeycomb diffuser. Two body sizes and colours – black and white – add further choice to the range. Leopard is available in 9 W TC and 16, 28 and 38 W 2D types and options are offered for photocell control and integral emergency lighting.
Menvier has expanded its range of luminaires with gold and chrome-finished exit signs for emergency lighting requirements in prestigious locations.
As part of the Safe Edge and Recessed Safe Edge ranges, these illuminated signs have a viewing distance of 27 m, ensuring clear direction in an emergency. Safe Edge is available in maintained and non-maintained operation modes. Recessed Safe Edge operates in maintained mode and can be mounted in solid or suspended ceilings. Designed with ease of installation in mind, it features a separate first-fix baseplate, to which the supply cables are connected. The luminaire housing and legend can then be attached as a second-fix operation when required.
Both luminaires comply with the minimum luminance and uniformity requirements of BS 5266 Part 7, providing a minimum of three hours illumination from a 300 mm, 8 W fluorescent lamp in the event of mains failure. Intellem Self-Check and Easi-check addressable testing versions can be specified, as can Slave luminaire versions.
International Components says that, unlike conventional fluorescent, backlit signs that operate at reduced brightness levels in order to conserve battery power, its Smokebuster system maintains its high intensity when there is a mains failure. It also pulsates at high intensity to create extra awareness. The product is therefore particularly suitable for applications where ambient lighting levels are high, such as shopping centres.
Electronics developments
Increasingly slim and sleek luminaires require electronics developments as space for ballasts and gear reduces.
To answer this need, Tridonic.atco has come up with the PC Combo range of ballast inverters. By combining the electronic ballast with the emergency converter, there is only one unit to install plus minimal wiring, as lamp connections are similar to that of a standard electronic ballast. Radio interference suppression is improved, assembly times reduced and, for the first time, automated wiring can be utilised with an emergency module thanks to the use of a combined push wire and IDC terminal.
The PC Combo emergency lighting pack is available in single and twin lamp versions for 36 and 58 W T8 fluorescent lamps, in addition to three and four lamp variants for 18W T8 and 14W T5 lamps.
A new range of emergency test devices, EM Auto, has also been launched by Tridonic.atco. Their pre-programmed, self-test capability ensures that the emergency lighting function is checked at regular intervals in accordance with legal requirements. A functional test is carried out weekly and a full duration test is performed annually. A green/red LED indicates whether an emergency luminaire is functioning correctly.
EM Auto modules are compact, can be used in maintained or non-maintained mode and are suitable for use with 'D' type nickel cadmium cells or with the smaller Sub 'C' types for T5 lamps.
CP Electronics has introduced an easy-to-use range of automatic emergency lighting test switches. Key-operated to ensure secure access, the controls are a cost-effective way of meeting BS 5266 without expensive self-test fittings.
The ELT10 is permanently wired to the emergency supply. Designed to interrupt supply for pre-programmed periods of time, the ELT10 reinstates the supply after the time has lapsed. The ELTD1 din rail device enables users to effectively work the test function from the consumer unit and features an extra test function.
Multiple ELTD1 can be mounted into the consumer unit for multiple circuit control and the ELT-REL box allows one ELT10 to control up to 20 circuits.
Source
Electrical and Mechanical Contractor
No comments yet