Blog post based on questions from the editorial team at markt-intern
Why isn’t there a cross-company standard for #LED, as there is for other light sources?
We have to admit that a standardisation of #LED modules has not become established throughout the industry. The question is: do we really want that?
On the one hand, LED development was so fast at the beginning that the #standards hardly had a chance to establish themselves among #lighting manufacturers.
On the other hand, the #LED with its small design and the resulting almost infinite degrees of freedom brought completely new possibilities in the #design of luminaires. This is still very much appreciated by manufacturers and end users alike.
Is it true that #LEDs basically cannot be replaced?
In short: no, the impression is deceptive.
In our company, we have long been considering making it possible to change LEDs or #LED inserts. But unfortunately, the change of LED modules by the end user is not entirely unproblematic:
LEDs are electronic components that must be protected against electrostatic discharge (ESD).
So in order to avoid complaints and time-consuming clarifications, since protection against ESD unfortunately cannot be guaranteed universally on construction sites, we currently only allow LED replacement on site in exceptional situations. This is also done to avoid complaints regarding allegedly faulty LED modules due to improper handling.
In addition, there is the long #lifetime of the LED. After a longer period of use, equivalent LEDs are often no longer available on the market. These would have to have the same power consumption, the same #light output, the identical LED arrangement and the same #radiation behaviour in order to continue to provide high-quality #lighting. These requirements are hardly possible without standardisation.
What about the #lifecycle of LEDs and how is it monitored?
As far as we know, separating the materials of an individual LED (in order to recover rare earths, for example) is currently technologically impossible. This is another reason why we have placed a lot of emphasis on long-life LEDs right from the start, with the statement L80 B10 above the industry-wide standard (L80 B50 or L80 without B value). In any case, the most sustainable solution is to make LED replacement unnecessary.
How does Regiolux deal with the issue of “service life specifications” and what percentage is achieved on average from experience?
Regiolux already offers some LED modules with a predicted service life of 100,000 hours and more. This means that in one- or two-shift operation, lifetimes of more than 20 years can be achieved. The LED does not simply fail after 100,000 h, but only the luminous flux is reduced further below the nominal value (e.g. 80% for L80). Thanks to our high #industrial quality, we even assume that the rated operating hours will be exceeded. However, we cannot prove this scientifically. However, due to the lack of complaints in this area, we see our estimates confirmed. We also assume that the #durability will continue to increase.
How is environmentally friendly disposal taken into account in #luminaire design?
We welcome and support the trend-setting requirements of the European #ecodesign Directive with regard to #material selection, #material quantity and #recycling. Drivers, LEDs and batteries can always be removed and disposed of individually.
Like most manufacturers in Germany, we organise ourselves via #Interseroh Dienstleistungs GmbH with regard to luminaire take-back and recycling in accordance with the register of waste electrical equipment. Here, the luminaires are dismantled into their #individual components. We primarily screw and clamp the LED modules. But there are also LED modules that are glued. Our concentration is, of course, on detachable connections.
