ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTION
LED REPLACEMENT RISKS A simple replacement of fluorescent tubes with LED tubes is one of the lowest cost options for energy-efficient lighting retrofits, but it can come with significant performance and safety risks, according to this information from lighting specialist enLighten Australia.
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he recent extension of the Victorian Energy Saver Incentive (VEET) scheme’s commercial lighting upgrade operating hours (Schedule 34) has seen an explosion in direct selling of LED tubes, in some cases free of charge, with the installer claiming the VEEC rebates. We have outlined the major risks below to allow building managers and owners to be in a better position to compare lighting upgrade options. In order to minimise these risks, a full luminaire replacement with either an LED batten, bulkhead, troffer or panel is recommended. A recent acknowledgement of these risks is the decision by the NSW Energy Savings Scheme administrators, IPART, to ban T5 adaptor retrofit kits and LED tube replacements as eligible activities due to the potential hazards arising out of such retrofit installations.
Product safety and compliance risk Safety testing and certification of non-emergency luminaires Every luminaire sold in Australia must undergo AS/NZS 60598 or equivalent testing, which covers its classification, marking, mechanical construction and electrical construction. In addition,
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the NSW, SA and Victorian energy-efficiency rebate schemes require an additional Australian Certificate of Suitability/Approval as an added safety feature. This is not a mandatory requirement for product sales, but rather a requirement to participate in the rebate schemes. Any luminaire that is modified will have altered electrical, mechanical and thermal characteristics. This modified luminaire should therefore be recertified under AS/NZS 60598 to ensure the safety of the fittings for potential electrical shock, fire or mechanical integrity risk management.
Safety testing and certification of emergency luminaires In addition to the above, emergency luminaires need to undergo mandatory AS 2293.3 testing to gain the thermal characteristics and photometric classification of the fitting. This basically tells us if the fitting is thermally capable to house all the components and operate within temperature limits of the battery, light source and control gear. Also, it gives a classification based on the light output, which enables us to decide how far apart the fittings can be spaced, so that in case of an emergency, safe egress of the occupants is facilitated.
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