Glamox urges building owners to take action ahead of the ban on fluorescent tube lighting

From 25^th February 2023, with few exceptions, new compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and long-life tubes will be phased out in the EU. From 25 August, the phase-out extends to the most popular linear fluorescent tubes. Fluorescent lighting is in around 70% of commercial buildings in the EU. Glamox is urging businesses to seize the opportunity to make the switch sooner rather than later to avoid potential disruption and enjoy the benefits of energy savings and smarter ways of working.

Glamox fully supports the EU’s Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directive which aims to eliminate toxic substances in electronic waste.

Fluorescent tubes are being phased out because they contain mercury, which is harmful to the environment and public health. There are millions of linear T5 and T8 fluorescent tubes installed across Europe, and around 10 million fluorescent luminaires of all types in Norway alone. Most linear fluorescent tube luminaires do not have electronics optimised for replacement LED tubes. Some luminaires may require rewiring or replacing to avoid impacting the performance or life of the LED tube. A last-minute rush by businesses to replace their lighting could lead to a shortage of installers and some supply issues in the industry.

“From 25^th August, there will be no new T5 and T8 fluorescent tubes placed into the EU market. Existing stock may be sold but when it runs out, the familiar linear fluorescent tube will be confined to the wastebin of history,” said Astrid Simonsen Joos, Group CEO, Glamox. “Some businesses have started hoarding fluorescent tubes in hopes of postponing upgrades to their building lighting. We all need to accept that the transition to LED is a good thing – not only for the environment but for savings on energy bills as well.”

The best energy savings are realised by replacing old linear fluorescent luminaires with new LED luminaires. This can reduce electricity used by lighting by up to 50% when compared with fluorescent lighting. A saving of up to 90% can be achieved by wirelessly connecting luminaires with built-in sensors and controlling them using a light management system (tablet, wall panel, or laptop). The smart lighting switches on and off when and where it’s needed and can provide all manner of useful information to facilities managers – from energy use to room occupancy data.

Connected lighting also opens new opportunities to improve the well-being of employees through lighting that can be tuned to people’s circadian rhythms – a technology called ‘human-centric lighting’.