Adé fluorescent lamps

Brussels is adopting numerous old fluorescent lamps that contain mercury. The reason: Following the Ecodesign Regulation, the regulation on the restriction of mercury - more precisely the EU Directive on the Restriction of the use of certain Hazardous Substances in electrical and electronic Equipment (RoHS) - is now also taking effect.

It was already clear that T8 fluorescent lamps, for example, would be phased out in September of next year. From August 25, 2023, T5 lamps will be banned in addition to T8 fluorescent lamps. (A T5 fluorescent lamp has a diameter of about 1.5 cm, while a T8 fluorescent lamp has a diameter of about 2.5 cm).

Lamps can be purchased and used further

All discharge lamps contain mercury - albeit only to a small extent. These include T5 fluorescent lamps and compact fluorescent lamps with pin bases, which were previously still considered exceptions. Now the special regulations for fluorescent lamps for general lighting are to expire after twelve or 18 months: Compact fluorescent lamps without integrated ballast from February 25 and T5 from August 25, 2023. This means they will disappear from the market much earlier and to a much greater extent.

"Illuminants do not have to be exchanged therefore necessarily and already acquired lamps may be also still taken in enterprise , explain Dr. J?rgen waldorf, managing director of the industry initiative "light.com". The trade continues to sell its stocks until they are used up. However, no new lamps are produced or marketed in Europe after the respective cut-off dates. The technical term for this is "phasing out".

For operators of commercial properties, the refurbishment of the lighting may be due sooner. Private households will hardly have any difficulties as a result of the innovation; they will simply reach for the energy-saving LED the next time they go shopping.

Source: licht.de