Posts Tagged ‘Compact’

Are Compact Fluorescent Lamps Dangerous To My Family?

Our family is the pivotal point in our lives, so it’s incredibly obvious that we want to make sure that our family’s are safe at all times and are not, at any point, at risk or in danger , this also means being reassured and made aware of what Compact Fluorescent Lamps, or CFLs carry in terms of potential health issues, especially if you have just begun to replace your conventional lighting with them.

CFLs use about over seventy five percent less energy than standard incandescent bulbs, and more people are realizing this, which is why they’ve become so popular, and why people are beginning to litter their homes with them! But mindlessly cramming your home with energy efficient CFLs might not be the best way forward. The fact is that CFLs are harmless within your house and will not harm your family, but only if you use them correctly and follow all the guidelines that come with them.

It’s important to know that the chemical element Mercury is an component included within Fluorescent lamps, it is sealed within the actual glass tubing that, and there is approx 5mg present within this glass tubing. At atmospheric pressure, the Mercury tends to form in the shape of perfect spheres of a silvery color, which is how it can sometimes be identified. When absorbed through the skin, inhaled, or ingested, Mercury can be potentially quite dangerous, causing symptoms which include insomnia, weight loss and emotional disturbances, however CFLs contain such small amounts that it would not put your family at risk, and can only become a dangerous issue if it is not disposed of appropriately, e.g. if it’s just thrown away in the trash rather than being recycled.

You can be assured that even though Mercury is a critical component within Compact Fluorescent Lamps, it is never released when the lamps are fully intact or in use. Mercury is the factor that helps CFLs turn on, and is not a health hazard during the every day functions of your lamp.

However, if placed incorrectly in the home, you may be breaching the guidelines of the CFL, and causing danger. CFLs must not be placed within areas where a lot of heavy vibrations occur, for example, in loud rooms where the sounds vibrate through the walls, or in places where machinery is used fairly often, like construction sites, or areas where D.I.Y is frequently carried out (for most people this could be the garage). By allowing CFLs to be placed in such places can cause them to fail and become a health risk!

If a CFL is ever broken, it is imperative that you use specially manufactured gloves in order to clean it up. Gloves that are made from vinyl, PVC or neoprene can be perfect for this purpose. The gloves will prevent any Mercury from touching your skin, and as well as this, it will protect your hands from potentially sharp glass!

If you want to know more information about the clean up, storage or disposal of Compact Fluorescent Lamps, it would be advisable that you visit the US Government Environmental Protection Agency’s website, as they can give you the best information and advice on all aspect of your CFL. If you stick to the guidelines that come with your CFL, you can sleep soundly at night knowing your family is not at risk from them.

Essential Installation Steps you must carry out to avoid Compact Fluorescent Lamps CFL fire hazards

When a fire is caused by a CFL, or Compact Fluorescent Lamps, it is often due to either a defective product, or more often than not; improper installation. CFLs over-heat if they are installed incorrectly, so it’s essential that when you are installing your CFL that you do it correctly. One way you can protect yourself and your family is to make sure you only buy CFLs that meet the highest standard, these CFLs will have been tested and proven to meet the US government’s Energy Star standards.

CFLs that are Energy Star qualified will also meet UL safety standards. These standards require the bulb itself to be self-extinguishing in the event of a fire, so in most cases, the tubing of the bulb will only darken. Energy Star qualified CFLs should never catch on fire when installed correctly.

CFLs are often, unless stated otherwise, made from glass, and can break if they are roughly handled or dropped, so always be sure you are using the upmost care when removing the bulb from its packaging, installing it or even replacing it. You should always screw and unscrew the light from its base, never the glass, and you should never forcefully twist the CFL into a light socket either, it should twist securely into place without much force required at all.

By twisting the bulb in with the glass and not the plastic base, you could break the vacuum seal or the glass tubing in the CFL. When certain parts of the CFL are exposed to oxygen, they can become defective and over-heat, causing a fire hazard, so always be sure to handle the CFL carefully, and twist the base into place, not the actual CFL.

In some cases, once the fluorescent tubing in the CFL reaches the end of it’s usability, the arc that is contained within this tubing can sometime elevate the temperature of the plastic which houses it. In this elevated temperature, short lived though it is, you may notice smoking to a very minor degree, as well as this, the CFL may start to give off an unusual odor. In other more extreme cases, a flashing arc internal to the fluorescent tube or ballast may occur, causing a deformation or a small breach of the plastic housing unit, but don’t be too alarmed, as if the CFL is Energy Star qualified, the materials will have been tested so as to prevent subsequent safety hazards.

If your CFL should ever smoke or start smoldering, you need to immediately shut off the power to the CFL. Once it has cooled, remove it from the light socket. Once you have done this, it is advisable that you should contact your local light bulb manufacturing regulating authority and provide them with the product manufacturer’s name and model information that is included on the CFL base and if possible an electronic photo. You will also most probably need to explain how the CFL was used within the household.

Once this has been done, you should also visit the manufacturer’s web site to find customer service contact information to inform them of the early failure. The manufacturer that produce the CFL should then be able to provide you with a replacement or a refund, due to a breach of the warranty (if the warranty was breached) so make sure you always hold on to any receipts you may have to prove your date of purchase.

Some manufacturers may then request the problem product to be delivered to them so they can establish why the smoking happened, so always make sure that you keep the product until you speak to the manufacturer.