New British Standard Addresses Remanufacturing Of Luminaires

BS 8887-221:2024 is a new British Standard that provides guidelines for the remanufacturing of luminaires. It is part of the MADE (Manufacture, Assembly, Disassembly, and End-of-life processing) suite of documents and addresses the growing need for sustainable practices in the British lighting industry. It could provide a glimpse at how North American remanufacturing could become standardized.

The standard is intended for several key stakeholders in the lighting industry:

• Industrial designers: The standard emphasizes the importance of proper design for remanufacturing, moving beyond simple modifications to ensure safety and functionality.
• Manufacturers/Remanufacturers: It provides a safe functional framework for remanufacturing processes, ensuring that work is carried out to appropriate standards.
• Installers: The standard helps installers understand that remanufactured luminaires may have different environmental limitations compared to their original versions.
• Wholesalers: As the first point of contact for potential issues, wholesalers need to be aware of the standards and processes involved in remanufacturing.
• End-users: The standard is relevant for those who will be using remanufactured luminaires, providing assurance of quality and safety.

The document covers the entire remanufacturing process, from initial discussions about the possibility of remanufacturing a luminaire to its final installation. It includes guidelines for appropriate inspection, testing, and considerations for future iterations of the luminaire.

Remanufacturing in the British lighting industry has become increasingly important due to the realization that LEDs don’t last forever and that discarding entire luminaires is environmentally unsustainable. The standard defines remanufacture as an “industrial process which creates a luminaire from used and/or new luminaires and/or components”.

BS 8887-221:2024 is part of a larger suite of British standards related to the MADE principle. It works in conjunction with other British standards such as BS ISO 8887-1, BS ISO 8887-2, BS 8887-3, and various parts of BS EN 60598, which cover general concepts, vocabulary, end-of-life design strategies, and luminaire requirements respectively.

By providing a standardized approach to remanufacturing, BS 8887-221:2024 aims to ensure safety, quality, and sustainability in the British lighting industry. It addresses the need for proper processes and considerations in an area that has historically been less regulated, potentially leading to unsafe or substandard practices.

More information is available here.

Image: BSI

David Shiller

David Shiller is the Publisher of LightNOW, and President of Lighting Solution Development, a North American consulting firm providing business development services to advanced lighting manufacturers. The ALA awarded David the Pillar of the Industry Award. David has co-chaired ALA’s Engineering Committee since 2010. David established MaxLite’s OEM component sales into a multi-million dollar division. He invented GU24 lamps while leading ENERGY STAR lighting programs for the US EPA. David has been published in leading lighting publications, including LD+A, enLIGHTenment Magazine, LEDs Magazine, and more.

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