KEY ISSUE
THE BIG RETROFIT CHECKLIST Sure, inefficient old luminaires must be replaced. And they must go as quickly, easily, and as cost-effectively as possible. But is retrofit refurbishment the way? We talk to TRILUX lighting about what you should look out for in a professional LED refurbishment.
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n the lighting market, a retrofit solution involves a modern lighting system, such as an LED lamp, being specially designed to fit into an old, existing lamp holder. The aim is to exploit the advantages of LED technology without having to modify the existing lighting infrastructure. So instead of new wiring or lamp holders, only the light source is replaced. However, what sounds so convincing and straightforward in theory often turns out to be more complex in practice. When converting outdated T5/T8 fluorescent tube systems, savings in energy costs can indeed be achieved quickly, easily, and relatively inexpensively by retrofitting LED lamps. However, in a commercial environment, further factors have to be considered. Compliance with the standards, overall cost-effectiveness, and light quality, safety, controllability, warranty, and financing, to name a few. The LED retrofit checklist shows what you should look out for when retrofitting in a professional environment.
1. Retrofit has many unknowns In the case of retrofit conversion, the lamps are installed in gear trays from a wide variety of manufacturers. This technical and design diversity raises many questions, e.g., about the luminaires’ functionality, lighting quality, and service life. Often it is only after a refurbishment that it is possible to clarify whether and how the lamp and gear tray function together. In comparison, LED complete solutions score with perfectly matched individual components and predictable quality and efficiency parameters.
2. Surprise: what is the real illuminance after retrofit? Retrofit conversions are carried out in a simple 1:1 exchange. But beware, the luminous flux specifications in the datasheet refer to the gross luminous flux emitted by the ‘naked’ retrofit lamp. Installation in the existing gear tray reduces the luminous flux, for example, due to the housing and cover. This means that the lighting quality after a retrofit refurbishment is unknown, unlike with a complete LED solution. If the requirements of health and safety are not complied with, insurance complications can arise in the event of an industrial accident.
3. What about the service life? The warmer an LED gets, the shorter its service life. LED luminaire systems, therefore, have a powerful thermal management system that effectively dissipates heat through the optimum interaction of LED modules and gear
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9. Retrofit is not always included – check your funding small print
trays. In the case of a retrofit solution, thermal management is limited to the lamp, so the service life in the new ‘operating environment’ cannot be predicted. Unpleasant surprises are therefore inevitable.
Are you looking for financial support? Local governments often support the refurbishment of outdated, inefficient lighting systems through numerous funding programs. But, as a rule, only complete LED systems are funded, retrofit solutions go empty-handed.
4. Retrofit needs a specialist Does an LED retrofit lamp require an inductive or an electronic ballast? The information on this can usually be found in the small print and requires the expertise of a qualified electrician. Anyone who commissions a layman to carry out a refurbishment to save costs may end up paying twice over.
5. Light quality: will it flicker
10. Don’t miss out on extra savings through light management
Savings in energy costs can be achieved quickly, easily, and relatively inexpensively by retrofitting LED lamps
Networked and intelligent LED lighting systems are becoming increasingly important. However, unlike complete LED systems, retrofit lamps can only be integrated into a light management system under certain conditions and only to a limited extent. In comparison, LED luminaires can be quickly, easily, and reliably integrated into a light management system via standardised interfaces - even retrofitted. And it pays off because light management reduces energy costs by up to 31%.
Retrofit solutions are used in various lighting systems, some of which differ significantly in photometric and safety specifications. In practice, this can lead to quality problems such as flickering or stroboscopic effects that did not exist initially.
6. Check the overall condition of the lighting system New lamps are all well and good. But if the overall condition of the lighting system is poor, retrofitting is often a wasted labour of love, as the problems ‘come thick and fast’. Therefore, pay attention to the overall condition of the installation, e.g., the sockets for the fluorescent lamps, which can age and become brittle over the decades. Retrofit solutions are sometimes significantly heavier than the original fluorescent lamps and can break out of the socket in the worst case.
11. Do a total cost calculation
7. Check your warranty conditions
Conclusion
Attention: the installation of LED retrofit lamps in an existing lighting system voids the warranty or guarantee of the luminaire manufacturer. Therefore, clarify the guarantee and warranty conditions before refurbishing.
Fluorescent lamp out, retrofit solution in, done? In theory, a retrofit is quick and easy. In practice, however, the effort involved is often underestimated. To ensure that the result meets the requirements of a commercial environment, extensive planning, measurements, and installation by a qualified electrician is also necessary for a retrofit conversion. The clever, simple, and safe alternative is a complete LED solution. Although they have higher investment costs in comparison, they are characterised by enormous advantages in terms of lighting quality, service life, controllability, and installation and operational safety. In addition, complete LED systems are subsidised with attractive government grants. That’s why you should find out about the alternative - a complete refurbishment with LED luminaire systems before retrofitting.
Retrofit conversions are economically attractive at first glance due to low investment costs and low energy consumption. But are they also superior to an LED luminaire system in terms of profitability in the long term? A profitability check that considers all costs from investment and operating costs to service life and subsidies provides clarity.
8. Consider long-term maintenance needs You have professionally implemented the retrofit renovation according to all the professional criteria. Congratulations! Now you must acquire a stock of the retrofit lamps for later maintenance. This is because deviating retrofit lamps or mixed systems can impair functionality and quality. Replacing an LED luminaire with a more efficient successor model, on the other hand, is not a problem because the main parameters such as luminous intensity and beam characteristics are retained.
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20/12/2021 14:09
