Lamp Safety and Handling


The following information includes some general guidelines for handling and disposal of tungsten-halogen, metal halide and xenon arc lamps. Always first follow the lamp safety and handling instructions that are provided by the light bulb manufacturer with the light bulb and on their webstites, the equipment manufactures instructions on the equipment, in the equipment manual. Other lamp handling tips are located here.

Tungsten Halogen Lamps
Metal Halide Discharge Lamps
High Pressure Xenon Arc Lamps
Xenon Arc Lamp Disposal

Tungsten Halogen Lamps

     Halogen lamps operate at extremely high temperatures that can cause serious physical injuries and property damage. 

     Only use Halogen lamps in Halogen-approved fixtures. Fixtures should fully contain any parts of the Halogen lamp upon the event of a lamp burst. 

     Do not use Halogen lamps in close proximity to paper, cloth or other combustible materials that can cause a fire hazard. 

     Lamps are very fragile. Do not drop, crush, bend, or shake them. 

     Do not touch the Halogen bulb surface or inside reflectors with your bare hands. Oils from skin can lead to breakage or shorten the life of the lamp. Use clean gloves or lint free cloth for installation and removal. 

     Clean any dirt, oil, or lint away from the lamp with alcohol and a lint free cloth or tissue. Any foreign particles or materials on the bulb surface can cause hot spots on the bulb and result in lamp failure. 

     Never touch the lamp when it is on, or soon after it has been turned off, as it is hot and will cause serious burns. 

     Do not look directly at the operating lamp for any period of time; this may cause serious eye injury. 

     Always turn off the electrical power before inserting, removing, or cleaning the lamp. 

     Affix the lamp securely in the socket. Improper installations will cause electrical arcing, overheating, and short life to lamp and socket. Replace lamp holders and sockets when necessary. 

     Keep the temperature of the Halogen lamp seal below 350°C. 

     Keep the temperature of the Halogen lamp wall above 250°C.

     Keep the temperature of the Halogen lamp bulb wall below 800°C. 

     Make sure lamps of specified wattage and voltage are only used in appropriately rated fixtures. Unspecified use will lead to short lamp life, breakage and overheating of fixture. 

     Lamps should not be operated beyond the total rated voltage. Avoid the use of dimmers that may drive your lamp over its rated voltage. 

     Operate the lamp only in the indicated burn position. Failure to do so will lead to overheating and short life of the lamp. 

     Use an external fuse when required. 

     Do not allow one lamp to directly expose another. This may lead to overheating and shortened lamp life. 

Metal Halide Discharge Lamps

     Metal Halide discharge lamps emit ultraviolet radiation which is harmful to eyes and skin! 

     Metal Halide discharge lamps should only be used in enclosed fixtures with ultraviolet absorbing filter glass. Failure to do so may cause serious skin burn and eye damage. Do not use these lamps in fixtures where any unfiltered light is emitted from the fixture. Do not operate these lamps if the ultraviolet absorbing filter glass is broken or not installed. 

     Metal Halide discharge lamps should only be operated in an enclosed fixture that safely contains all lamp parts in the event of a lamp burst or rupture. These lamps operate at a high internal pressure and at high temperatures. A lamp burst may occur causing physical injury and property damage. 

     Lamps should never be operated beyond their rated useful life. The risk of a lamp burst increases with lamp age, temperature, improper operation, and improper handling. 

     Never bump, drop, apply excessive stress, or scratch the lamp. This could cause the lamp to burst! Do not operate any lamps with any traces of scratches, cracks, or physical damage. 

     Never operate a lamp above or below its rated current or voltage. This may cause the lamp to leak or burst. 

     Always turn off the electrical power before inserting, removing, or cleaning the lamp. 

     Clean any dirt, oil, or lint away from the lamp with alcohol and a lint free cloth or tissue. 

     Electrical connections should be clean and in good condition. Replace lamp holders and sockets when needed. Affix the lamp securely in the socket. Improper installations will cause electrical arcing, overheating, and short life to lamp and socket. 

     Never touch the lamp when it is on or soon after it has been turned off, as it is hot and will cause serious burns.

     Lamps should be allowed to cool for a minimum of ten (10) minutes after the lamp is turned off. 

     Do not use lamp in close proximity to paper, cloth or other combustible material that can cause a fire hazard. 

     Do not look directly at the operating lamp for any period of time; this may cause serious eye injury. 

     Metal Halide discharge lamps contain mercury. Please refer to your local environment laws regarding disposal and recycling of mercury containing lamps. For more information, please go to www.lamprecycle.org


High Pressure Xenon Arc Lamps

     WARNING! Xenon arc lamps could burst when not in operation causing serious injuries! It is critical to follow safety instructions when handling Xenon arc lamps! 

     Xenon arc lamps have a high internal pressure. Depending upon the lamp, the internal pressure can exceed 10 ATM or 147 PSI, even when not in operation. 

     Always wear eye/face and body protection when handling Xenon arc lamps! 

     Never bump, drop, apply excessive stress, or scratch the lamp. This could cause the lamp to burst! 

     Always transport the lamp in the provided protective case or cover until installation! 

     Save the protective case or cover and packaging materials (box) for lamps that have been used to their rated service life. Use the protective case when disposing of the lamps. 

     Never touch the lamp when it is on, or soon after it has been turned off, as it is hot and will cause serious burns. Lamps should be allowed to cool for a minimum of ten (10) minutes after the lamp is turned off. 

     Always operate the lamp in closed, protective housings. 

     Do not look directly at the operating lamp for any length of time; this may cause serious eye injury. 

     Do not use lamp in close proximity to paper, cloth or other combustible material that can cause a fire hazard. 

     Some Xenon arc lamps produce Ozone that is considered toxic at relatively high concentration levels. Use ozone-producing lamps in lamp housings equipped with exhaust systems. 

     Never operate a lamp above or below its rated current or voltage. This may cause the lamp to leak or burst. 

     Affix the lamp in the correct polarity according to the lamp and fixture design. 

     Affix the lamp by hand tightening only. Do not use any tools to tighten nuts or the lamp itself. Any excessive stress to the lamp will cause a burst. 

     Electrical connections should be clean and in good condition. Replace lamp holders and sockets when needed. Fix the lamp and its lead wire firmly to the terminals. 

     Clean any dirt, oil, or lint away from the lamp with alcohol and a lint free cloth or tissue. 

     Xenon arc lamps should not be used beyond their rated service life. Operation beyond the rated service life will cause the lamp to burst. 

     The lamp must be operated under the specified conditions such as lamp aperage, voltage, and cooling conditions. 

     Do not overcool the lamp. Air should never be directly forced on the bulb because uneven cooling will result. 

     Recommended cooling methods are: air flow, N2 gas flow, heat sink and an exhaust duct. 

     The lamp base temperature must be kept below 200 degrees C. 

Xenon Arc Lamp Disposal

Xenon arc lamps must be disposed of in a careful and proper manner in order to prevent injury.

     Wear a protective mask, leather gloves and protective clothing when handling a spent lamp. 

     Place the used lamp in its original protective case and original cardboard packaging (box) that was provided when the lamp was new. 

     Firmly attach tape around the original cardboard box to seal the lamp securely. 

     From approximately three (3) feet in height, drop the cardboard box, with the lamp and protective case inside, onto a hard floor to break the lamp. 

     Shake the cardboard box to determine that the lamp is broken. 




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