Osram Opto Semiconductors explains how LEDs reduce costs and improve safety for functional road lighting
From smart motorways to the driverless car, technology is playing a huge part in improving the use of our roads both now and in the future – all across the world.
According to research house Bernstein, the global number of cars will more than double by 2020 – with two billion on the world’s road network. As a result, technology is going some way to relieve the pressure on infrastructure, and ultimately the risk of mistakes, collisions and unprecedented congestion. One of these advances is in functional road lighting, which is seeing many traditional high intensity discharge (HID) lamps being replaced with modern LED solutions.
Chen Farn Hin, System Expert for Solid State Lighting at Osram Opto Semiconductors said: “Unlike indoor applications, it is imperative that functional road lighting can withstand the variable conditions that come with outdoor installations. Key challenges include extreme ambient temperature, high humidity, drastic temperature change, easy maintenance and protection against water, dust and mechanical impact.”
As well as facing elemental challenges, functional road lighting is also one of the most highly regulated application areas to ensure the safety of road users. Manufacturers must comply with the national and international road lighting regulations and lamps must therefore reach 5,000 to 15,000 lumens in brightness.
The latest Osram Opto Semiconductors LED systems enable luminaire manufacturers to comply with all existing regulations and recommendations both nationally and internationally, while reducing the overall unit and long-term costs.
The LED lighting systems also offer a high power and high brightness alternative to traditional outdoor street lamp, such as high intensity discharge (HID). Chen Farn Hin continued: “Whether it is cost or energy efficiency and government regulations, traditional lighting is quickly losing market to LED. They compete on long-term cost benefits, including long lifecycles under challenging conditions, and easy maintenance with interchangeable components for quick repairs and replacement of parts. The reliability of lamps is also key and is often a driver as maintenance costs and efforts for street light solutions are high.”
LEDs such as Osram Opto Semiconductors Oslon SSL, Oslon Square, Soleriq S and Duris P have the advantage over traditional HID lighting because their lifecycle is not affected by the negative impacts of UV rays, chemicals and the corrosive effects of weather and pollution. Furthermore, they each offer something different to meet the need of every application field.
To discover more about Osram Opto Semiconductors functional road lighting solutions, visit: https://ledlight.osram-os.com/applications/street-led-lighting/
