High-Intensity Discharge (HID) Luminaires
High-intensity discharge (HID) luminaires are electric lights containing gas and metal salts that, when heated, evaporate and form an ionized arc connection called a plasma. This plasma greatly increases the intensity of light produced and reduces power consumption. As a result, the application of HID lights has grown significantly since the early 1990s. HID lights are typically used when a high level of light over a large area is required, including spaces such as gymnasiums, large public areas, warehouses, outdoor activity areas, roadways, parking lots, motor vehicle headlamps, flashlights, and on aircraft as landing and taxi lights.
To help technicians in the field troubleshot a variety of potential problems with HID lights, the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) recently released ANSI C136.26-2010, Roadway and Area Lighting Equipment - Troubleshooting Guide for High-Intensity Discharge (HID) Luminaires. ANSI C136.26-2010 is a revised American National Standard (ANS) that provides useful updates to the 2003 edition by covering a wider variety of HID lamps and offering step-by-step guidance to address issues such as lights that stay on continuously, cycle on and off, do not start, or burn dimly. The recently released ANS is part of the ANSI C136 family of standards covering a range of topics related to roadway and area lighting, including filament lamps, vertical tenons, and vandal shields.
NEMA, an ANSI organizational member and accredited standards developer, is a membership organization of manufacturers of products used in the generation, transmission, distribution, control, and end-use of electricity used in utility, medical imaging, industrial, commercial, institutional, and residential applications. NEMA works to promote the competitiveness of the U.S. electrical product industry through the development of standards, advocacy in federal and state legislatures and executive agencies, and the collection and analysis of economic data.
Commercial Cooking Safety
Commercial kitchens are found everywhere from restaurants and hotels to hospitals, schools, and military barracks. Because unique conditions in commercial kitchens require special fire-safety precautions, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recently published NFPA 96-2011, Standard for Ventilation Control and Fire Protection of Commercial Cooking Operations, 2011 Edition.
NFPA 96-2011 supersedes the 2008 edition and provides safety guidelines on the design, installation, operation, inspection, and maintenance of the full spectrum of equipment used in public and private commercial cooking operations: hoods, grease removal devices, exhaust duct systems, fans, and fire suppression systems . With the goal of increasing safety for operators and building occupants, NFPA 96-2011 includes updated requirements to provide adequate clearance to equipment; clearer maintenance rules for exhaust equipment; and guidance on how solid fuel equipment should be operated and maintained.
NFPA, an ANSI audited designator and organizational member, is a non-profit organization with an international scope that provides and advocates consensus codes and standards, research, training, and education to reduce the worldwide burden of fire and other hazards.