Tanning Lamps
The Power
Regulatory Issues At Hand
At a February meeting on lamp compatibility and regulatory issues, members from the scientific, regulatory and tanning communities gathered to discuss future policies regarding lamp compatibility and categorization.
Currently, tanning lamps are categorized numerically at the discretion of the manufacturers and made available for tanning units were the lamp would have an emission of plus or minus 10 percent that of the original lamp offered in the unit. Although this system works well when buyers and sellers of tanning lamps adhere to compatibility policies, some of those attending the meeting asked for a standardized categorization for all lamps used and sold in the United States.
Ulf Wester of the Swedish Radiation Protection Authority explained that Sweden relies on the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) Standard. The IEC is considered by some as the authoritative worldwide body responsible for developing global standards in the electrotechnical field. IEC is dedicated to the harmonization and voluntary adoption of its standards as well as promotion of international trade.
The IEC standard for tanning lamps originated in the mid-1980s as a way different countries could choose specific tanning lamps they wanted within their borders. At that time, members of the commission wanted a skin cancer action spectrum that was not yet available. Now that it is available in addition to the erythema action spectrum, there is a push underway to also differentiate lamps by this skin cancer action spectrum. In categorizing tanning lamps, the IEC standard would require a three-digit code on the lamp. Each code would have 10 digit levels, with a tolerance of a plus or minus 16 percent range in each level.
Cosmedico President Jerry Frank stated at the meeting that he believes the existing lamp compatibility system is good and that the existing tanning schedules of four MEDs allows consumers to obtain a good tan while eliminating the burning effect. He also added that the American system is safer than the European standard because tanning sessions are based on an overall biological dose.
Frank suggested one of three processes to improve communication among regulators, salon owners and manufacturers, as opposed to scrapping the existing system of requiring lamp compatibility sheets with after-market lamps:
1. All six U.S. lamp manufacturers could post updated compatibility sheets online.
2. Manufacturers could post compatibility information on an FDA Web site.
3. Manufacturers could direct-mail updated compatibility sheets to all tanning inspectors across the country when changes are made to the list.
Currently, the FDA is considering the following changes to existing standards for tanning lamps:
1. A rating method for individual low-pressure lamps, like the three-digit code proposed by the IEC.
2. Classification of sunbeds into different types like those offered in the IEC standard.
3. Recommended annual exposure limits.
4. A rating method and testing protocol for high-pressure lamps.
The FDA requested each lamp company nominate one individual to work on several small committees to address these and other considerations in greater detail. The FDA's Sharon Miller suggested the Technical Electronic Product Radiation Safety Standards Committee (TEPRSSC) meeting in May as the best time for continued discussions on these issues.
Tanning Lamp & The Salon
The most positive influence a salon owner can have on a tanning lamp is through careful and consistent ordering, receiving, installation and maintenance. Many lamp professionals suggest the following steps when ordering as well as maintaining tanning lamps.
Ordering--Do your best to select quality products. Remember the old adage "You get what you pay for"? When it comes to lamp purchases, no truer words ever have been spoken. Make sure you order your lamps in the correct configuration, e.g., 71-inch bi-pin 100-watt, 71-inch bi-pin 160-watt or 73-inch RDC 100-watt. The proper size and wattage will be listed on the tanning unit, owner's manual and/or original lamp. Remember: Ordering the wrong lamp can cost time and money.
Shipping--Upon arrival, check the lamps to make sure there hasn't been any damage or breakage. Consult with your lamp distributor on the proper procedures if damage has occurred.
Installation--Wipe each lamp prior to installation to ensure the lamp is clean. If your system uses an external-reflector system, use a cloth moistened with a mild cleanser to clean each reflector. Be careful not to spray cleaner directly onto the reflectors because overspray may end up in the lamp sockets. Prior to reinstalling the acrylic or screen shield, turn on the unit and make sure each lamp has ignited. Be sure and use compliant UV-blocking eyewear any time you are working with lit lamps.
Troubleshooting--If the lamp fails to ignite after installation, this does not always mean the lamp is faulty. Check to make sure the lamp is properly seated in the lampholders or sockets. Rotate the lamp to a different position within the tanning unit. If it ignites, it may indicate a problem with the unit, or a bad lampholder/socket, loose wiring or faulty ballast. If it still doesn't light in the new position, the problem may be with the lamp. Before contacting the distributor, test the lamp in one more position.
Ongoing Inspection
After installation of tanning lamps, salon owners should continue to inspect lamps for signs of malfunction or unusual deterioration separate from the normal life cycle of the lamp. This can be accomplished by visual inspection and lamp metering.
Visual Inspection--End darkening generally indicates natural degradation of the lamp. Should it occur within the initial hours of operation, it may point to excessive voltage being applied to the lamp. Make sure your incoming voltage matches the manufacturer's recommended level.
Lamp Metering--If used properly, the lamp meter is the most efficient way to track the output and life cycle of tanning lamps. It also can verify acrylic degradation over time. When using a UV-metering device, it is imperative to keep variables such as room temperature, incoming voltage and meter position consistent with the initial test and subsequent tests.
Handle With Care--You never should touch the glass of a lamp during installation, say many lamp professionals. Fingerprints and salt residue can cause the phosphors to burn in the lamp at the point of contact. They also say installers of lamps should always wear gloves to prevent contact with the glass covers. The gloves used should be latex or rubber to prevent slippage.
Compatibility
The lamp you have ordered must be either the original lamp that came with the tanning unit or an FDA- compatible version. The compatible lamp is required to be plus or minus 10 percent as effective in producing erythema and melanogenesis. However, it is not required to have the same maintenance or durability as the original lamp.
One way a salon can guarantee it is within local and federal compliance for lamp compatibility is by insisting on a copy of the lamp's compatibility sheet. Without the sheet, an owner has no documented proof of compliance.
The subject of lamp compatibility, substantial equivalency and recommended relamping procedures poses severat concerns for responsible salon owners and operators tying to conduct business within the guidelines established by the FDA, local authorities and the original equipment manufacturers.
FDA regulations governing tanning products fortunately take much of the guesswork out of choosing replacement lamps. To be compliant, a replacement lamp must be plus or minus 10 percent the erythemegenic and melanogenic output of the original lamp. It does not attend to the maintenance value or type of tan given by the original lamp. Since the procedures and testing necessary to satisfy the regulations are beyond the capabilities of almost any salon, it is the primary responsibility of the lamp manufacturer to determine whether a replacement lamp is compatible.
Once compatibility is established, the FDA requires the lamp manufacturer to print somewhere on the lamp or its packaging the specific lamp models the new lamp is designed to replace. If the labeling doesn't note the lamp is a direct replacement for a specific lamp, odds are it is not. It is important to remember that just because a lamp physically may fit into a tanning unit, it is not necessarily designed for use in that unit.
Salon owners should be aware than an FDA inspector or state regulator may visit their salon without notice. If the original lamp or an FDA-compatible lamp is not being used in the tanning unit, a salon owner should not be using the lamp.
Additionally, lamp manufacturers are required to file appropriate paperwork with the FDA for its replacement lamp products. Salon owners should have all of the necessary paperwork on hand to show lamp compatibility.
Are You Ready For A Change?
It is a general consensus within the tanning industry that the best, most reliable way to determine when lamps should be replaced is through the correct use of a UV meter.
On average, when a lamp's output has dropped to 70 percent or 75 percent of what it produced when new, it's time for the lamp to be replaced. It is important to note that lamps generally show the highest decline in output performance during the first 100 hours of operation--between 10 percent and 20 percent of total decline, depending on the properties of phosphor used. To account for this, some manufacturers define their lamp's nominal output performance as the average at which the lamp performs after those initial 100 hours.
Because most of these maintenance curves have been based on free-burning lamps under optimal operating conditions, it should be taken into consideration that the actuat decline of output for lamps in tanning beds may differ significantly.
While a UV meter can be a great tool when used properly, salon owners also must recognize that basic ordering, compatibility and installation practices play a vital role in the success of their tanning lamps. By using the tips suggested by lamp experts, the experience of ordering, receiving, installing and maintaining tanning lamps should prove less stressful and more productive.
