PCBs Lighting Fixture Ballasts

Transcription

1 PCBs Lighting Fixture Ballasts 1

2 What are PCBs? Polychlorinated biphenyls Man-made organic chemicals Industrial and commercial applications 2

3 Health Effects of PCBs Probable human carcinogen Cause cancer in animals Serious non-cancer effects on the immune, reproductive, nervous and endocrine systems EPA banned the processing or use of PCBs in

4 PCB-Containing Ballasts Buildings constructed prior to 1979 Possible leaking of PCB-containing lighting ballasts nation wide PCB-containing Ballast 4

5 Identification of PCB Ballasts 5

6 6

7 Older ballasts have a transformer to reduce voltage, a small capacitor that may contain PCBs, and some have a thermal cut-off switch and/or safety fuse. Potting material, a tar-like substance, is used to surround components to muffle the noise of the ballast. This material may also contain PCBs. If PCBs are present in the capacitor, the amount ranges from approximately 1oz to 1.5 oz. The ballasts for high intensity discharge (HID) lamps can contain between 3 oz and 14 oz PCBs. 7

8 EPA National Outreach Efforts In December 2010 EPA released national guidance recommending that schools remove older PCB-containing lighting ballasts Depending on the number of operating hours, the typical life expectancy of a magnetic fluorescent light ballast is between 10 and 15 years. 8

9 Typical Fluorescent Bulbs Why Upgrade? Bulb Size Year LPW CRI T 12 12/8 inch 1930 s T 8 8/8 inch 1980 s T 5 5/8 inch 1990 s Lumens Per Watt (LPW) Measure of brightness Color Rendering Index (CRI) Measure of light quality Year Designates the year each type of bulb was commonly used 9

10 Typical Fluorescent Bulbs Why Upgrade? Other Considerations: Mercury Content Flickering Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) Heat Cost 10

11 Switching from T-12 to T-8 Lighting Requires a Ballast Upgrade Magnetic ballasts (or T-12 magnetic ballast) older technology with a core of steel plates wrapped in copper windings. Pre-1979 ban on PCBs, these ballasts incorporated a small capacitor that contained PCBs. Electronic ballasts considerably more energy efficient than magnetic ballasts. T-8 lamps use electronic ballasts to operate effectively. These are the ballasts used in new and retrofit projects. 11

12 Lighting Fixture Warning Signs Burned out lights that don t work after bulbs are changed Evidence of oil stains on light fixture housing, floor tiles, furniture, or carpeting below light fixtures Previous incidents of smoke or burning odors requiring servicing of lights Previous incidents where ballasts were removed or taken apart to replace parts of the fixture 12

13 T- 12 Fixtures with Smoke, Burning Odors or Dripping Oil Evacuate room and isolate: close doors and open windows to ventilate space prior to re-occupancy Fans to exhaust through windows can help Prevent recirculation of air Turn off power to fixture; remove bulbs Inspect fixtures and follow steps for PCB fixture remediation (done by an environmental consultant/contractor) Air sampling and wipe samples of surfaces prior to reoccupancy. 13

14 Types of Ballast Failures This ballast sparked a fire at a southern California school in 1999 An old ballast that burst unexpectedly 14

15 Material Leaking From Corner of Ballast 15

16 Tar-like Globules 16

17 Leaked Potting Material 17

18 Oily Stains 18

19 Ballasts Come in Various Sizes 19

20 Box Type Fixture 20

21 Wrap Around Type Fixture 21

22 Egg Crate Type Fixture 22

23 Honeycomb Type Fixture 23

24 Ballast Location 24

25 Health and Safety Issues Only an experienced contractor or specially trained staff should work on potential PCB light fixtures Follow standard operating procedures for working around electrical fixtures as required Follow all requirements and precautions if there are asbestos issues. Move desks and equipment from underneath the fixture Place plastic sheeting under the work area 25

26 Personal Protective Equipment At minimum wear: Eye Protection Safety glasses Skin Protection Gloves, long-sleeve shirt, hat When working with leaking PCB lighting fixtures, additional protection may be necessary based on the specific situation. If unsure how to proceed, you should contact the Health and Safety manager for the facility 26

27 Proper Storage and Disposal Disconnect and remove all ballasts and fixtures and contaminated components, as appropriate, as well as incidental PCB-contaminated items; A list of DOT approved containers can be found in 49 CFR and Provide the appropriate containers and packing materials for packaging and storing the four possible types of waste streams: Intact, non-leaking, PCB-containing ballasts; Leaking PCB-containing ballasts and cleanup wastes generated by handling and decontaminating areas where leaking ballasts were discovered; Ballasts that contain no PCBs; and Fluorescent light bulbs. 27

28 Proper Storage and Disposal, Cont. Fluorescent light ballasts containing PCBs in their potting material must be disposed of: in a TSCA-approved disposal facility, as bulk product waste under , as household waste under (where applicable), or in accordance with the decontamination provisions of Package and label drums according to federal, state, and local regulations. Store the drums until a transporter currently licensed for transportation of PCB waste removes them to the appropriate disposal facility. Ballasts that are totally enclosed and not leaking can currently be disposed of in a solid waste landfill. However, most landfills will not accept such waste so most will be disposed of in a TSCA approved landfill or destroyed using chemical or thermal destruction methods. 28

29 Proper Storage and Disposal, Cont. 29

30 Improper Storage of Old Ballasts 30

31 Proper Methods for Storing Ballasts 31

32 Benefits of PCB Light Fixture Replacements A significant reduction of PCBs in the air Expected reduction in energy consumption and saving utility operating dollars Improved lighting Job creation 32

33 Comparing Different Light Fixtures and Efficiency The case for upgrading! 33

34 Energy Conservation Standards Impact on T-12 Fluorescent Lamps As of July 14, 2012 manufacturers and importers of fluorescent lamps are required to meet amended efficacy standards. This is not a ban or phase-out explicitly. However; current T-12 bulbs and existing ballasts are too inefficient to meet the standards. 34

35 Department of Energy Efficacy Standards Table 1. Energy Conservation Standards for General Service Fluorescent Lamps Lamp type Nominal lamp wattage Minimum CRI Minimum average lamp efficacy (lm/w) Effective date 4-foot medium bipin >35W < =35W Nov. 1, 1995 Nov. 1, foot slimline =35W < =35W > 65W Nov. 1, 1995 May 1, 1994 May 1, foot high output >100W < =100W May 1, 1994 May 1,

36 Department of Energy Efficacy Standards Table 2. Amended Energy Conservation Standards for General Service Fluorescent Lamps Lamp type 4-foot medium bipin 8-foot slimline 8-foot high output Correlated color temperature <=4,500K > 4,500K and <=7,000K <=4,500K > 4,500K and <=7,000K <=4,500K > 4,500K and <=7,000K Minimum average lamp efficacy (lm/w)

37 Department of Energy Lighting Upgrades Save Money! If your building hasn t updated its lighting in the past five years, a lighting retrofit could reduce the amount of energy you use for lighting by 30 to 50 percent, and by 10 to 20 percent of energy used for cooling. 37

38 K-12 Energy Improvement Case Studies School districts across the country have undertaken energy improvement projects including lighting replacements that have resulted in real cost and energy savings. Case studies can be found on the National Association of Energy Service Companies (NAESCO) web site at: 38

39 EPA Region 7 Contact Information EPA Region 7 PCB Program Coordinator: Mike Dandurand Phone: (913) dandurand.michael@epa.gov EPA Region 7 Alternate Contact: Kurt Limesand Phone: (913) limesand.kurt@epa.gov 39