Is your lighting Certified?

SoundOff Signal is one of the largest manufacturers of emergency vehicle lighting in the United States. From full size LED light bars to interior warning equipment and sirens, when you purchase a product from us with the SoundOff Signal brand name, you get a quality product that has been tested to assure your safety.

If you search the web for emergency vehicle lighting, you WILL find other brands. Some are great, some only appear to be great. Many vendors have decided to import lighting from foreign manufacturers. While some of those products are also acceptable for certain applications, many are quite simply junk. We can't speak for others, but for SoundOff Signal, they have the products they manufacture tested by third party vendors. They will provide an unbiased certification of quality.

So we decided that you should know what they are and how they affect you. 

 CA TITLE 13

California has their own lighting standards. They have standards different from the rest of the world for everything else so why would lighting be any different. We joke, a little. 

Lighting standards must comply with the California Code of Regulations (CCR) which is specified in Title 13, Division 2, Chapter 2, Article 22. It will speak of the flash rate, construction color requirements, etc. It's very specific and legalese... (LINK HERE ) You can also find that link useful for locating the specifications for sirens which is found in Chapter 4, article 8. 

Basically - the CA TITLE 13 certification is something that is required if you wish to use a light in California. 

ECE 65

ECE 65 is a little different and is commonly used througout Europe to assure safety compliance with lighting used there. It involves more about the light output of the product than California's regulations do. Specifically the 360 degree output of the device. And it's VERY specific.

Regulation providing performance, marking, and conformity of production requirements for directional and 360 degree warning devices.  Directional lights are to be rated for Category X, 360 degree lights are to be rated for Category T.  Products with 2 levels of intensity must comply with Class 1 and Class 2 photometric requirements.  Products with 1 level of intensity only need comply with Class 1 photometric requirements. See test methods below.

ECR65 Test Point Summary

Category T (360 Degree Coverage)

Blue / Red - Minimum Values from 4 Degrees Up to 4 Degrees Down

Amber - Minimum Values from 8 Degrees Up to 8 Degrees Down All Colors

• Maximum Values Inside 2 Degrees Up to 2 Degrees Down
• Maximum Values Inside 2 Degrees Up to 8 Degrees Down
• Maximum Values Outside test Area

Category X (Directional Coverage) - Narrow Angle Effect All Colors

• Minimum Values from 8 Degrees Up to 8 Degrees Down
• Minimum Values from 30 Degrees Left to 30 Degrees Right
• Maximum Values Inside 4 Degrees Up to 4 Degrees Down and 10 Degrees Left to 10 Degrees Right
• Maximum Values Inside 8 Degrees Up to 8 Degrees Down and 20 Degrees Left to 20 Degrees Right
• Maximum Values Outside test Area

Category X (Directional Coverage) - Wide Angle Effect All Colors

• Minimum Values from 8 Degrees Up to 8 Degrees Down
• Minimum Values from 90 Degrees Left to 90 Degrees Right
• Maximum Values Inside 4 Degrees Up to 4 Degrees Down and 10 Degrees Left to 10 Degrees Right
• Maximum Values Inside 8 Degrees Up to 8 Degrees Down and 20 Degrees Left to 20 Degrees Right
• Maximum Values Outside test Area

ECE 65 REGULATION 10

Regulation providing requirements for electromagnetic stability.  Compliance with the regulation helps ensure the device will not cause interference issues with vehicle communication systems.

SAE 595

These are some of the big ones. SAE is the authoritative figure in the US. The 595 standard is used frequently when Traffic Arrows and directional bars come into play. Here is the break down:

Recommended practice providing design guidelines, test procedures, and performance requirements for directional optical warning devices intended for authorized emergency, maintenance and service vehicles. Lighting tested from 10 degrees upward to 10 degrees downward and 20 degrees from side-to-side.

Photometric Class Rankings
Class 1: Indicates product complies with requirements for use as a primary lighting device on authorized emergency vehicles responding to emergency situations.
Class 2: Indicates product complies with requirements for use as a primary optical warning devices for use on authorized maintenance or service vehicles to warn of traffic hazards such as a lane blockage or slow moving vehicle.
Class 3: Indicates product complies with requirements for use as primary optical warning devices for identification only.

Let's put it to you this way - if you are an emergency vehicle operator and you choose to place non SAE compliant devices on your vehicle, if an accident occurs, a creative lawyer will sink you. 

SAE J845

The 845 standard is used for lighting that is not a directional arrow but not 360 degree output.

Recommended practice providing design guidelines, test procedures, and performance requirements for 360 degree optical warning devices and selective coverage defined as any light that provides greater coverage then 40 degrees left-to-right but less than 360 degrees. Intended for authorized emergency, maintenance and service vehicles. Lighting tested from 5 degrees upward to 5 degrees downward.

Photometric Class Rankings
Class 1: Indicates product complies with requirements for use as a primary lighting device on authorized emergency vehicles responding to emergency situations.
Class 2: Indicates product complies with requirements for use as a primary optical warning devices for use on authorized maintenance or service vehicles to warn of traffic hazards such as a lane blockage or slow moving vehicle.
Class 3: Indicates product complies with requirements for use as primary optical warning devices for identification only.

SAE J1849

This one is for sirens.

 Recommended practice providing design guidelines, test procedures, and performance requirements for electronic siren systems with a single loudspeaker and electromechanical sirens for use on authorized emergency vehicles calling for the right of way. Measurement of frequency and sound pressure level requirements for wail and yelp tones.

 

Now that you know the standards, think twice about saving a couple of bucks and buying a low quality item that does not meet them. You only put yourself and the people you are trying to protect at risk.