Beacon Lights: What Are They, What Are Their Uses, and More

When it comes to emergencies or other dire situations, the attention of nearby people is required. In order to gain their attention and make it clear as to what is happening and what they need to do, you need to take proper precautions and use reliable machinery and other products to make your desired message evident.

This is precisely why so many emergency vehicles, such as ambulances and police cars, utilize both sirens and light bars. They make it apparent to anyone in the vicinity that an emergency is in progress and that they need to move aside so they can tackle the situation in a timely manner.

One of the most classic lights that allude to emergencies or simply gain the attention of those in close proximity for other important reasons is beacon lights. Let’s take a closer look at these particular lights and answer commonly asked questions about them.

What Are Beacon Lights?

Beacon lights are lights that are used to draw attention to and inform those nearby about various situations. These lights can either rotate, flash, or shine a steady light. These can include law enforcement and similar urgent/emergent matters, stationary vehicles, road safety warnings, and operating machinery. They allow for clear visibility during harsh weather conditions as well, as they are very bright.

Where Are Beacon Lights Used?

These particular lights can be used on the tops of vehicles (either on the road, construction sites, airports, or heliports), buildings, aircraft, and other such structures. They can be found in factories as well in order to quickly and efficiently convey certain messages (danger, error, a task is completed, etc.) to staff and other present workers.

Who Can’t Use Them?

Some emergency lights are actually illegal for civilian use, but this is massively dependent on location. It depends on which state the civilian is using the emergency light and exactly where they illuminate it. But, it is also true that many civilians are legally allowed to equip their cars with such lights, but keep them off while on public roads.

What Color Beacon Light Should I Use?

There are several color options for these lights and each one has a particular meaning. Before purchasing one of these lights, you should ensure to get the right color for the appropriate message portrayal. They typically come in the following colors: yellow/amber, green, red, orange, blue, purple, and clear/white.

Yellow or Amber

Yellow or amber can be used in a variety of scenarios but are customarily utilized for stationary vehicles. They also assist in other situations, such as illuminating potential hazards, bringing attention to and in construction sites, and warning people about oncoming vehicles in an airport. For overloaded trucks or other vehicles, yellow or amber is typically used as well.

Green

Safety and security are the goals when using the color green. Green can be utilized to represent safety representatives in a given location. They could even be used to lead funeral processions effectively. In the USA in particular, the Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) have green lights, too.

Red

As you might have already imagined, red is used for emergency situations. Firefighters and police officers in particular use red beacon lights. These can appear in factories and other locations where there are dangerous materials, machines, or conditions.

Orange

Orange indicates a warning to those nearby that a situation has risen and human intervention is necessary. These lights appear in signal towers as well.

Blue

Blue is also used by law enforcement personnel. In public locations, such as on highways and on streets, blue is illuminated. It can also be used by EMTs, but also private businesses, so long as they are not visible to the public.

Purple

While green can sometimes be used to lead funeral processions, purple has also been known for the same application. This is dependent on the jurisdiction. It is also used in the gas and oil industry to represent a specific hazardous situation.

Clear or White

When these lights are clear or white, they have no stringent application; they are quite versatile. They can appear on school buses, railroad companies, and public transportation. It also acts as a fallback when a situation arises that the person responsible for turning the light on is unsure of which color to use.

Clear or white lights should be used with caution, as they have an extremely high radiance.

Where Can You Buy These Lights?

When looking to purchase the best and most reliable beacon lights for your given situation and location, trust in us here at Major Electronix. We offer these helpful and practical lights in several color options and in varying sizes and voltages. If you have any questions about these lights or any of our other offerings, give us a call at 800-966-2345.