A Crash Course on Industrial Beacon Lights

 You may have never heard of a beacon light before, and you may not work in an industrial setting that uses any sort of automated procedures, but you’ve seen these devices nonetheless.

Have you ever seen a rotating blue or red light atop an emergency service or response vehicle? That’s what you were looking at - a beacon light.

These practical yet simple devices have far-reaching benefits and practical implications in the situations in which they are deployed for the purposes of enhancing and streamlining communication, boosting workflows, and increasing public safety.

What Are Beacon Lights?

In classical usage, beacon lights were raised light platforms that warned ships of hazardous conditions, such as shoals or reefs.

Today, beacon lights are still raised lights, typically placed at the top of towers or other special platforms. This enables them to be seen at greater distances than would otherwise be possible.

It is typically considered imperative that a beacon light be visible from all angles. For this reason, and to improve their visibility, many of these lights rotate or flash. Some of them rotate very quickly, in the area of 80 revolutions per minute. This gives them the impression of flashing lights, which are superior at attracting attention. Many models also feature an alarm function.

Like tower lights, these lights are used to communicate information at a glance, provide warnings about hazardous conditions, or alert operators to the interruption or obstruction of a process, among other things.

What Applications Are Beacon Lights Used for?

Beacon lights are widely used in a number of different settings, including but not limited to the following:

• Machine operation and industrial automation.
• Roadway and traffic safety.
• Certain types of beacon or strobe lights are used on aircraft as “anti-collision” lights.
• On watercraft, certain beacon lights are used to improve visibility on the water.
• Construction sites.
• These lights are also used at airports and heliports.

What Do the Different Colors Signify?

Beacon lights are available in a number of different colors. These colors communicate different information, given the setting, such as the following.

• White/clear: White beacon lights can signify a number of different conditions, often specific to the unique scenario. This is the color applied to communicate a condition that is not standard or is unique to an operation. The meaning may be assigned by the operator.

• Red: Red beacons usually communicate a warning about dangerous conditions that require immediate attention. Police and firefighters use red flashing beacon lights, but red lights can also be used in factories in order to warn workers, supervisors, and operators about hazardous conditions, materials, or other dangers.

• Orange: Orange may be used as a precursor to red beacon lights, indicating that a situation requires fairly urgent attention but may not be necessarily dangerous.

• Yellow: Since yellow and amber are high-contrast, high-visibility wavelengths, the color is often used to draw attention to hazardous or potentially hazardous conditions to heighten operator, by-stander, and passerby awareness. Amber beacon signals are used by construction vehicles, as traffic signals, and at construction sites, airports, and elsewhere.

• Green: Green beacon lights are sometimes used by certain safety and security crews. For instance, green lights are used by Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs).

• Blue: Blue lights are predominantly used by EMTs and law enforcement personnel, often for the purpose of alerting traffic and passersby of their presence in or near a location.

• Purple: Some industries, such as the oil and gas industry, use purple beacon lights to communicate potentially hazardous scenarios. They are also used in funeral processions.

Are There Any Significant Benefits of Using Industrial Beacon Lights?

Beacon lights can streamline communications, improve situational awareness, enhance safety protocols, and help alert operators to conditions that need immediate attention.

Beacon lights can improve safety on the roads, and in hazardous conditions such as on construction sites and in factories.

They can also be used to help prevent collisions on the roads, in the air, and on the water. Additionally, beacon lights used in industrial manufacturing can boost workflows, productivity, and output.

About Our Beacon Lights

We sell beacon lights from Menics and Qronz at Products for Automation.

Our Menics beacon lights are available in both incandescent or LED configurations. They are available in rotating, flashing, or steady emission configurations. Menics lights are available in 5 colors and even the incandescent models are operable from 5F to 104F. They are available in 3 sizes which range from 30 to 135mm in diameter.

Qronz LED lights are available in seven colors and three sizes, with either lead wire connections or M12 quick disconnections.

While we do offer incandescent beacons, we recognize that LED technology is in many ways superior. LED beacons operate at lower voltages and produce less heat as a byproduct, enhancing safety. In addition, they are operable under a wide range of temperatures and conditions and are much longer-lasting, minimizing maintenance costs and extending the viable lifespan of the equipment. LEDs are also highly resistant to corrosion and impact, making them physically more durable as well.

Questions about our collection of beacon lights? Don’t hesitate to reach out to us at 800-966-2345 for more information.