LED displays indeed are incredibly popular in the fascinating world of digital signage and are present as external and integral parts of cities’ illumination and advertisement. However, a critical incident where one LED outdoor screen caught fire has raised concerns regarding the safety of LED displays from fire hazards. Knowing the risks that are possible and the measures that need to be taken to avoid them can help eliminate such disastrous occurrences while at the same time making LED displays serve their intended purpose effectively and safely.
Imagine this: a bright LED screen, the star of a busy city area, suddenly burns into flames. Chaos! People run for safety, and the once amazing screen turns into a dangerous fireball. This scary event, maybe from overheating or other issues, shows why we need strong fire safety rules for LED displays.
To avoid such dangerous situations, LED display manufacturers need to use high fire safety standards for their products. A popular standard in this regard is known as the UL 94 which evaluates the ability of plastics that are used in devices or appliances to burn. Of these, the 5VB fireproof certification is one of the highest; this guarantees that the product will be able to withstand very heavy fire exposure and will not tend to ignite and spread fire.
Here’s a chart that highlights various fire safety standards, including UL 94 ratings:
Standard | Description | Significance |
UL 94 HB | Horizontal burning test. Specimen burns horizontally and flame time is measured. | Basic level of fire resistance. |
UL 94 V-2 | Vertical burning test. Specimen burns vertically and extinguishes within 30 seconds. | Moderate level of fire resistance, with dripping of flaming particles. |
UL 94 V-1 | Vertical burning test. Specimen burns vertically and extinguishes within 30 seconds. | Moderate level of fire resistance, with dripping of flaming particles. |
UL 94 V-0 | Vertical burning test. Specimen burns vertically and extinguishes within 10 seconds. | Moderate level of fire resistance, with dripping of flaming particles. |
UL 94 5VB | Vertical burning test with severe conditions. Specimen does not develop a hole within 60 seconds. | One of the highest levels of fire resistance, suitable for severe conditions. |
UL 94 5VA | Vertical burning test with severe conditions. Specimen does not develop a hole and extinguishes quickly. | The highest level of fire resistance, used for extreme conditions. |