RF interference from energy-efficient lighting

The demand for energy-efficient lighting has gained momentum due to increased regulatory pressures and the need to reduce consumption. While energy-efficient lighting products offer several benefits, they can also cause radiofrequency (RF) interference, impacting nearby communications equipment, including that of public safety entities, according to the The National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC).

The NPSTC was approached by several individuals and organisations who reported interference to public safety radio networks from energy-efficient lighting, according to the council’s Radio Frequency (RF) Interference from Energy-Efficient Lighting Final Report released in June.

“In October 2014, NPSTC issued an initial query to the public safety community through the NPSTC Participant’s Listserv which resulted in dozens of responses. For example, Lake County, Florida, reported interference to the public safety VHF band and Amateur bands after installing a new tower lighting on its radio sites. Las Vegas, Nevada, experienced extreme interference in the UHF band from a business using plasma lights.

“An incident management team operating at a fire in northern California in August 2012 had set up and tested all of its communications equipment. During the evening operational period all communications failed. The source was determined to be a string of overhead fluorescent lights.

“Based on the initial input from multiple agencies, NPSTC developed and compiled a more formal questionnaire which was distributed broadly throughout the public safety community to seek information on such interference, the frequency band(s) affected, how any interference manifested itself, whether the interference has been resolved, etc.”

Seventy-six public safety agency representatives responded to the questionnaire — 55 of those responding said they had no interference with the remaining 21 providing some details on the interference they had experienced.

“The interference cases reported span across multiple bands and situations, with the VHF and VHF low band most often mentioned.

“While cases of interference to communications from energy-efficient lighting is not yet at epidemic proportions, NPSTC believes additional attention should be paid to the issue.

NPSTC expects the instances of interference to expand going forward as building codes and interests in saving energy further increase the pressure to deploy energy-efficient lighting.

The report recommends the commission open a proceeding to address the need for updates to its rules to help prevent such interference from the outset as the deployment of energy-efficient lighting is expected to increase over time.