TM65 & TM66: Enhancing Sustainability in Emergency Lighting

Welcome, Net Zero News readers! As we forge ahead in our quest for sustainability, the construction and lighting industries are evolving rapidly. It is paramount for electrical contractors to grasp the intricacies of key environmental assessment methodologies that can help us all reduce our carbon footprints. Among these methodologies, two significant technical memorandums—TM65 and TM66—play vital roles in evaluating the environmental impact of lighting products. While both are essential, they serve distinct purposes that are crucial for anyone involved in the industry.

So, what exactly are the differences between TM65 and TM66? Why are they particularly relevant for emergency lighting, and how do they stack up against Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs)? Let’s delve into these important concepts.

TM65 is a robust method for calculating the embodied carbon of building services products, which encompasses a range of items such as luminaires, heating systems, and other mechanical and electrical components. Essentially, it provides an estimate of a product’s carbon footprint in instances where a comprehensive Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) is not available. For manufacturers of emergency lighting like Ventilux, TM65 is invaluable. Their customers—ranging from electrical contractors to consultants—often require embodied carbon calculations to evaluate the sustainability of their projects.

The TM65 framework meticulously considers various factors, including the materials used in a product’s construction, the manufacturing processes and energy consumption involved, the transportation from production to the point of use, and the impacts of installation on-site. By providing a thorough assessment of these elements, TM65 allows stakeholders to quantify the environmental implications of their choices.

On the other hand, TM66 offers a different approach. This lighting-specific framework is designed to promote a circular economy within the lighting industry. Unlike TM65, which primarily quantifies embodied carbon, TM66 provides guidance and an assessment methodology to evaluate how well lighting products align with the principles of a circular economy. This is particularly relevant in today’s context, where sustainability is not just a buzzword but a necessity.

Focusing on design for circularity, TM66 ensures that products are easy to disassemble and repurpose, thereby extending their life cycles. It also emphasises the importance of remanufacturing potential and recycling efficiency, advocating for the use of sustainable materials. Moreover, TM66 promotes effective end-of-life management, aiming to reduce landfill waste significantly. While it may not provide direct data for embodied carbon calculations, it eloquently showcases a company’s commitment to sustainability and responsible product design. In summary, while TM65 is invaluable for project specifications, TM66 highlights a company’s broader, long-term commitment to environmental responsibility.

Now, let’s turn our attention to Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs). An EPD is a comprehensive, third-party verified document that provides a full Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of a product, covering its entire environmental impact—from raw material extraction to disposal. This makes EPDs a robust tool for understanding a product’s lifecycle and its implications for the environment.

However, it’s crucial to note that the third-party verification process ensuring accuracy can vary significantly depending on the programme operator overseeing registration and publication. This often results in different or even conflicting calculations. While TM65 and TM66 provide valuable insights into sustainability, they do not serve as complete LCAs like EPDs. Nevertheless, when used together, data from TM65 and TM66 can paint a detailed picture of a product’s sustainability, thereby offering a useful alternative when an EPD is unavailable.

Ventilux is committed to providing reliable TM65 data to assist their customers with embodied carbon calculations. Additionally, they actively support the principles of TM66 as part of their mission to drive sustainability within the emergency lighting sector. This dual approach not only enhances their product offerings but also aligns with the growing demand for environmentally responsible choices in the marketplace.

Ian Murphy, R&D Manager at Ventilux Ltd, underscores the company’s dedication to environmental responsibility: “At Ventilux, sustainability is embedded in everything we do. We have made substantial efforts to remove all non-essential plastic from our packaging. Furthermore, we take proactive steps to reduce embodied carbon using TM65 and champion a circular economy with TM66. We believe that by embracing both methodologies, we are setting standards in the emergency lighting industry and helping our clients make more responsible choices.”

By understanding these frameworks, clients and contractors can make more informed decisions when selecting products. This not only ensures compliance with sustainability goals but also aligns with regulatory requirements that are becoming increasingly stringent as we push towards a net-zero future.

For more information on how Ventilux integrates TM65 and TM66 principles into their emergency lighting solutions, we encourage you to reach out to their team today at UKsales@ventilux.co.uk.

In conclusion, as the urgency for sustainable practices grows, the knowledge of frameworks like TM65 and TM66 becomes invaluable for those in the construction and lighting industries. By adopting these methodologies, we can collectively move towards a more sustainable future, ensuring that our choices today do not compromise the well-being of future generations. The responsibility lies with each one of us to make informed, responsible decisions that contribute to the overarching goal of achieving net-zero emissions.

Thank you for joining us in this important discussion on sustainability in the lighting industry. Together, let’s champion the cause of environmental responsibility and make a tangible difference in our communities and beyond!