Which beacon to choose ?
Opt for a model that perfectly meets your needs and the regulatory measures governing the use of flashing lights.
How do I choose my model of beacon?
In Europe, the use and installation of approved beacons is regulated. The choice of your beacon will therefore depend directly on the regulations in force and the type of vehicle concerned.
Which beacon should you choose for your slow-moving vehicles?
Intervention, work, and service vehicles with slow progression are obliged to install orange beacons with rotating lights or flashing lights. The regulations are laid down in the French Highway Code and the decree of 06.12.92 and concern
- Intervention and work vehicles, at a standstill or moving slowly on a roadway open to public traffic or on the hard shoulder.
- Vehicles used for signaling work sites or temporary risks.
Some vehicles may also be equipped with orange beacons (but are not obliged to be), such as road vehicles, recovery vehicles, exceptional transport vehicles or agricultural vehicles.
Which beacon should you choose for your priority vehicles?
The use of beacons for priority vehicles is also regulated. Articles R311-1 of the French Highway Code define two categories of vehicles:
- Priority vehicles of general interest (category A), which must be equipped with blue rotating lights. These include police, gendarmerie, customs, fire-fighting and mobile hospital unit (SAMU or SMUR) vehicles.
- Vehicles of general interest with ease of passage (category B), which must be equipped with blue flashing lights. These include ambulances for medical transport or intervention vehicles for EDF and GDF.
Choose the characteristics of your beacons
Once you know the regulations and which model is suitable for your vehicles use, you can make your choice according to your criteria, technology, design, light performance, product features and desired use.
1) Technology:
2 choices are available to you:
LED technology, which is efficient in terms of consumption, life span, low heat output and light performance (lumens/watt).
Advantages of LED beacons:
- Perfect 360-degree visibility;
- Modern, sleek, and compact design.
- Quiet and very low power consumption.
- Easy to install and maintenance free.
- Integrated synchronization mode (optional)
Halogen technology, more economical but much less efficient than LED
2) LED beacons in various colours in Class 2 (ATLAS model).
- Aerodynamic design for the ATLAS model - available in amber as well as in blue
- Perfect 360-degree visibility.
- 4 fixing modes.
- 1 intensity that adapts to the day or night;
- Easy to install.
- Optimum life expectancy even in extreme situations thanks to thermal management of the LEDs for the ATLAS LED beacon.
3) Halogen beacons (Venus; Vega and Taurus models) available in Class 1.
The advantages of halogen beacons - available in orange - are as follows:
- Rotating lights visible at 360 degrees.
- 3 mounting modes.
- Easy installation.
These halogen beacon models are also available with LED.
All Vignal Group beacons are approved (except for the PUCK and FRESNEL models, which are reserved for off-road use). They are top of the range and comply perfectly with current European regulations and approvals. Our experts are at your disposal to help you choose the most suitable models for your professional vehicles.
