Beacon lights can be found almost everywhere. They have become a part of our daily lives, but most of us are still not aware of their importance. Different types of beacon lights can each have their own unique uses. Each of these plays an important role in different areas of the community.
Importance of Beacons
Beacons provide warning, signal, and guidance at airfields, sea, road, as well as a variety of other places. With their powerful light and colour, they can attract the attention of a wide spectrum of audience. They are extremely effective tools in keeping people informed of what to expect and how to respond.
Uses of Beacon Lights
Beacon lights, also known as Warning beacons, have a wide variety of different applications depending on their type and colour. For example:
According To Type
1. Rotating Beacon Lights for emergency vehicles – this is one of the most popular uses of rotating beacon lights. They are mostly found on the top of emergency vehicles, construction vehicles, and various other industrial settings.
2. Beacon Signalling Lights for aviation – they guide pilots as well as different service vehicles inside the airport. Just as how traffic lights are used to guide people and vehicles on the road, beacon signalling lights in aviation also comes in multiple colours that have different meanings.
3. Warning Beacons for the rail industry – warning beacons are the most widely used type of beacon light. In the rail industry, they add extra visibility on the railroad that enhances safety for people and trains. This type of beacon light can help to reduce or prevent accidents from taking place on the railways. But aside from this, warning beacons also play an important role in the construction industry. They improve safety on construction sites, especially in the areas where safety risks are greater.
4. Navigation Beacon Lights for the marine industry – this type of beacon light helps to keep mariners aware of their surroundings even at the darkest night in the sea. It specifies if a shipping vessel is at anchor or if a vessel is nearby, allowing mariners to adjust to avoid a collision.
According To Colour
1. Red Beacon Lights indicate danger – red beacon lights can be seen on emergency vehicles, which sends a message to other vehicles on the road to move out of the way or to slow down. They are also associated with fires and fire alarm systems as in indication or warning to evacuate a building or area. Additionally, red beacons are used on cranes or tall infrastructures to warn aircraft of their height.
2. Blue Beacon Lights as an alternative to Red Beacons – in some areas, red beacon lights are not permitted so they are replaced by blue beacon lights. Blue beacons can be found on firefighter vehicles, ambulances, and other emergency vehicles.
3. Amber or Yellow Beacon Lights provides awareness – this colour of beacon light allows people and vehicles to be aware of what is ahead of them or what is happening in their surroundings. This type of beacon light is most common in low visibility areas or dark conditions, sending a warning that there is a potential hazard ahead.
4. Green Beacon Lights means security and safety – local emergency response teams utilize this type of beacon light. It signifies that a particular situation is being handled to assure people of safety.
5. White Beacon Lights as an alternative to Coloured Rotating Lights – white beacon lights provide great visibility, especially at night. They can be seen in some countries on school buses and railroads.
Conclusion
Warning Beacons have such a large range of possible applications, it is impossible to list them all.
To summarize, beacon lights play a vital part in providing safety to the community. Different type of beacon lights are utilized in different situations and places to provide warning, guidance, and information for a wide range of audience. When these devices are installed, there is certainly less risk of accidents, as they help to keep order and enhance safety in such a large variety of different places.