Stand Up Tanning Booth Bulbs

A few things you may want to know before you buy a stand up tanning booth bulbs

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Stand up tanning booth Bulbs

History of Tanning Bed Lamps

The first original tanning lamps were discovered by accident in 1903 by a German company called Heraeus who were developing lighting systems for the home and for industrial usage. These lamps were of the high-pressure metal halide variety. They discovered that the light that was developed for visible light purposes also emitted ultra-violet light. In the 1920s and 1930's they (Heraeus) first started to market and sell single lamp, self standing tanning/wellness devices. The first high-pressure tanning beds incorporating more than a single high-pressure lamp were manufactured in the mid to late seventies by companies such as Ultrabronz and JK Ergoline and in the 1980s the first high-pressure units were exported to the United States.

 

Types of Tanning Bed Bulbs

Low pressure

Low pressure tanning bulbs are the most common home and salon type installed by tanning bed manufacturers today and the usually employ 100-120 watt fluorescent type lamps.   The number of lamps in low pressure tanning beds range from 16 to 32 or more and a low pressure tanning bed may also include up to three 400 watt high pressure facial bulbs but still be considered a low pressure tanning bed.

High pressure  

High pressure tanning lamps generate primarily UVA (99.9%) with some UVB by using highly specialized quartz lamps, reflector systems and filters. These are less common and much more expensive, thus less commonly used. High pressure bulbs typically begin at 400 watts which are the most common type of “facial” bulbs in low pressure tanning beds.  Other high pressure tanning bed bulb varieties include 500 watt, 1000 watt, and even 2000 watt units.

 

High pressure tanning beds require special filter glass to remove the UVC and the majority of the UVB that is emitted and are difficult to manufacture because the alignment of the lamps is more critical than in traditional low-pressure tanning beds. They are generally large units, with a padded area to lie on or an acrylic and 6 to 36 lamps in a canopy or canopy and bench configuration, the tanning effect is much deeper and requires only a maintenance exposure of about 2-3 times per month compared to every 48 hours for regular tanning beds. They are much more expensive to operate, thus more expensive for the user. Retail prices in the $20,000 to $35,000 range are common with individual sessions costing $20 to $45, depending on the market.

Facial lamps

High pressure facial bulbs typically begin at 400 watts which are the most common type of “facial” bulbs in low pressure tanning beds.  Other high pressure tanning bed bulb varieties include 500 watt, 1000 watt, and even 2000 watt units and can also be used in stand up tanning booths.

High pressure tanning beds require special filter glass to remove the UVC and the majority of the UVB that is emitted and are difficult to manufacture because the alignment of the lamps is more critical than in traditional low-pressure tanning beds.

Spaghetti tanning bed lamps

This term refers to a type of lamp which is very thin and may range from 25 to 40 watts in power.  They are used in tanning beds with special arm, shoulder, or side tanners.

Dual Sun Lamps

Refer to tanning bed bulbs which are “painted” on one end of the lamp where your face may be.  The idea here is to block the UVB light with a external paint of some source, only allowing the UVA light thru, simulating a high pressure facial lamp.

 

Active Ingredients

European tanning beds generally use a different type of lamp as well, with UVB ratings in the 1% to 3% range (using US measuring methods) whereas most tanning beds sold in the US use 4.2% to 6.5% UVB ratings, and aftermarket lamps with up to 8.5% or higher being popular. Of course, these lamps have less UVA and will produce a sunburn quicker, but many Americans seem to like them because a short session produces a "reddening", or instant gratification. These lamps actually produce a slower deep tan (but a faster base tan) that fades faster, but are simply marketed as "hotter", although technically they have about the same amount of UV but with different ratios of UVA and UVB.

UVA vs UVB

A tanning bed bulb is basically divided between the % of UVA and UVB light in which the bulb emits.  A typical home tanning bed with a 20 minute maximum exposure time would have a 5% UVB and 95% UVB blend.  Keep in mind when selecting a tanning bed bulb, as the UVB goes up, the bulb becomes more burning or reddening. As the UVB goes down the bulb becomes more bronzing or browning.

 

When to change tanning bed bulbs

Most manufacturers recommend changing their bulbs when they reach around 70% of their original value as read on a UV light meter.  Conventional thought is that if the manufacturer says the bulb is good for 1000 hours, most owners will change the bulbs at the 700 hour mark if they do not have a UV light meter.

 

UV Light Meters

A UV Light meter is used to measure the UV output of a tanning bed bulb and can be purchased at most tanning supply providers.  The concept of working with a UV light meter is to first measure “baseline” data when the bed and bulbs are brand new and everything is dust free, etc.  Measure the same point 1 inch from both the top and bottom acrylic and record in a notebook.  Then, on a monthly basis, record the value and continue to monitor the UV light level until it reaches 70% of original value and then replace the bulbs!

A UV light meter is also a great way to see the improvement of tanning bed bulb strength after the bulbs and acrylics have been clean and serviced.

 

How to choose the right tanning bed bulb for you

To find out which tanning lamps are right for you, first go through a tanning salons inventory of equipment in the proper order.  Make sure the salon operator can give you the UVB %’s of all tanning beds in the salon and begin with a session or two in the 20 min beds with 5% UVB and then a few sessions in the 2nd level beds with 15 minute high intensity lamps that have a 8.5% UVB. 

These 8.5% UVB tanning bed bulbs will turn your skin more “red” at first and then fade to brown.  If you are a person who buys tanning bed lotion with a “tingle” factor, which turns your skin red, then you will love the 8.5% UVB lamps and your search is over.

However, you should also try the 3rd level of bulbs which are the 160 -220 watt family and usually contain 2% or lower UVB.  The beds may contain anywhere from 35 to 60 bulbs and are considered “bronzing” beds because of the low UVB.  Keep in mind; you must have a base tan or melanin present in your top layer of skin to see any results from a session with low UVB tanning bed bulbs.

Finally, you may be able to find a true “high pressure” tanning bed in your town to give a try.  These mega beds will have only the high pressure tanning bed bulbs, which are identified by the square blue glass which filters all UVB.  These are pure bronzing beds for advanced tanners who maintain a dark tan year round and are much more expensive to buy and to tan in a salon on a regular basis.

Most home tanning beds will contain 100 watt lamps and have 20 minute maximum session times with 5% UVB lamps.  If your tanning bed was originally a 30 minute bed, the new bulbs will now make it a 20 minute maximum session.  You may choose to install the high intensity 100 watt lamps with a 8.5% UVB and should expect to pay only $1 more than the 5% UVB bulbs.

 

Tanning Bed Bulb Manufacturers

Wolff tanning lamps

Several companies continue to license the Wolff name and use their lamps because of the name recognition, although this has steadily diminished over the years as other lamp builders have created lamps that are arguably as good as or better. Licensing is not required to use Wolff lamps, but it is required to call a tanning bed a "Wolff System" and use the Wolff System logo, a yellow circle with horizontal bars and the name "Wolff Systems" in black. Tanning beds that use Wolff products but do not pay royalties can use only the term "Powered by Wolff," which is unique in the industry.

 

 


My name is Rick Houston and I have been in the tanning salon business for years and specialize in Internet marketing of new tanning beds and used tanning salon equipment.  I am also the author of a simple how-to eBook called How to Open a Tanning Salon from A to Z!  which can give you invaluable insight into opening your own tanning salon with less than a $20,000 initial investment (and good credit or $50k without it)!  You may call me toll-free 888-999-7577, email me here, or join our mailing list here to be immediately notified of new offers.