Components of Tanning Equipment

[Neon Beach]

Components of Tanning Equipment

Several components are commonly found in tanning units:

• Fans. Fans are built inside tanning units to circulate the air required to cool components. Circulated air helps cool lamps. This increases lamp life and also helps prevent damage to other internal components. And fans help keep clients cool while they are tanning.

• Lamps. There are two different families of tanning lamps today: Low- and high-pressure lamps. Low-pressure lamps look like the long, tubular lights which illuminate salon offices and public areas. High-pressure lamps are smaller, clear-glass quartz-lamps only several inches long that sit behind filters in a high-pressure system. All tanning units are designed to work with a specific type of tanning lamp, which is originally packaged with the unit by the manufacturer or its equivalent as determined by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Any other lamps should not be used because they may affect the unit’s output and decrease tanning efficiency or increase a client’s risk of overexposure.

• Acrylic. This transparent, plastic-like material separates clients from tanning lamps. Unlike glass, which can break and injure clients, acrylic material is more flexible and warm to the touch. Acrylic tanning sheets can be flat, curved or contoured and are specifically developed to transmit ultraviolet light. (Standard acrylic blocks out most ultraviolet light.) Dirt and substances such as ammonia and mineral oil can cloud acrylic and prevent proper transmission of ultraviolet light. Solutions containing ammonia and mineral oil should not, therefore, be used as cleaning/sanitization agents.

• Pistons. Not all tanning beds have pistons, but many do. If yours does here are a couple of pointers:

• Keep the canopies in the upright position and when closing down the shop at night. This will take the pressure off the pistons and extend their life.

• When replacing pistons, keep in mind that they perform and last better if you position the “fat end” up and the “skinny end” down.

• Starters. This small, round device which is roughly the size of a C battery is found on some tanning units and helps energize lamps.

• Reflector materials. Reflector materials are available under various trade names but all help to redirect a high percentage of ultraviolet light from tanning lamps to the tanning client.

• Timer. This device controls the amount of time a person is exposed to ultraviolet light and is required by federal law for each piece of tanning equipment. The maximum time tanning equipment is allowed to run is determined by the exposure schedule on each device.

[Sunsally]

Ballasts - the heavy, rectangular, battery-looking thing that powers the bed. Normally in a tray underneath the bed, sometimes in the top canopy. Each one typically controls two lamps.

Lamp holders - the devices that hold the lamp in position. Can be suited for regular lamps where there is a "spring" to load them in, or "bi-pin" where you put the lamp in and twist it into position (like many flourescent lamps).

Buck boosters - an extra accessory that may be required for some beds, in some salons. It can "buck" the voltage coming to your salon down or "boost" it up -- to make sure the optimal number of volts are powering the beds. Most of the "bigger beds" - and some smaller ones - run optimally at 230-240V.