Indoor Tanning Industry FDA Requirement Facts: OEM or Compatible Replacement Lamps for Booths, Beds

There are two classifications when looking for Indoor Tanning replacement lamps: OEM (original equipment manufacturer) or replacement lamps.  Equipment manufacturers are responsible for the selection and defining of the recommended exposure schedules based on the original lamps installed it the indoor tanning device.  The name and model of the original lamp will be identified on the tanning bed or booth label as required by the FDA.  Replacement lamps can be either the original lamp or a lamp that is listed to be FDA equivalent to the original lamp.  The FDA has strict guidelines for the equipment and lamp manufacturers to follow in order to regulate the safety of the tanning equipment.

In simple terms the current FDA guidelines allow the indoor tanning replacement lamps to be +/- 10% of the strength of the original OEM lamp model.  This is based on a calculation determined by the FDA which focuses primarily on the erythema value of the lamp or the ability of the tanning lamp to cause sunburn. 

If the owner of a tanning bed or booth chooses to purchase lamps that are not the OEM models it is the responsibility of the equipment/salon owner to be sure that the replacement lamps are listed as FDA compatible Indoor Tanning Lamps to the OEM model.  The compatibility claim is made by the lamp manufacturer by certifying that the replacement lamp model has been measured against the OEM model under specific conditions and reported to the FDA that the replacement lamp is within + / - 10% of the OEM lamp UVA and UVB strength.  The lamp manufacturer then supplies a compatibility sheet or user sheet with the replacement lamp model stating that the product has been certified.

It is the responsibility of the owner of the equipment to maintain the current FDA compatible indoor tanning lamps sheets for the replacement lamps.  In the event that the owner of the equipment chooses to purchase and use lamps that are not certified as compatible, the owner of the equipment becomes completely responsible for any risks or injuries that can happen during the use of the tanning bed or booth.  It is recommended never to purchase lamps for your tanning equipment where the manufacturer is not willing to supply a compatibility sheet for the replacement lamps in advance of the sale.

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