Emergency vehicle warning equipment encompasses a variety of visual and audible signaling devices, which are designed to increase vehicle visibility and alert surrounding traffic when first-responders are on the site for emergency response, roadside assistance, and public safety operations. These emergency systems are used by police, fire teams, EMS, tow trucks, construction workers, and utility vehicles. The emergency warning equipment can reduce the risk of accidents and improve roadway safety.
High-quality emergency vehicle lights and sirens are essential to roadside safety by increasing visibility and awareness. Alerting oncoming and surrounding traffic to the approach or presence of emergency responders, roadside assistance, and other public safety response vehicles serves to reduce accidents and ensure the safety of all drivers.
Two of the most common signaling equipment for emergency vehicles are strobe or LED lighting and emergency sirens and speakers. While both types of signalling equipment can be used individually, it is safest to use a setup that incorporates both visual warning and audible notification.
This article explains the types of emergency vehicle lighting options, emergency vehicle sirens and speaker options, and how to determine a quality light and/or siren, in order to help Police, Fire, EMS depts, tow truck operators, snow plows, fleets, and construction and utility vehicles.
What Emergency Vehicle Lighting Technologies Are Available?
Emergency vehicle lights have progressed through many generations of technology, beginning with halogen, then strobe, and finally the latest generation using LED technology. Though strobe technology is superior to halogen, LED technology-based emergency vehicle lighting ensures the brightest and most visible light output available on the market today.
Interior vs Exterior Emergency Vehicle Lighting: Visibility and Installation
Interior emergency vehicle lighting refers to any warning lighting that is installed in the vehicle cabin. These can be mounted behind the windshield with a visor light bar or headliner mounting bracket, suction cup mounted to the glass, or attached to the front dash or rear deck via L-shaped brackets. Choose interior lighting when discretion is important to provide an unmarked, “slick top”, low profile appearance.
These interior products are perfect for police, security, utility, and construction supervisors, and trucks. Interior emergency lighting provides warning notifications while keeping a professional appearance.
Another advantage of interior LED lights is their protection from the elements. The vehicle cabin protects the warning light from weather, obstacles, and tampering. Many deck and dash LED lights can also be operated using a cig plug, providing flexibility and ease of installation.
Exterior vehicle lighting refers to any warning lighting that is installed on the exterior of the vehicle. These can be mounted in the grille, surface-mounted directly to the vehicle, or roof-mounted. Choose exterior vehicle warning lights when maximum visibility is desired. Exterior LED lights provide a more secure, long-term installation (though installation may be more intensive).
These exterior lights are perfect for Fire and other large apparatus, tow trucks, police cruisers, and roadside construction. Exterior vehicle lighting provides maximum protection and visibility to oncoming traffic.
Another advantage of exterior LED lights is the variety of mounting locations available for LED warning lights as opposed to the limitations when mounting internally.
- Many roof-mounted mini light bars come with magnetic mounts for easy deployment.
- Various other permanent mounting brackets are available for full light bars, including vehicle-specific types and headache rack options.
- Surface-mount LED lights can be mounted to any flat surface for ultimate flexibility and visibility.
- Lights can even be mounted to the running board for off-axis notification.
What Emergency Vehicle Siren and Speaker Options are Available?
There are two main types of emergency vehicle and police sirens: high frequency and low frequency. High-frequency sirens are the most common type and operate at 1-3 kHz, which is the human hearing’s most sensitive range. Low-frequency sirens operate at a range below 1 kHz and are meant to complement high-frequency sirens to provide deep, rumbling tones and vibrations.
High Frequency vs Low Frequency Emergency Vehicle Sirens: The Difference in Sound Range and Performance
- High-Frequency Sirens: These sirens are best for clear, sharp, and piercing tones in order to broadcast and warn traffic of the movement of emergency vehicles. These are the most common types of police and emergency sirens and usually operate at a sound level of 120dB.
- Low-Frequency Sirens: These low-frequency options work in conjunction with high-frequency sirens by duplicating tones at a lower frequency to create a palpable warning that penetrates vehicles better than high-pitched sounds, improving safety and response times. Low-frequency sirens are most useful in noisy and dense urban environments by cutting through loud city noises and penetrating objects to create a palpable warning.
What Are the Different Types of Emergency Siren Speakers?
Emergency siren speakers are typically available in two formats. There is a cone speaker format and a slim speaker format. Cone speakers typically have a much larger footprint, and the cone shroud concentrates the sound output towards the center of the speaker. Slim speaker formats are compact in dimension and broadly output a wider degree of sound.
Cone vs Slim Speakers for Mounting Flexibility and Optimal Sound Projection
Slim speakers provide more mounting versatility due to their compact nature, allowing them to fit in more low-profile areas either behind the grille or mounted to the push bumper. Security and police tend to prefer the slim speaker exactly for this reason, to provide a more low-profile appearance.
Cone speakers are more commonly chosen by Fire and EMS vehicles and apparatus, and other large trucks, due to the larger footprint. Cone speakers are also generally a more economical solution and can also work for some budget-conscious police departments and security fleets.
How To Determine A Quality Light and Siren?
There are many factors to consider when deciding what makes a quality light and siren. It is important to consider manufacturer warranties, reviews, and independent third-party analyses before making a decision. Review platforms like TrustPilot, Shopper Approved, and Google allow customers to share their experiences.
However, the most important metrics are product certifications from independent third-party laboratories. They can evaluate the emergency vehicle equipment under strict metrics and grade its quality and performance according to the SAE standard.
What Are SAE Standards for Emergency Vehicle Equipment?
SAE International standards are globally recognized, voluntary technical guidelines for the automotive, aerospace, and commercial vehicle industries, ensuring safety, quality, and interoperability. They establish benchmarks for vehicle components, including lighting, among others.
SAE J595 vs J845: Emergency Lighting Standards Explained
SAE J595 and J845 are specific standards for defining a quality LED emergency vehicle warning light. J595 and J845 standards test for light output performance as well as housing and circuitry consistency, and torture tests. Both standards require vibration testing, humidity testing, dust protection testing, corrosion testing, temperature testing, and duty cycle testing to ensure top performance across all environments.
SAE J595 is the standard for emergency lights that output directional, single-color, flashing optical warning. It covers photometrics, intensity, color, and durability for warning lights aimed at specific directions. The light output is assigned Class 1, 2 or 3 based on performance, with Class 1 being the best. Classes for a lighting product will not be given unless all other tests have also successfully passed.
SAE J845 is the standard for omnidirectional, 360-degree, optical warning devices used on emergency, maintenance, and service vehicles. It defines performance requirements for intensity, flash rate, and color, just like with the J595 standard.
The only difference is that the J845 standard is for warning lights that output 360 degrees of direction, versus the J595 standard, which is for warning lights that output in one direction only.
Frequently Asked Questions About Emergency Vehicle Lights and Sirens
Which Type of Emergency Lighting Technology Is Best?
LED emergency lighting has the brightest light output and is best for maximum visibility.
Are Non-SEA Rated Lights The Same As SAE Class Lights?
No. SAE Class 1-3 lights have been proven to perform and meet specific metric standards to be compliant with the needs and standards of emergency vehicles.
Can Only A Low Frequency Siren Be Used?
No. A low-frequency siren requires the pairing with a high-frequency siren to remodulate the tones into a low frequency.
Can Interior Lights and Exterior Lights Both Be Installed?
Yes. Installing both interior and exterior emergency vehicle lighting is the best balance between creating a low profile and maximum visibility.
Choosing the Right Emergency Lighting and Siren Setup for Your Vehicle
There are many options to consider when choosing emergency vehicle lights and sirens. Interior lighting offers easy installation, protection, and concealment. Exterior lighting allows for a more permanent and higher visibility solution.
The best setup will cover a good mix and balance of interior and exterior lighting. When it comes to sirens, a standalone high-frequency siren works great, but pairing it with a low-frequency siren system will deepen its reach and effectiveness, especially in dense urban settings.
Understanding how emergency vehicle lighting and sirens function and are certified allows public safety professionals to choose the best emergency vehicle lights and sirens by improving visibility and safety.
