Tungsram Fluorescent Tubes

Tungsram Fluorescent Tubes in Today’s Installations

Tungsram Fluorescent Tubes are the classic T8 linear lamps from a European brand whose roots go back to 1896 and which took over GE Lighting’s EMEA traditional range.

In practical terms, they sit in the Polylux XLr™ tri-phosphor family and are used to keep:

• supermarkets and retail,
• offices and schools,
• sports halls, warehouses and industrial sites

running on existing fluorescent infrastructure while offering good efficacy, colour rendering and lifetime.

They are also still stocked for U-shaped and special formats where luminaires were designed around Tungsram geometries and changing to LED is not yet convenient. 

Construction and Optics of Tungsram Fluorescent Tubes

All Tungsram Fluorescent Tubes in this segment are T8 (26 mm) lamps with a G13 bi-pin cap and low-pressure fluorescent technology: 

• Glass body (T8, 26 mm)
  • Standard linear formats: 15 W, 18 W, 30 W, 36 W, 58 W, 70 W with corresponding lengths from ~45 cm to ~176 cm.
• Tri-phosphor coating (Polylux XLr™)
  • High-performance tri-phosphor mixes give CRI 80+ and stable colour in 2700 K to 6500 K versions.
• Gas fill and mercury dose
  • Inert gas + a very low mercury content (typically below 3.5 mg) optimised for long life and lumen maintenance, while staying under EU limits.
• G13 caps
  • Standard 2-pin caps at each end, compatible with common battens, trunking and waterproof T8 luminaires.

Optically, the tri-phosphor system is what makes Tungsram Fluorescent Tubes stand out: smooth spectrum in the visible range, good colour rendering and consistent lumen output over most of the life. Fluorescent tubes remain a reliable option in facilities where uniform light distribution, long operating hours and controlled maintenance budgets are still priorities. For routine replacements across hallways, storage rooms and administrative areas, teams often begin with straightforward, service-friendly options such as zext fluorescent tubes. When a project requires steadier colour output or higher-quality phosphors — especially in classrooms, retail shelving or medical offices — planners frequently incorporate the well-balanced ranges offered by viva light fluorescent tubes and the specialised, application-focused lines from vitolight fluorescent tubes. Budget-oriented refurbishments or public-sector upgrades often use cost-efficient choices like toplux fluorescent tubes to keep replacement cycles predictable. Large commercial interiors and logistics environments that require consistent lumen output and broad availability typically complete their lighting specification with durable, widely supported products such as sylvania fluorescent tubes.

Main Families in the Tungsram Fluorescent Tubes Range

Within the T8 line you can think of three practical groups of Tungsram Fluorescent Tubes.

1. Polylux XLr™ Standard Linear T8

These are the backbone:

• 15 W T8 (approx. 18" / 45 cm) – e.g. FT8 15W 840 (4000 K) with ~950 lm, 63 lm/W, EEC B and 15,000 h life.
• 18 W T8 (~60 cm) – Polylux and CVG covRguard variants around 1300 lm, CRI 80+, 15,000 h on conventional gear.
• 30 W T8 (~90 cm) – 30 W, 6400 K cool white, ~900–950 lm and up to 15,000 h, used where 3 ft luminaires are installed. 
• 36 W T8 (~120 cm) – common 4-ft size; examples include 36 W 4000 K with ~3015–3250 lm and efficacy ~84–93 lm/W, EEC A, 15,000 h life. 
• 58 W T8 (~150 cm) – 5-ft lamps, e.g. 58 W 3000 K warm white, 5200 lm, CRI 80+, 15,000 h rated life.
• 70 W T8 (~176 cm) – long industrial tubes, 6000 lm at 3500–4000 K, 15,000 h, EEC A.

These Tungsram Fluorescent Tubes are dimmable on suitable ballasts and are used in most standard T8 luminaires.

2. Special-purpose and U-shaped Tungsram Fluorescent Tubes

For compact luminaires, Tungsram also offers:

• U-shaped Polylux XLr T8 36 W / 835, 120 cm, for special ceiling and recessed fittings, currently sold as “in stock, discontinued”.

These are vital for maintaining bespoke luminaires where straight tubes cannot be used.

3. Colder and Daylight Triphosphor Variants

• 6500 K “daylight” tubes like the 15 W 6500 K T8 with 900 lm and 20,000 h life, used in workshops, laboratories and places where high visual acuity is needed.

Performance Profile of Tungsram Fluorescent Tubes

From the Polylux XLr™ data sheets you can capture the key characteristics of Tungsram Fluorescent Tubes:

• Colour Rendering
  • CRI 80+ across the range, with marketing explicitly highlighting “excellent colour reproduction” that flatters skin tones and makes merchandise more vibrant.
• Lumen Maintenance & Lifetime
  • About 90% lumen maintenance at 15,000 h on conventional gear.
  • Typical rated life: 15,000 h; up to 23,000 h on electronic ballasts in some Polylux XLr lamps.
• Efficacy & Energy Class
  • Efficacy typically in the 75–93 lm/W range depending on wattage and colour.
  • Energy label A on many standard tubes under the older EU scheme.
• Colour Temperatures
  • 2700 K (827, Extra Warm White)
  • 3000 K (830, Warm White)
  • 3500 K (835, White)
  • 4000 K (840, Cool White)
  • 6500 K (860/865, Daylight)

This combination of stable flux, decent efficiency, and broad CCT options is why Polylux XLr tubes are still considered a “natural choice for fluorescent lighting applications” in many catalogues.

Typical Applications for Tungsram Fluorescent Tubes

Thanks to their performance and size range, Tungsram Fluorescent Tubes are used across:

• Retail and supermarkets – continuous rows and ceiling luminaires where colour quality and even illumination make merchandise look attractive.
• Offices and schools – 3000–4000 K tubes in recessed modular fittings, providing comfortable, low-glare general lighting.
• Sports halls and industrial sites – longer 58 W and 70 W tubes for high mounting heights and large open areas.
• Warehouses and corridors – 18 W / 36 W tubes in simple battens or trunking systems
• Back-of-house & cool daylight tasks – 6500 K tubes in workshops, service counters and areas where daylight-like conditions are needed. 

Because of their good CRI and broad CCT range, Tungsram Fluorescent Tubes are especially popular in environments where people and products must look natural under artificial light.

How to Choose Tungsram Fluorescent Tubes for a Project

When you specify Tungsram Fluorescent Tubes, treat it like a quick engineering decision:

1. Fix Geometry: Wattage, Length, Cap

• All these lamps are T8, G13.
• Match wattage and length to the luminaire label:
  • 15 W ≈ 45 cm, 18 W ≈ 60 cm, 30 W ≈ 90 cm, 36 W ≈ 120 cm, 58 W ≈ 150 cm, 70 W ≈ 176 cm.
• For U-shaped luminaires, use the matching U-shaped Tungsram SKUs, not straight tubes. 

2. Check Ballast and Gear

• On electromagnetic gear, pick standard Polylux XLr types and pair them with the correct starters.
• On electronic gear, you can exploit the full 20k+ hour life potential of Polylux XLr tubes.

3. Choose Colour Temperature by Space

• 2700–3000 K – hospitality, lounges, residential-style areas. 
• 3500–4000 K – offices, schools, retail, most work environments.
• 6500 K – special areas where daylight effect is desired

Keep one CCT per visual zone so the installation doesn’t look patchy.

4. Decide Light Level and Maintenance Strategy

• Use lumen data as a guide:
  • 18 W ≈ 1300 lm, 36 W ≈ 3200–3350 lm, 58 W ≈ 5200 lm, 70 W ≈ 6000 lm.
• Combine tube wattage, number of fittings and room geometry to hit your target lux (e.g. 300–500 lx for offices/retail).
• For high-hour circuits, plan group relamping around the 15,000 h mark to keep lighting uniform and reduce labour peaks.

Regulatory and Lifecycle Notes for Tungsram Fluorescent Tubes

T8 technology is mature but heavily regulated:

• Energy and Ecodesign
  • Polylux XLr lamps were developed to meet strict European energy-efficiency classes (often A), but newer regulations increasingly push installations toward LED T8 retrofits.
• Mercury and Environment
  • Mercury content is kept below ~3.5 mg and declared RoHS-compliant.
  • At end of life, Tungsram Fluorescent Tubes must enter WEEE/fluorescent recycling streams, not general waste.
• Phase-out Status
  • Many Tungsram Polylux XLr T8 SKUs are now flagged in B2B systems as “in stock – discontinued” with price validity “until a given date or while stock lasts”, signalling that the manufacturer is focusing on LED T8 replacements.

For new projects, that means: T8 tubes are mainly used to support existing luminaires, while system-level upgrades are planned around LED.

Wholesale Supply of Tungsram Fluorescent Tubes by Bank of Lamps

In B2B channels, Tungsram Fluorescent Tubes are usually sold as part of a structured “Tungsram Conventional Lamps” assortment, with Polylux XLr T8 as a key sub-category. 

A practical wholesale strategy:

• Standardise a core matrix of Tungsram Fluorescent Tubes:
  • 18 W / 835 and 840 for short luminaires,
  • 36 W / 830, 835, 840 for 4-ft rows,
  • 58 W / 830 or 840 for 5-ft rows,
  • any 30 W / 70 W types that match your existing 3-ft and long-bay fittings,
• Order strictly by EAN / MPN so wattage, colour code (827/830/835/840/865), length and lumen output always match previous batches. 
• Combine with Tungsram LED T8 in the same projects: tubes keep fluorescent luminaires running where needed, while LED T8 Ultra/Value Glass handle efficiency upgrades on other lines, all within the same brand ecosystem. 

Used this way, Tungsram Fluorescent Tubes are not just leftover stock – they’re a controlled, high-quality tool for maintaining and optimising T8 infrastructures, while your overall lighting strategy steadily migrates to LED where it makes technical and financial sense.