Do you have a lamp-based projector in your home theater? If so, now is the perfect time to stock up on replacement lamps, as regulations will soon come into effect banning the manufacture and sale of products containing mercury, including the lamps used in projectors.
As reported in flat panel HD (via rehders.de), EU Regulation 2023/2049, which comes into effect on January 1, 2026, bans the production and import of mercury-containing products. And while the new law mainly focuses on incandescent light bulbs used in residential and commercial settings, it also applies to Ultra High-Performance (UHP) projector lamps. Projectors that use UHP lamps will no longer be available for sale in the EU once the regulations come into effect, and owners will not be able to purchase replacement lamps for their lamp-based projectors.
Many of the best 4K projectors released in recent years use a laser or LED-based light source. An advantage of these over UHP lamps is that they last over 20,000 hours, which is the typical lifespan for a projector. UHP lamps, on the other hand, require replacement every 2,000-4,000 hours on average to maintain the projector’s standard brightness level.
A number of manufacturers such as Epson, BenQ and Optoma still offer traditional lamp-based projectors in their range, and that is mainly because UHP lamps can provide high brightness at an affordable price. For the same reason, lamp-based projectors are also widely used in business and educational environments. In contrast, the higher-end home theater offerings from projector brands like Sony and JVC have largely transitioned to laser-based light engines, which can also be found in the best ultra-short throws.
Although the upcoming regulations on mercury-based products will be limited to the EU, it is likely that projector manufacturers will stop producing new lamp-based projectors as the market for those models will actually shrink. And the same situation will apply to UHP lamp manufacturers, who will no longer be able to sell replacement lamps in EU countries.
Analysis: Do new EU regulations spell doom for lamp-based projectors?
With the new regulations coming into effect soon, it’s hard to imagine projector manufacturers moving forward with the production of new lamp-based models. The ban on UHP lamps may be limited to the EU, but there have also been global treaties that call for an international ban on products containing mercury, which is used in fluorescent lighting.
In the US, Vermont and California have already banned CFLs (compact fluorescent lights) and a number of other states are considering the same. It’s clear the lights are going out for mercury-based lighting – an increasing health hazard due to the improper disposal of fluorescent lamps, which often end up in landfills.
Unfortunately, any ban on projector lamps will result in another item ending up in landfills: projectors. Home theater projectors have steadily transitioned to laser-based light engines, while portable models typically use eco-friendly LED lamps. If you’ve bought a projector in the last five years, chances are it uses one of these technologies.
However, home theater projectors manufactured before 2020 will likely use UHP lamps, and any regulations banning the sale of replacement lamps will essentially turn these models into a doorstop. Lamp-based projectors are found in many boardrooms and universities, and those projectors will all need to be replaced.
There is no doubt that the removal of hazardous materials such as mercury from the environment is a positive development for public health and will benefit us all. Nevertheless, if you live in the EU and own an expensive lamp-based home theater projector, you may be understandably annoyed – and looking for replacement lamps.