Inside BEKA Schréder’s Product Durability Testing Video Series
At BEKA Schréder, we believe that lighting that lasts begins with innovation that endures. Every luminaire we design and manufacture in South Africa undergoes rigorous testing to ensure it meets – and exceeds – national and international standards for performance, reliability, and safety.
Our Product Durability Testing Video Series takes you behind the scenes of our testing facilities to show how our products are proven to perform in real-world conditions. From mechanical impact to environmental endurance and photometric precision, each test ensures our luminaires continue to perform where reliability is non-negotiable: along roads, in mines, on industrial sites and across public spaces throughout Africa.
Stay Tuned
Follow our social media channels over the next month as we release each episode in the Product Durability Testing Series, showcasing how BEKA Schréder continues to engineer lighting that lasts.
Episode 1: Impact Resistance Test
The journey begins with strength.
In the Impact Resistance Test, our luminaires face calibrated mechanical shocks to verify their structural integrity and impact protection level. Tested according to SANS 62262, this process ensures every luminaire achieves the required IK rating, proving its ability to withstand the harsh conditions often faced in industrial and outdoor environments.
Why it matters: In areas such as mining sites or public streets, our luminaires may be exposed to accidental knocks from maintenance tools, falling debris or even vandalism. A luminaire that passes the Impact Resistance Test continues to perform safely without cracked protectors or compromised protection.
🎥 Episode 1: Impact Resistance Test
Episode 2: Thermal Endurance Test
Extreme heat. Freezing cold. Relentless reliability.
In the Thermal Endurance Test, each luminaire endures cycles of high and low temperatures inside a controlled thermal chamber. Conducted in line with IEC 60598 standards, this test confirms that our products perform reliably in fluctuating and demanding climates, from hot industrial plants to cold, high-altitude installations.
Why it matters: South Africa’s diverse climates can expose luminaires to day-night temperature swings, intense sun and unexpected cold fronts. By verifying performance under these extremes, we ensure long-term reliability in everything from coastal ports and refineries to highveld factories.
🎥 Watch Episode 2: Thermal Endurance Test
Episode 3: Ingress Protection (IP) Test
Dust storms, driving rain, and everything in between.
The Ingress Protection (IP) Test evaluates how well our luminaires resist dust and water. Using dust chambers and pressurised water jets, each product is tested according to SANS 60529 to verify its level of protection. This ensures our luminaires remain sealed, safe, and reliable, no matter the environment.
Why it matters: Whether installed along rural gravel roads, in open-pit mines or in coastal towns, luminaires must withstand fine dust, wind-blown sand and heavy rain. A robust IP rating ensures that the luminaire remains sealed, and operational for years, keeping sites safe and illuminated whatever the weather.
🎥 Watch Episode 3: Ingress Protection Test
Episode 4: Dark Room Test
Precision meets performance.
The journey concludes in our dark room, where photometric measurements determine the luminaire’s light output, distribution and efficiency. Using advanced equipment, we validate that every product meets strict local and international photometric standards. This guarantees that the lighting performance you see on-site matches the design intent, delivering the right light, every time.
Why it matters: Proper photometric performance directly affects road safety, workplace visibility and energy efficiency. A well-tested luminaire ensures uniform light levels, minimal glare and reduced power consumption, delivering reliable illumination that enhances comfort and safety in real-world applications.
🎥 Watch Episode 4: Dark Room Test
Lighting That Lasts — Designed for a Sustainable Future
Durability is not only about surviving impact, temperature, dust, or time — it’s about designing with the future in mind.
Every test in The Luminaire’s Journey supports BEKA Schréder’s commitment to sustainability and circular economy principles. By ensuring our products deliver long-lasting performance, we reduce waste, extend lifespans, and minimise the environmental footprint associated with replacements and repairs.
Our luminaires are engineered with highly recyclable materials, modular components for easier maintenance, and upgrade-ready designs that allow future enhancements without full replacement. These principles help us meet our goal of providing lighting solutions that are as responsible as they are reliable.
Because when a luminaire is built to last, it doesn’t just save energy — it saves resources, time, and impact on our planet.
Proven Performance. Proudly Local.
Through every step of The Luminaire’s Journey, our products are tested to confirm compliance with South African national standards and beyond. These tests aren’t just procedures - they’re a reflection of BEKA Schréder’s ongoing commitment to quality, reliability and sustainability in every luminaire we produce.
From mine tunnels to city streets, our luminaires are manufactured locally, tested rigorously, and trusted globally — lighting Africa with proven performance, one product at a time.