TOMAR Introduces T-Beam™ Optics for Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons

TOMAR has introduced T-Beam™ Optics to its Revolution Series Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFBs), optimizing optical efficiency and regulatory compliance for traffic engineers designing pedestrian safety systems. This advancement eliminates the need for a separate pilot light, which is optional under MUTCD IA-21, by integrating an improved collimator design that enhances lateral visibility while maintaining required photometric intensity distributions.

T-Beam™ Optics leverage a precision-engineered hybrid total internal reflection (TIR) collimator to ensure compliance with MUTCD IA-21 while providing uniform on-axis and off-axis luminous intensity. This system allows a standard dual-beacon RRFB structure to provide enhanced pedestrian-side conspicuity without additional side-mounted indication lamps. Additionally, the integrated collimation system ensures the pilot light functionality is incorporated within the primary signal heads, reducing system complexity and potential failure points.

The lamps still meet the minimum specifications for Class 1 yellow peak luminous intensity in the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Standard J595, even with the updated collimator design.

“By optimizing our optical architecture, we’ve eliminated the need for auxiliary pilot indicators while ensuring compliance with established RRFB photometric performance standards,” said Matt Murray, VP of Sales and Marketing at TOMAR. “The revised system architecture minimizes electrical wiring complexity, simplifies power distribution requirements, and lowers overall installation and maintenance costs.”

“Our design methodology is centered around providing traffic engineers with an RRFB system that delivers superior optical performance while reducing the number of required components,” Said Adam Miller, President of TOMAR. “By eliminating redundant optical assemblies and integrating the pilot light function into the primary lamp housing, we have reduced both hardware complexity and long-term operational costs for municipalities and DOTs.”

With these advancements, TOMAR’s Revolution RRFBs provide a standards-compliant, high-efficiency solution for pedestrian crossings, reducing hardware dependencies while ensuring full MUTCD IA-21 compliance.