H3 Trigalights®
Trigalights is a coined word from the individual words "TRI tium", "GA seous", "LIGHT" and "S ource" and a registered trademark of our business partner and world market leader for tritium gas light lamps from Switzerland. KHS mission watches with H3 illumination exclusively use Trigalights® from Swiss production, which glow visibly for a very long time without external power supply.
Tritium gas light sources were invented in the 1960s. They usually consist of a borosilicate glass tube coated on the inside with zinc sulfide, which is additionally filled with tritium gas (H3). They glow much more brightly than the previously known tritium-containing luminous paints.
In addition to their long lifespan, Trigalights® also have the advantage of not needing to be charged by an external power source to glow in the dark - they actively emit light from within themselves. This guarantees optimal readability of every KHS H3 mission watch day and night, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for up to 25 years!
Functionality & Safety:
As mentioned at the beginning, a Trigalight® consists of a glass body filled with tritium gas, which is coated on the inside with zinc sulfide. During the radioactive decay of the tritium gas (H3) used, electrons (beta radiation) are emitted. This radiation hits the zinc sulfide layer and causes it to glow. The colors of the Trigalights® are therefore not influenced by the gas filled inside, but by the inner coating, which can vary in its composition—and thus in color. The brightness of the Trigalight® is proportional to the filling pressure (amount of gas). It is also very important to mention that the electrons (beta radiation) cannot penetrate or leave the borosilicate glass tubes. No beta radiation can escape!
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Hazards
In the previous section, we already read that borosilicate glass can completely shield beta radiation. What happens in the EXTREMELY unlikely event that the glass of a KHS mission watch is destroyed, all Trigalights® break, and complete inhalation of the tritium gas occurs?
According to the Federal Office for Radiation Protection, the existing natural radiation exposure in Germany averages 2.1 millisieverts (mSv) per citizen per year, which corresponds to 2,100 microsieverts (µSv) per year. The Federal Office for Radiation Protection further states, quote: "Assuming the destruction of a watch with about 1 GBq, where all tritium sources break, inhalation of the tritium would result in a dose of about 20 microsieverts (µSv). However, with the intended use of watches with GTLS, destruction of the glass tubes filled with tritium gas is practically excluded."
Let's establish that the existing natural radiation exposure in Germany is therefore 105 times higher than the naturally occurring radiation exposure. To illustrate this even more clearly, a banana emits about 0.1 microsieverts (µSv) of radiation into the human body; eat 200 bananas a year and you have the equivalent of 16 broken Trigalights® with complete inhalation of the tritium gas.
Legality:
Trigalights® are legal to purchase in most countries worldwide, but there are also countries where they unfortunately cannot be purchased for civilian use, such as France at present. In most countries, there are legal regulations or special requirements for use in the civilian market.
In Germany, there is a legal requirement that H3 watches for the civilian market must not exceed a maximum activity of 1 gigabecquerel (GBq).
The possession of civilian Trigalight products with a total activity of over 1 gigabecquerel (GBq) is subject to approval in Germany. Possession without the appropriate permit is legally an administrative offense and can be punished with a fine of up to 50,000.00 euros.
For the manufacture and import/export of products with Trigalight® technology, a permit from the Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (BAFA) is also required.
All KHS products, such as KHS H3 watches and KHS H3 Trigatags, of course comply with all legal requirements.
Return:
Please send KHS products with Trigalights® back to us for proper disposal and recycling after use or at the end of the product life.
The return address is:
KHS e.K
Gewerbeallee 4
45478 Mülheim / Ruhr
