Upgrading Fluorescent Luminaires to LED: What Happens to the UL Listing?

When a fluorescent luminaire is upgraded to LED, what happens to its electrical safety certification?

It depends on whether the new lighting is an LED luminaire, LED retrofit kit or LED replacement lamp.

DOE has some guidance here.

UL has some guidance here.

Paraphrasing the documents, in a nutshell: All new components should carry proper safety certifications. If the upgrade is a new luminaire, it should be Listed by a nationally recognized testing lab. When a fluorescent luminaire is upgraded with a retrofit kit, the kit may be Classified, meaning the modified luminaire is considered to meet the same level of safety as before the retrofit. When a fluorescent luminaire is upgraded with a linear replacement lamp, if the lamp is a “drop in” product that requires no electrical modifications, the product may be Listed as a Self-Ballasted LED Lamp. The large majority of products require electrical modification, however. In that event, on-site inspection and field safety certification would by a nationally recognized testing lab would be needed, imposing an additional retrofit cost.

Consult the above guides for more information, and be sure to note local requirements.

Craig DiLouie

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