Details of DarkSky Luminaires Program Guidelines v3.0

Here are the detailed criteria for luminaires to be certified to the DarkSky Approved Luminaires program v3.0:

DarkSky Residential Luminaire criteria

A. Output: Luminaire total light output shall not exceed 1,000 lumens.

B. Uplight: No more than 50 lumens are allowed between 90 and 180 degrees above nadir (i.e., LCS zones UL and UH combined). The light source shall not be visible from the horizontal plane that passes through the lowest light-emitting part of the luminaire.

C. CCT: The light source CCT shall not exceed 3000 K.

D. Dimming: The luminaire shall be dimmable to 10% or less of its full light output rating.

DarkSky Commercial Luminaire criteria

A. Uplight: The following are maximum percentages of total luminaire lumens, or maximum lumen amounts, allowed between 90 and 180 degrees above nadir, inclusive (i.e., LCS zones UL and UH combined):

1. Luminaires emitting 1,000 lumens or less: A maximum of 5 lumens total is allowed.
2. Luminaires emitting more than 1,000 lumens: No more than 0.5% of the total luminaire lumen output is allowed, up to a maximum of 50 lumens.

B. High angle light: The following are maximum percentages of total luminaire lumens allowed between 80 degrees and 90 degrees from nadir (i.e., LCS zones FVH and BVH combined):

1. Luminaires with a Type V or Type VS light distribution (see Sections 1.3.F and 1.3.G, respectively): No more than 5% of the total luminaire lumen output is allowed.
2. Luminaires with all other distribution types: No more than 3% of the luminaire’s total lumen output is allowed.

C. Shielding option: For pole mounted street, area, roadway, and parking lot luminaires a pre- or post-installation shielding option must be available and included in the product data sheet (See Section 1.3.D).

D. CCT: The light source CCT shall not exceed 3000 K.

E. Dimming: The luminaire shall be dimmable to 10% or less of its full light output rating.

DarkSky Pedestrian Comfort Luminaire criteria

A. Output: The luminaire total light output shall not exceed 10,000 lumens.

B. Uplight: The following are maximum percentages of total luminaire lumens, or maximum lumen amounts, allowed between 90 and 180 degrees above nadir, inclusive (i.e., LCS zones UL and UH combined):

1. Luminaires emitting 1,000 lumens or less: A maximum of 5 lumens total is allowed.
2. Luminaires emitting more than 1,000 lumens: No more than 0.5% of the total luminaire lumen output is allowed, up to a maximum of 50 lumens.

C. High angle light: For luminaires whose lowest light emitting surface is more than 1.2 meters (4 feet) above the ground, the following are maximum percentages or values allowed in the specified LCS zones or angles above nadir:

1. No more than 2% of the luminaire’s total output shall be emitted between 80 and 90 degrees above nadir (i.e., LCS zones FVH and BVH combined).
2. No more than 35% of the luminaire’s total output shall be emitted between 60 and 80 degrees above nadir (i.e., LCS zones FH and BH combined).
3. The vertical angle of maximum luminous intensity (candelas) shall be no higher than 68 degrees above nadir.

D. CCT: The light source CCT shall not exceed 3000 K.

E. Dimming: The luminaire shall be dimmable to 10% or less of its full light output rating.

DarkSky Wildlife Tuned Luminaire criteria

A. Criteria for Sea Turtle Sensitive Luminaires

1. Output: The luminaire total light output shall not exceed 4,000 lumens.
2. Uplight: No light output shall be emitted between 90 and 180 degrees above nadir, inclusive (i.e., LCS zones UL and UH combined).
3. High angle light, for luminaires of all heights:

a) No more than 2% of the luminaire’s total output shall be emitted between 80 and 90 degrees above nadir (LCS zones FVH and BVH combined).

b) No more than 35% of the luminaire’s total output shall be emitted between 60 and 80 degrees above nadir (i.e., LCS zones FH and BH combined).

c) The vertical angle of maximum luminous intensity (candelas) shall be no higher than 68 degrees above nadir.

d) Luminaires must have enhanced shielding that is included in the product data sheet. This option is required for shielding the light source on the beach side of the luminaire.

4. Spectral content: The luminaire’s emitted spectral power shall be at wavelengths of 560 nm or longer. The graph on the left displays an acceptable wavelength reading for a long-wavelength light source (i.e. amber lamp), with wavelength readings above 560 nm or higher. The graph on the right displayed an unacceptable wavelength reading, with wavelength readings below the 560 nm cutoff.

5. Dimming: The luminaire shall be dimmable to 10% or less of its full light output rating.

The complete DarkSky Approved Luminaires Program Guidelines v3.0 can be downloaded here.

Images: darksky.org

David Shiller

David Shiller is the Publisher of LightNOW, and President of Lighting Solution Development, a North American consulting firm providing business development services to advanced lighting manufacturers. The ALA awarded David the Pillar of the Industry Award. David has co-chaired ALA’s Engineering Committee since 2010. David established MaxLite’s OEM component sales into a multi-million dollar division. He invented GU24 lamps while leading ENERGY STAR lighting programs for the US EPA. David has been published in leading lighting publications, including LD+A, enLIGHTenment Magazine, LEDs Magazine, and more.

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