Codes + Standards

The Department of Energy has published a new guide, LED Luminaire Lifetime: Recommendations for Testing and Reporting, which provides an important first step toward consistent, industry-wide understanding of LED fixture lifetime. Download it here. (Bad link has been fixed)

The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) has published SSL 3-2010 High-Power White LED Binning for General Illumination. This marks NEMA’s first solid state lighting (SSL) standard. Produced by NEMA’s Solid State Lighting Section, SSL 3 provides standardized categorization areas (bins) for the colors of “white” light-emitting diodes (LEDs) used for general lighting. LED manufacturers use [...]

California new Title 20 standards, which went into effect January 1, 2010, created new energy efficiency standards for 150-500W metal halide light fixtures used in indoor and outdoor applications. These fixtures may not be manufactured in the State of California unless they meet the new standards. For the most part, the fixture will have to [...]

“The EMerge Alliance: Using DC Power Distribution in Commercial Interior Applications” Live webinar with Paula Ziegenbein Thursday, June 17, 2010 1:00 PM EDT/ 10:00 AM PDT Paula D. Ziegenbein, Strategic Marketing Manager with OSRAM SYLVANIA and a member of the Board of Directors of the EMerge Alliance, will: • Provide an overview of the EMerge [...]

On April 1, 2010, the New York State Building Code Council voted to adopt the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code, which will be known as the Energy Conservation Construction Code of New York State and will apply to all jurisdictions in the State. When within the jurisdiction of the City of New York, administration and [...]

The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) has published BL 2-2009 Energy Efficiency for Electronic Ballasts for T8 Fluorescent Lamps. The standard was developed by NEMA’s Ballast Section and revises the 2007 version. BL 2 contains energy efficiency requirements for evaluating electronic ballasts designed for use with 4-ft. 32W T8 fluorescent lamps with a lumen output [...]

bad lighting bad for your health? In June 2009, the American Medical Association adopted a resolution advocating that “all future outdoor lighting be of energy-efficient designs” and that the AMA “support light pollution reduction efforts and glare reduction efforts.” Specifically, the AMA resolved to support efforts to ensure that streetlights feature a “fully shielded or [...]

UL Environment, Inc. has begun a collaborative effort to develop sustainability standards for indoor and outdoor lighting. These standards will assist consumers, designers, architects and building operators in identifying more sustainable options for interior and exterior light fixtures, LED modules and related lighting components. The standards will address entire luminaires, including reflector, aperture, outer shell [...]

Model energy codes and standards cover new construction and renovations. As of the time of writing, many types of retrofits, such as replacing lamps and ballasts, are not directly impacted by energy codes, although some jurisdictions may require a building permit for some lighting upgrades. With publication of the ASHRAE 90.1-2010 standard in the fall [...]