Codes + Standards

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). [...]

DarkSky International has announced significant updates to its DarkSky Approved Luminaires program, a globally recognized certification initiative aimed at combating the escalating crisis of light pollution. Originally launched in 2002 as the Fixture Seal of Approval, the program has evolved into a trusted benchmark for manufacturers and consumers seeking lighting solutions that protect the nighttime [...]

  In LEED v5, lighting environment is a key focus, with options for reducing glare and improving daylight access, and a new “Lighting Environment” credit. This credit allows projects to earn points by implementing strategies like reducing solar glare, minimizing artificial light glare, and maximizing daylight access. Additionally, the new “Connecting with Nature” credit, which was previously a [...]

  The integration of bird-friendly measures into the widely recognized Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification system is both progress and controversial in protecting avian species from building-related threats. LEED, managed by the U.S. Green Building Council, has been a global standard for sustainable architecture since 1998, with more than 100,000 certified properties [...]

UL completed a revision of ANSI/UL 1574 Edition 3, the safety standard covering track lighting systems. The revision is dated February 6, 2025, and includes the following changes in requirements: Installation Instructions published on the publicly available website; 84.1.2. Inherently protected recessed luminaire assemblies; 3.30A, 36.6, 36.7, Table 54.1, Section 54A, and 83.12 Flammability of [...]

  The CIE has recently published a new technical report and an international standard: Technical Report: CIE 255:2025 – The Functional Visual Field, 44 pages Technical Report CIE 255:2025, titled “The Functional Visual Field,” provides a comprehensive review of human visual field studies. The report aims to enhance understanding of the visual field’s role by classifying [...]

  Here are four recently approved IES standards:  ANSI/IES TM-39-25 Technical Memorandum: Quantification and Specification of Flicker  This Technical Memorandum (TM) catalogs currently documented metrics and specification criteria related to the human perception of periodic TLM and summarizes existing research. It identifies a path toward an IES standard method for quantifying and specifying flicker for architectural [...]

  The Hort V4.0 draft was sent out for comments in November and the comment period concluded in December. With few comments received, DLC is preparing to release the final V4 Technical Requirements, in March. Hort V4.0 introduces three key updates to the Hort Technical Requirements that support the acceleration of energy efficient lighting in [...]

The dirtiest little secret in LED lighting is that luminaire lifetime values are nearly meaningless for the vast majority of luminaire manufacturers. Why is this? Two reasons: First, all manufacturers typically report TM-21 LED chip projected lumen maintenance values as the luminaire lifetime. This does not include the driver nor other components. Drivers have historically [...]