Department of Energy April 9, 2012 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) proposes to establish test procedures for light-emitting diode (LED) lamps to support implementation of labeling provisions by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) established under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA). The proposed test procedures define methods for measuring the lumen output, input power, and relative spectral distribution (to determine correlated color temperature, or CCT) of LED lamps. Further, the proposed test procedures define methods for measuring the lumen maintenance of the LED source (the component of the LED lamp that produces light) to project the rated lifetime of LED lamps. The rated lifetime of the LED lamp is the time required for the LED source component of the lamp to reach lumen maintenance of 70 percent (that is, 70 percent of initial light output). After reviewing available industry standards for determining the lumen output, input power, CCT, and rated lifetime, as well as current best practices and technological developments, DOE tentatively identified that the test methods described in the relevant Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IES) standards are appropriate for developing test procedures for LED lamps. The proposed test procedures are based in large part on IES standards LM-79-2008, ``Approved Method: Electrical and Photometric Measurements of Solid-State Lighting Products'' for determining lumen output, input power, and CCT, and LM-80-2008, ``Approved Method: Measuring Lumen Maintenance of LED Sources'' and TM- 21-2011, ``Projecting Long Term Lumen Maintenance of LED Light Sources,'' for determining rated lifetime, with some modifications as required.