transitioning from incandescent to cfl and led lighting: as simple as changing bulbs?
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8/9/2019 Transitioning from Incandescent to CFL and LED Lighting: As Simple as Changing Bulbs?
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01For more information E:: ULUniversity@us.ul.com
Transitioning from Incandescent to CFL andLED Lighting: As Simple as Changing Bulbs?
IN A MOVE SPARKED LARGELY BY THE DRIVE FOR INCREASED ENERGYEFFICIENCY, GOVERNMENT LEGISLATION AND INCREASINGLY LOWER
COSTS, MUCH OF THE DEVELOPED WORLD IS TRANSITIONING AWAY FROM
TRADITIONAL INCANDESCENT LIGHTS TO MORE ENERGY-EFFICIENT
COMPACT FLUORESCENT (CFL) AND LIGHT-EMITTING DIODE (LED)
LIGHTING. HOWEVER, QUESTIONS REGARDING THE PROPER USE AND
FUNCTION OF THESE LIGHTS, ALONG WITH RELATED SAFETY CONCERNS,
SHOW THE NEED EXISTS TO QUICKLY REACH MANUFACTURER AND
CONSUMER CONSENSUS ON HOW TO MOST EFFECTIVELY USE THIS NEW
TECHNOLOGY TO REAP ITS FULL BENEFITS.
The evolution to CFL and, eventually, LED lighting currently
underway is being driven by state and ederal energy efciency
initiatives as well as buy-in by retailers and consumers as costs
have dropped. These newer lighting technologies dier signifcantly
in their electrical properties rom incandescent lighting, yet they are
required to unction in homes and businesses primarily via hardware
and fxtures designed or the older technology. The potential saety
impact o the cumulative eect o this transition has not been ully
explored in either U.S. saety standards or codes.
The March of History
Incandescent light sources based on Thomas Edisons original
patents have been in use or over 125 years, which has made
them the standard or artifcial lighting or more than a century.
The relatively rapid move toward CFL and LED lighting represents
the biggest leap orward in this technology since electric bulbs
replaced gas lamps and candles.
Fluorescent lighting made its frst public appearance at the
1939 Worlds Fair in New York. It uses a very dierent technology
or producing light than the incandescent lamp, namely a
gas-discharge where electricity excites a mercury vapor. But eve
with its added complexity, todays evolved compact uorescent
lighting continues to gain avor because it converts electrical
power into light much more efciently than incandescent.
LED lighting may have an even more promising uture as it
approaches greater economic and commercial viability.
Despite its higher initial costs, installations such as trafc
signaling highlight LEDs advantages o long li e and decreased
power usage. Both CFL and LED technologies have the benefts
o higher luminous efciency and reduced power needs when
compared with the incandescent technology that preceded them
In recent years, the escalating push toward greater energyefciency has placed the newer lighting technologies ront-and-
center. Additional impetus is now coming rom jurisdictions such
as the State o Caliornia, which encourages the combination o
higher efciency lighting with lighting controls designed to reduc
energy use. The country o Australia has taken the urther step o
mandating the replacement o all incandescent bulbs with CFLs
in 2010.
Reliability and Safety Issues
The dramatic growth o CFL technology has resulted in a
corresponding increase in complaints rom consumers. These
complaints largely are related to the unique characteristics o
CFLs and lighting controls, and how in combination they may
present several potential problems in lighting installations.
WHITE PAPER ON:
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8/9/2019 Transitioning from Incandescent to CFL and LED Lighting: As Simple as Changing Bulbs?
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02Copyright 2010 Underwriters Laboratorie
For more information E:: ULUniversity@us.ul.com
Most lighting controls including solid state switches,
motion-detecting switches, occupancy sensors, sound sensors,
wireless controls, and dimmers are designed or use with
traditional incandescent lamps. Some CFLs can work eectivelywith these controls, but many designs are incompatible, with
reports o problems ranging rom lighting ailure to ashing,
ickering, unusual noises, poor light output, and reduced
product lie.
Any o these occurrences alone can be a nuisance to
consumers. UL traditionally has not addressed them, since they
could be considered perormance rather than saety issues.
However, urther testing seemed relevant to confrm that any
incompatibilities between CFLs and lighting controls would not
result in fres, shock, or other unsae conditions.
UL Testing and Results
Following discussions with CFL and lighting controls experts, UL
identifed our issues or initial studies, including CFL/lighting con-
trols compatibility; potential controller contact damage due to high
inrush currents; the substitution o CFLs into light fxtures intended
or incandescent lamps; and accurate load modeling.
UL conducted extensive laboratory testing in all our o the areas
identifed. Testing ocused primarily on CFL lamps, with some
inormation gathered on emerging LED technologies, with the ol-lowing results:
Substitution into existing fxtures will result in
lower temperatures.
CFL liespan may be reduced when used in fxtures
where switches are turned o and on repeatedly.
Contact damage is not signifcant due to the high inrush
currents.
In summary, ULs testing and analysis confrmed that current-
production CFL lamps are perorming well, with no observed
saety hazards. Additionally, the study ound that consumers
may be able to use CFLs more broadly and saely than
previously believed.
I a consumer mistakenly places a CFL onto a circuit controlled b
a solid-state lighting control a hazardous condition is not likely to
result.
The Need for Consensus
In the area o CFL/lighting controls compatibility specifcally,
UL witnessed occurrences o annoying ickering oten
accompanied by noises. Fortunately, results showed no
indications o fre, shock, or casualty hazard rom any CFL
or controller.
While improvements in technology are leading to improved
perormance and eliminating end-o-lie issues, there is still room
or improvement. The potential incompatibility o CFL lamps with
incandescent lighting controllers has negative consequences ro
a marketplace perspective. Consumers expect CFLs and the LE
that ollow to integrate seamlessly with existing technology;
anything less may become a steady source o rustration or
consumers, retailers and manuacturers alike.
UL avors prompt action on this issue, and proposes orming
a consortium along with manuacturers and consumers to orge
a consensus that addresses consumers needs or products tha
work well together, or are at least clearly marked to explain
their intended use.
No matter what stage your company is in on its journey to
saety compliance, UL will help you identiy and implement
the smartest, most efcient and eective solution based
specifcally on your companys needs. With a proven track
record in product compliance developed over more than
115 years, UL is a respected third-party source to help
manuacturers achieve total market access.
This is an introductory paper on materials preselection. This paper
is intended or background inormation and discussion only.
This paper should not be relied upon or any purpose other than
to gain an overview o this subject area. It is not legal advice and
should not be treated as such. I you require specifc advice on
the subject, you should consult your legal advisors and relevant
authorities in your operating jurisdictions.
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