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.

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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.