Viewpoint
The LED Retrofit lamp market is about to undergo a significant change thanks to new ecodesign requirements soon to be ushered in by the European Commission. Not content with the phasing out of inefficient lamps based on traditional technologies, similar legislation is now aiming its sights on the lowest performing LED light sources. Although the market penetration of LED
remains small, there are already hints at potential dissatisfaction, particularly among low-end products going into retail outlets. It is not unusual to find an LED that claims to replace a 50W halogen spot, but delivers less than half the quantity of light. Countering this problem has already been covered by earlier legislation: the LED retrofit must deliver a certain minimum luminous flux before it can legally claim to replace a particular wattage of traditional lamp. The situation for directional (reflector) lamps is somewhat more complex. Traditionally, these are rated in terms of their beam angle and the luminous intensity in candelas; luminous flux is not generally documented. Owing to the greater optical control possible with advanced LED optics, the same beam angle and candela figures as a halogen reflector lamp can be achieved from a source delivering only half as many lumens. The question is whether this lamp can be considered a true retrofit for halogen. In accent and display installations, LED can deliver a similar lighting effect. In the case of general lighting, however, the user may notice that the average lighting levels in the room have fallen. In such situations dissatisfaction can arise. Therefore, in the new legislation, a minimum useful luminous flux value is defined for each type and wattage of halogen and incandescent reflector lamp, and the LED retrofits must match this value before claims of replacement can be made. Additionally, there are certain other minimum performance standards on matters such as lifetime, rate of early failures, power factor, colour quality and even the maximum allowable colour deviation from lamp-to- lamp. These are all matters that can raise lamp performance to the stipulated minimum performance levels without necessarily
Looking into Legislation
James Hooker, R&D Manager of LED and Special Lamps at the Havells-Sylvania factory in Tienen, Belgium, discusses how new legislation looks set to shake up the LED retrofit market.
increasing product cost. The legislation should be thought of as a mechanism that pushes manufacturers in the direction of good lamp engineering, rather than simply forcing the lowest cost and poor performing lamps out of the European markets. The new measures are expected to be
of great importance for the LED market. Success will depend on whether the market surveillance authorities will rise to the challenge of independently testing products and taking appropriate action where necessary. The UK market is already particularly advanced in this respect, but it remains to be seen whether other countries will follow suit across Europe.
Contact
Havells-Sylvania T: +44 (0) 207 011 9700
www.havells-sylvania.com
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