While there are some excellent LED products available, the Australian market is also being subjected to under performing product that does not live up to its supplier’s claims.

In its December 2009 edition, Lighting Art and Science carried an article detailing experiences in testing LEDs at the Queensland University of Technology. In a statement typical of recent informed commentary from around the world, the authors say, “Many (LEDs) perform poorly or have failed to meet the specifications for the application that they were designed for.”

Such poor performing product can undermine confidence among users and discourage early adopters of the technology. This underperforming product has the potential to delay or otherwise compromise the substantial energy savings potential of LEDs.

Further, while the International Electrotechnology Commission and other organisations are preparing new LED standards, solid state lighting technology standardisation both internationally and within Australia remains immature.

For these reasons, Lighting Council Australia has introduced a quality program for Lighting Council Australia and Lighting Council New Zealand member companies supplying LED products, in which a minimum set of critical parameters are reported by participating suppliers to accurately reflect the performance of their products. Scheme participants then provide test reports or other evidence to Lighting Council Australia verifying their claims.

After this, Lighting Council Australia will then register the product on a searchable database on its website (www.lightingcouncil.com.au) and authorises use of a label owned by Lighting Council indicating conformance to the parameters.

The critical parameters appearing on the SSL Quality Scheme Label are:

• Luminaire efficacy;
• Light output of the luminaire;
• Measured input power;
• Test voltage;
• Correlated colour temperature; and,
• Colour rendering index.

When the scheme’s requirements are met Lighting Council Australia issues a label for a specific luminaire or range of luminaires. The label may be then used in product literature and advertising.

Miniature versions of the label are issued for product boxes and for attaching to the product cable.
The Solid State Lighting Quality Scheme is explained in detail on Lighting Council’s website www.lightingcouncil.com.au

Contact:

www.lightingcouncil.com.au