In this issue we:
- Remind readers of the last opportunity to comment on the revised IEC standard for measuring CFL performance
- Pass on an invitation to laboratories to join the IEA 4E SSL Annex’s inter-laboratory comparison testing to strengthen capacity in LED testing
- Provide information on the forthcoming IEC meetings in Milan
We also continue the series of special features on national standards and labelling programmes from around the region with a feature on India.
Last chance to comment on IEC standard for CFL performance requirements before voting for adoption by the IEC
IEC 60969, Self-ballasted lamps for general lighting services – Performance requirements has entered the Committee Draft stage. This represents the last stage in the development of an IEC standard when significant technical changes to the content of the standard can be requested. Readers are therefore encouraged to review the latest draft of the standard and submit any comments via their National Standards Committee before the closing date for comments on 14 December 2012.
This is of particular relevance for lites.asia members as discussions in lites.asia meetings and webinars have identified a number of concerns with the current draft standard. Concerns have been expressed that the current version of the standard is not supportive of some of the goals for promotion of efficient and quality lighting within member countries. In particular the current proposal for compliance with lifetime claims was highlighted, but other issues have also been noted, such as the lack of reference to mercury.
Invitation for laboratories to join the IEA 4E SSL Annex’s 2013 Interlaboratory Comparison
On 22 October 2012, the IEA 4E SSL Annex announced the launch of its 2013 Interlaboratory Comparison of SSL product testing. The announcement contains an open invitation for around 100 SSL laboratories worldwide to participate in interlaboratory testing to develop capacity and verify the proficiency of laboratories worldwide for measuring SSL products. Participation in the Interlaboratory Comparison may be used as evidence of the testing competence of a laboratory similar to a proficiency test for SSL testing accreditation programs by relevant accreditation bodies. The Annex encourages laboratories that are currently testing, or wish to test SSL products, to get involved.
The IEA 4E SSL Annex hopes that this work could help to promote the establishment of SSL testing accreditation worldwide and ultimately lead to a robust and reliable international network of laboratories proficient in SSL testing so that end-users can rely on information given in test reports.
For more information on the 2013 Interlaboratory Comparison, see the 2013 IC pages of the SSL Annex website, where all relevant protocols and documents are available, as well as a link to the on-line application form for laboratories wishing to participate.
IEC TC34 panel meetings in Milan
The next IEC panel meetings will be hosted by the Italian National Committee, CEI (Comitato Elettrotecnico Italiano), on 14-25 January 2013 in Milan, Italy.
These technical meetings provide the opportunity for discussion of the ongoing IEC standards for various lighting products. The full meeting schedule can be found on the lites.asia website but it is expected that the LED meetings on 15-18 January 2013 and the CFL meetings on 22 and 23 January 2013 will be of most interest to lites.asia members. In particular, a half day has been set aside on 23 January 2013 for discussion of the proposal to develop an IEC technical specification defining tiers of performance for CFLs that received strong support from delegates at the lites.asia meeting in New Delhi in October 2012 in the form of an agreed lites.asia resolution.
Readers interested in participating in the meetings should contact their National Standards Committee who will submit their request to participate to the organisers.
Dates for your Diary
14-25 January 2013 – Milan, Italy
Next lites.asia meeting
The seventh lites.asia meeting will be held in April or May 2013 and discussions are ongoing to finalise the date and venue.
Special Focus: Lighting Standards and Labels in India
Continuing our series of special features on national standards and labelling programmes from around the region, in this issue we are pleased to provide highlights on some of the many initiatives India is taking on lighting. More details can be found in the Indian section of the National Standards and Labelling pages on the lites.asia website.
Background
The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) was established by the Ministry of Power in 2002.
BEE identified key ‘Thrust Areas’ - activities necessary to realise the wide range of energy efficiency initiatives legislated in Energy Conservation Act (ECA) 2001. One such area has been the development and implementation of Standards and Labelling (S&L) programs for equipment and appliances. The program has focused on the development of voluntary labelling schemes for a number of products, including lighting. Some labelling schemes have since become mandatory, including that for tubular fluorescent lamps.
Lighting Phase-out
Under India’s Bachat Lamp Yojana program, 400 million incandescent lamps will be replaced by CFLs. Whilst not an outright ban on incandescent lamps, the energy savings and resultant carbon emissions savings will be about 55 million tonnes per year. In order to make CFLs more affordable, India will receive funding from the Clean Development Mechanism of the Kyoto Protocol. Only 60W and 100W household incandescent lamps will be replaced under the scheme.
More recent developments include strong Government support for the uptake of LED lamps in India with a 2010 BEE white paper on The Economic Case for Stimulating LED lighting in India and a number of regional and pilot schemes.
Test method and performance standards
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is the national standards organization, which has been instrumental in setting overall voluntary quality standards for appliances and products. BIS works through Committees of technical experts and stakeholders, such as manufacturers, government agencies, consumer societies, and testing facilities to draft these standards. The standards development process is shown graphically below.
Test Method Standards
India is a full member of the IEC, with the Bureau of Indian Standards operating as the National Committee. They are P-members (full voting members) of TC34 and SC34A which focus on lighting. In most cases, India uses IEC standards as guides and adapts them to Indian requirements. Once finalized, the standards are given exclusive IS numbers, for example, IS 15111, Part I and Part II for CFLs. Where standards are adopted directly, they carry dual IEC/IS numbers. India has test method standards in place for:
- Self ballasted lamps for general lighting services
- Tubular Fluorescent Lamps for General Lighting
- Tungsten filament general service electric lamps (up to 100 W)
- Solid -State Light (LED) Sources
Performance Standards
India currently has mandatory MEPS for CFLs and voluntary MEPS for fluorescent lamps and has adopted IEC performance standards for LEDs.
Labels
India currently has a mandatory label for tubular fluorescent lamps and a voluntary label for CFLs. To increase consumer awareness, the Government of India launched an eco-labelling scheme known as `Ecomark' in 1991 for easy identification of environment-friendly products. However, the scheme does not currently include lighting products.
Other measures to stimulate lighting efficiency
Additional measures that have been put in place to stimulate lighting efficiency include:
- Awareness raising
- Establishment of Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL)
- BESCOM Efficient Lighting Program (BELP)
- Utility programs
- State Development Agency-supported activities
- Bombay Suburban Electric Supply (BSES) Safe Disposal of CFLs Scheme
- Gifting of CFLs to Customers to Encourage Reporting of Power Theft
- Bombay Suburban Electric Supply (BSES) Buy One Get 1 Free CFL Scheme
- Bombay Suburban Electric Supply (BSES) Buy One Get 1 Free LED Scheme
- Bachat Lamp Yojna
- LED Village Campaign and LED demonstration projects
- BEE Facilitating Market Transformation of LED Lamps in India study
- Coordinated actions based on the recommendations of the National Manufacturing Competitiveness Council (NMCC) report, The Economic Case to Stimulate LED Lighting in India
- Establishment of Elcoma LED Lighting Chapter