UL publishes first safety standard for LED lighting products and components

NORTHBROOK, USA: Underwriters Laboratories (UL), a world leader in safety testing and certification services, announced today the publication of ANSI/UL 8750, Safety Standard for Light Emitting Diode (LED) Equipment for Use in Lighting Products.

The first edition standard creates a global platform of safety requirements for LED lighting equipment as well as the entire supply chain of components used in lighting products employing LED technology.

"UL 8750 provides manufacturers a single, much-needed safety standard for testing their LED products and related components sold in the United States," said Alberto Uggetti, general manager, UL Lighting Business. "The new standard also gives consumers confidence that LED products bearing the UL Mark have been tested for safety."

With the push for energy efficiency and clean technologies worldwide, LEDs are being used in an increasing number of lighting products ranging from general illumination and pool lighting to electric signs and holiday lights. According to Strategies

Unlimited, the global market for LEDs is expected to exceed $5 billion by 2012, largely due to market innovations as well as significant energy and cost savings. As LED technology has evolved in newer, high voltage and light output applications, potential safety concerns -- including the risk of overheating, electric shock and fire -- needed to be addressed.

In response to this need, UL hosted a lighting stakeholder summit with more than 100 representatives of industry, government and research and testing organizations to discuss the proliferation of LED technology and its future use in lighting design and manufacturing.

Using the insight gained from the summit and along with its more than 80 years of lighting safety experience, UL published the first of three Outlines of Investigations, or safety requirements, in January 2007, which eventually became UL 8750.

UL provides global testing capacity and capabilities including a state-of-the-art testing facility where products can be tested to both national (UL) and international (IEC) standards, providing its customers with global market access. In addition to safety testing and certification, UL is the only Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) to conduct energy efficiency testing of LED products.

LED technology is and will continue to be an important part of UL's global lighting business. UL developed its first standard for lighting back in the early 1920s and adopted standards during other transformative periods in lighting, such as widespread use of fluorescent lighting. Now UL tests and certifies all types of lighting products, components and accessories globally to more than 30 safety and performance standards.