LED lights are the latest technology in energy efficient lighting and the next generation of lighting. LED stands for ‘Light Emitting Diode’, a semiconductor device that converts electricity into light. LEDs present many advantages over incandescent light sources including lower energy consumption, longer lifetime, improved physical robustness, smaller size, and faster switching.
The Australian Government is working with states and territories to gradually phase out inefficient incandescent light bulbs.
However, LEDs powerful enough for room lighting are relatively expensive and require more precise current and heat management than compact fluorescent lamp sources of comparable output.
CFA has representatives on the Standards Australia Technical Committee EL-041 Lamps and related equipment, which recently completed work on AS/NZS IEC 62560 Self ballasted LED-lamps for general lighting devices by voltage > 50V – Safety specifications and published by Standards Australia in June. The standard specifies essential safety requirements applicable to self-ballasted LED-lamps. Whilst being an adoption of the International standard, this new standard has more onerous flammability requirements to provide resistance to fire for Australian conditions.
The committee is also working on electrical safety standards for lighting for children, nightlights and recessed lamps.
CFA provides volunteer representatives on Standards Australia Technical Committees as part of the CFA Standards Project; if you are interested in finding out more about the Project and/or becoming a volunteer CFA Standards Representative please contact the Standards Coordinator standards@consumeraction.org.
Photo Credit: kevin dooley (cc)