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(ROSSLYN, Va.)—The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) has published LSD 40-2008 Failure Modes for Self-Ballasted Compact Fluorescent Lamps—A NEMA Update. This NEMA Lighting Systems Division white paper addresses concerns that self-ballasted compact fluorescent lamps (SBCFLs) may present a possible safety hazard when they reach their “end of useful life.”

NEMA estimates that in 2006 more than 180 million SBCFLs were sold in the U.S., many of them to residential consumers. The vast majority of compact fluorescent lamps pose no safety concerns even though third-party safety agencies, such as UL, CSA, and ESA, have reported complaints from consumers regarding failure modes of SBCFLs

According to Pamela Horner, NEMA Lamp Section chair, LSD 40 addresses these concerns and explains in simplified terms why SBCFLs have different failure modes from normal incandescent lamps; how existing product standards meet safety requirements; and what the industry, standards development organizations, and third-party safety agencies have done and are doing to minimize any potential safety risk from SBCFLs .

“SBCFLs are quickly being adopted by homeowners since they only require one fourth to one third of the operating power consumed by a standard incandescent lamp, last six to ten times as long under typical conditions, and significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions produced by utility power plants,” Horner said. “Residential consumers have generally accepted that SBCFLs look different and have more application restrictions when compared to the traditional incandescent lamp which has been in use for more than 100 years.”

“Other differences exist as well,” Horner said, “but, overall, these differences have been accepted as the consumer becomes more familiar with SBCFL operating characteristics. The intrinsic benefits of replacing an incandescent lamp with a SBCFL are significant for the home owner, the utility, the national and local energy supply, and the environment. Remember that in the early days of incandescent lighting, consumers also had to become accustomed to the different characteristics presented by a new source of illumination in contrast to candles, oil lamps, and gas mantels.”

LSD 40-2008 Failure Modes for Self-Ballasted Compact Fluorescent Lamps—A NEMA Update may be downloaded at no charge by visiting NEMA’s website www.nema.org/stds/LSD40.cfm.

NEMA is the trade association of choice for the electrical manufacturing industry. Founded in 1926 and headquartered near Washington, D.C., its approximately 450 member companies manufacture products used in the generation, transmission and distribution, control, and end-use of electricity. These products are used in utility, medical imaging, industrial, commercial, institutional, and residential applications. Domestic production of electrical products sold worldwide exceeds $120 billion. In addition to its headquarters in Rosslyn, Virginia, NEMA also has offices in Beijing, São Paulo, and Mexico City.

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Press/Public Relations Contacts:

NEMA Communications Department

Email: communications@nema.org

Phone: (703) 841-3225

Fax: (703) 841-3325