This piece was originally published in the March/April 2019 issue of electroindustry.

Michael Erbsfeld, Program Manager–Lighting Systems Standards, NEMA

NEMA is the Secretariat for The American National Standards Lighting Group (ANSLG).  This group is comprised of three Accredited Standards Committees (ASC): ASC C78 Electric Lamps, ASC C81 Bases, Holders, and Gauges, and ASC C82 Electric Ballasts and Drivers.  These three ASCs cover lighting technology from incandescent to Solid State.

2018 was a dynamic year for the ANSLG.  ASC C78 published 13 Standards, which were a mix of two new Standards, two revisions, and nine reaffirmations. To begin 2019 the committee has already published eleven reaffirmations and is anticipating the publication of (2) new Standards, ANSI C78.53 - Performance Specifications for LED Direct Replacement Lamps and ANSI C78.54 - Specification Sheets for Tubular Fluorescent Replacement and Retrofit LED Lamps.

ASC C81 spent 2018 drafting revisions to ANSI C81.61-2017 and ANSI C81.62-2017, which cover lamp bases and holders, respectively.  These two revisions, to be published in the first half of 2019, will add new base & holder systems for Tubular LED (TLED) lamps including variants for non-grounded and low-voltage TLEDs.

In 2018, ASC C82 began tackling test methods for Standby Power and Dimming Energy Efficiency for LED Drivers. Dimming LED Drivers are a critical energy-saving strategy and driver designers, testing houses, and regulators were lacking a measurement technique for energy estimation. The C82 committee has also been drafting a suite of Standards, the C82.77-X series, which covers Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC).  EMC is becoming much more relevant as the number of connected devices increases exponentially and the potential for electromagnetic interference increases along with it.

The ASC’s will continue to be busy in 2019 with publication activity expected from all three.  This will consist of a mix of reaffirmations and revisions, as well as some new Standards such as proposed ANSI C82.15 which deals with LED Driver Robustness.

Participation in the ANSI Lighting activities is open to everyone and does not require NEMA membership.  However, an annual working fee is assessed. There are two semi-annual meetings as a committee, but most of the Standards work is accomplished by teleconference.

NEMA's Lighting Systems Division, as the secretariat of ANSI's ASC C78 for Electric Lamps, ANSI's ASC C81 for Bases & Holders, and ANSI's ASC C82 for Ballasts & Drivers is always looking for industry experts to participate in Standards development activities. NEMA is specifically seeking experts for C78 in the underrepresented categories of ‘User’ and ‘General Interest’, for C81 in the underrepresented categories of ‘Producer’ and ‘General Interest’, and for C82 in the underrepresented categories of ‘User’ and ‘General Interest’. Please contact NEMA at nemalighting@nema.org if you are interested and indicate your interest category and area of expertise.