A brief guide on the main lighting regulations to be known in Europe and Italy, for LED Lighting projects of companies and professionals

 

Modern LED Lighting technologies continue to evolve rapidly. The development of new products for LED lighting systems brings with it news and updates on the certification requirements, to determine the quality of the products and the different applications in specific markets. The certification of LED lighting products requires compliance with a series of reference lighting standards relating to safety, compliance and design of lighting systems and appliances to allow them to be placed on the market. The certification process of LED lighting fixtures involves an initial technical and constructive evaluation, a series of tests and instrumental tests to verify the essential requirements for compliance with the regulations, and a final stage for issuing the certifications.

 

The main regulations for LED lighting in Europe and Italy

LED lighting systems, products and appliances used in Italy and Europe must comply with the guidelines for CE marking and applicable European directives. The technical regulatory framework relating to LED lighting includes the lighting standards of UNI, the Italian National Unification Body, and others of the CEI, the Italian Electrotechnical Committee.

We can frame the main lighting regulations according to some areas:

• Standards relating to performance and requirements (ref. UNI 10840, UNI 11248, UNI 12464);
• Technical standards relating to lighting systems (ref. CEI 64-7 and CEI 64.8);
• Specific rules relating to lighting products (ref. CEI EN 60598).

 

Specifically, the regulatory standard for lighting fixtures is almost entirely made up of the CEI EN 60598: 2015 standards – a set of lighting standards divided into:

 

CEI EN 60598-1: Lighting equipment, part 1: general requirements and tests

This first part of the legislation specifies the general requirements that are applicable to most lighting fixtures, with power supply voltages up to 1000V, together with the related electrical, thermal, mechanical and photobiological safety tests.

 

CEI EN 60598-2: Lighting equipment, part 2: particular requirements

The second parts of the CEI lighting standard indicate, on the other hand, the specific requirements relating to a particular type of luminaire or group of luminaires, powered with voltages not exceeding 1000V, applied in specific contexts and conditions of use.

We can mention, for example:

• Standards relating to single devices: night lights, projectors, portable lamps, neon tubes, light chains, low voltage lamps, etc.
• Regulations relating to groups of luminaires: fixed, recessed, portable, emergency lighting products, with transformers or converters, with low temperatures, etc.
• Regulations for particular applications: lighting equipment for photos and films, for swimming pools, for air treatment, for aquariums, etc.
• Regulations for specific contexts: luminaires for street lighting, for stage and cinema lighting, for hospital and health lighting, etc.

 

Among the other CEI lighting regulations related to products for LED Lighting systems, it is possible to mention:

• EN 62504: standards on LED products and related equipment
• EN 62722: regulations on LED lighting devices
• EN 61347, EN 62384: standards relating to LED power supplies
• EN 62031: standards for general lighting LED modules

 

Choose certified products for LED Lighting applications and projects

When choosing LED Lighting products to apply in lighting systems, you need to be aware of possible safety hazards: electric shock, fire and biological hazards. For example, regarding the danger of electric shock, Class 2 certified LED drivers offer a reduced risk of shock and fire, thanks to their current and voltage limitation. Or again, given that the risk of fire is often due to the production of heat inside the LEDs, it is possible to opt for LED heat sinks to avoid overheating of the electronic components.

Often, an underestimated risk concerns photobiological safety, i.e.exposure to ultraviolet wavelengths of LED lighting systems: the EN 62471 standard was introduced in Europe precisely to establish specific requirements and performances for photobiological risk. As LED technology progresses more and more rapidly, it becomes necessary for companies and professionals working in LED Lighting to rely on industry experts to keep up with the ever-changing safety standards and performance of LED lighting products.

 

Digimax consultancy

In this sense, Digimax consultancy in the world of professional lighting and in particular LED Lighting, together with a wide range of interconnected products within the Lighting supply chain, proves to be successful in creating certified LED lighting solutions for indoor and outdoor environments. The Digimax offer ranges from LED driver power supplies, dimmer control units, LED strips and COB LEDs, lenses and reflectors, LED heat sinks to many other accessories produced by national and international leading companies in the sector such as Mean Well, Snappy, Colors, Citizen and Dalcnet, together with a customized design service for the most varied applications. Digimax also has the XLAB assembly and testing technical laboratory, the Digimax LAB functional and thematic area and the Digimax Showroom exhibition space.

It is always possible to contact Digimax for technical-regulatory advice dedicated to your LED lighting project by filling out the form available on the Digimax website.