LEDVANCE goes the extra mile for wholesalers complying to new lighting regulations

UK wholesalers will need to follow new SLR & ELR plans to monitor energy-efficiency in lighting products – and LEDVANCE is providing support.

LEDVANCE is looking ahead and helping wholesalers to prepare for the new eco-design and energy label regulations by smoothing their path towards technical and legal compliance when specifying LEDVANCE products. The new Single Lighting Regulation (SLR) and Energy Labelling Regulation (ELR) represent the next major step towards efficient and climate-friendly lighting with defined new regulations for the sustainability of lighting products and the labelling of their energy efficiency. In addition, the new European Product Registry for Energy Labelling (EPREL) centralises all relevant information for all light sources on the market for the first time.

Commenting on the updates, Nelo Neves, Head of Trade Sales UK and Ireland, LEDVANCE said, “LEDVANCE expressly welcomes new regulations that promote sustainable lighting design, so we are actively supporting our partners with the development of new and even more energy-efficient light sources with measures and information that will guide wholesalers through the changes. We ensure wholesalers can recommend and offer suitable and high-quality LED replacements for the phased-out products in good time and all existing LEDVANCE products have already been entered in the EPREL.”

The new regulations give wholesalers a lot to think about, but LEDVANCE aims to smooth the process towards both technical and legal compliance. For instance, LEDVANCE ensures complete data management and registration of all LEDVANCE light sources in the EPREL, including all required data with full compliance for all labelling and information requirements on packaging, product data sheets and in operation instructions. In addition, LEDVANCE is making energy-efficient LED replacements available promptly for affected products and continues a reliable supply of traditional lamps, as permitted by law. The company will continue to develop its portfolio for even greater energy efficiency and climate-friendly products.

Since taking the decision in 2009 to ban incandescent lamps, the EU and UK have been phasing out less energy-efficient light sources in several stages. 1 September 2021 will begin the phase-out of CFLi lamps with integrated control gear, certain high-voltage and low-voltage halogen lamps and T12/T2 fluorescent lamps. 1 September 2023 will launch the phase-out of T8 fluorescent lamps and halogen pins.

A crucial element of the new regulations is the redefining of the areas of application into ‘light sources’ and ‘containing products.’ The regulations now refer exclusively to light sources and separate control gears, instead of to lamps, LED modules and luminaires. ‘Light sources’ are electrically operated products that emit light, including all traditional and LE lamps for general lighting, but also fully integrated luminaires from which the light sources cannot be removed using commonly available tools without permanent damage. The new SLR and ELR regulations apply only to light sources. Conventional luminaires with replaceable or removable light sources and control gears, on the other hand, are considered as ‘containing products,’ and such luminaires do not have to carry an energy label. LEDVANCE luminaires are generally containing products.

The new Energy Label Regulation gives existing products a new, updated label that classifies the product according to ecological and sustainable criteria, among other things. The highest energy efficiency class was previously A++, but light sources in this class now fall into the new C to F classes. The products are only being reclassified on a different calculation basis and the new label does not mean they have been downgraded. 1 September 2021 will be the start of the transition phase for the energy labels, with the old labels now allowed only for products placed on the market before this date. After 1 March 2023, the end of the transition phase, only the new label is allowed. Existing products will receive an updated label. Each light source is required to be listed on the EPREL database from 1 September 2021.

LEDVANCE lighting solutions come in environmentally friendly cardboard packaging with all relevant product information immediately visible on the outside of the box.

For more information on the new SLR and ELR regulations, visit the LEDVANCE website and download a handy guide here.