NEMA/ANSI C78 Committee Developing New CCT & Color Standards

The NEMA/ANSI C78 Committee for Electric Lamp Standards has two working groups developing chromaticity standards addressing non-white light (NWL).

 C78.377 working group

This working group is revising the ANSI C78.377-2017 standard by adding 1800K and 2000K nominal and extended quadrangles.

C78.378 working group

 This working group is creating a new ANSI C78.378 standard defining long wavelength non-white light (NWL) LED sources, such as phosphor converted (pc) amber and direct emission (de) amber, that don’t have chromaticities falling within the 2000K and 1800K quadrangles. Color names and chromaticity metrics will be defined in this standard to differentiate pc-amber and de-amber from each other. Both of these standard revision efforts are informed by the LEUKOS paper Tony Esposito and Leora Radetsky published in 2023 suggesting specification methods for standardization for non-white light (NWL).

Defining 1800K, 2000K, pc-amber, and de-amber NWL chromaticities for outdoor lighting products will impact the lighting industry in a variety of ways:

A specifiable alternative to High Pressure Sodium (HPS) lamps:

• 1800K LEDs provide a specifiable alternative to HPS lamps, which have remained exempt from mercury bans due to lack of clear replacements.
• This allows for mercury-free lighting solutions while maintaining a similar visual effect.

Preservation of legacy look:

• 1800K, 2000K, pc-amber, and de-amber can recreate the warm, amber glow associated with HPS lamps.
• This addresses resistance to white LED replacements in certain applications.

Improved color rendering:

• LEDs at 1800K and 2000K CCTs offer higher CRI compared to HPS (CRI over 70 vs. less than 25).

Energy efficiency and control:

• LED technology allows for instant on/off, dimming, and smart lighting controls.

Environmental benefits:

• Lower glare.
• Reduced impact on flora and fauna.
• Less blue light emission and reduced light pollution.

Standardization and quality assurance:

• The updates to ANSI C78.377 and C78.378 will provide specifications for 1800K, 2000K, pc-amber, and de-amber that ensure consistency between manufacturers and users of these products.

Expanded options for lighting designers:

• Provides more choices for outdoor lighting applications, especially in areas where warmer light is preferred.

Compatibility with existing guidelines:

• The DLC plans to accept 1800K, 2000K, pc-amber, and de-amber products that comply with the updated standard into their SSL and Luna Technical Requirements.

Longer lifespan:

• LED products at these CCTs can offer significantly longer operational life compared to HPS lamps.

Market expansion:

• Creates new opportunities for LED manufacturers to develop products for specific outdoor lighting niches

Image: Proposed 2000K and 1800K CCT Quadrangles in LEUKOS 2023 paper by Esposito & Radetsky.

David Shiller

David Shiller is the Publisher of LightNOW, and President of Lighting Solution Development, a North American consulting firm providing business development services to advanced lighting manufacturers. The ALA awarded David the Pillar of the Industry Award. David has co-chaired ALA’s Engineering Committee since 2010. David established MaxLite’s OEM component sales into a multi-million dollar division. He invented GU24 lamps while leading ENERGY STAR lighting programs for the US EPA. David has been published in leading lighting publications, including LD+A, enLIGHTenment Magazine, LEDs Magazine, and more.

See Full Bio