US DOE Finalized GSL Test Procedure

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has finalized and published clarifications to the test procedures for General Service Lamps (GSLs), including changes to how tunable white lamps are tested and expanded definitions for ballasts. The effective date of this rule was initially set for February 18, 2025, but was later temporarily delayed to March 21, 2025. The compliance deadline remains July 15, 2025.

General service lamps (GSLs) include general service incandescent lamps (GSILs), compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), general service light-emitting diode (LED) lamps, organic light-emitting diode (OLED) lamps, and any other lamps that are used to satisfy lighting applications traditionally served by GSILs. GSLs are used in general lighting applications and account for the majority of installed lighting in the residential sector.

In this final rule, DOE is adopting clarifications to Appendix W, “Uniform Test Method for Measuring the Energy Consumption of Compact Fluorescent Lamps;” Appendix BB, “Uniform Test Method for Measuring the Input Power, Lumen Output, Lamp Efficacy, Correlated Color Temperature (CCT), Color Rendering Index (CRI), Power Factor, Time to Failure, and Standby Mode Power of Integrated Light-Emitting Diode (LED) Lamps;” and appendix DD, “Uniform Test Method for Measuring the Energy Consumption and Energy Efficiency of General Service Lamps That Are Not General Service Incandescent Lamps, Compact Fluorescent Lamps, or Integrated LED Lamps.” DOE is adopting clarifications to appendices W, BB, and DD to specify: (1) lamps must not be tested as colored lamps; and (2) lamps with additional components that do not affect the light output of the lamp ( e.g., camera, speaker) must be tested with as many components turned off as possible.

Additionally, in this final rule, DOE is adopting clarifications to appendix DD as follows: (1) remove the instruction to operate non-integrated LED lamps at the manufacturer-declared input voltage and current; (2) specify that non-integrated lamps be tested on a fluorescent lamp ballast, HID lamp ballast, or external LED driver, in an order of preference based on being on a manufacturer-provided compatibility list and/or commercially available; (3) specify the starting method and ballast factors for the fluorescent lamp ballasts used in testing; and (4) specify that fluorescent lamp ballasts, HID lamp ballasts, or external LED drivers used in testing operate the maximum number of lamps and instructions for calculating individual lamp values where more than one lamp is operated.

The complete publication of the new GSL test procedure can be found in the Federal Register, here.

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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.

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