Regulation of lighting in Australia

Bryan DouglasCEOLighting Council Australia

Presentation Topics

Brief introduction to Lighting Council Australia

Energy efficiency regulation of lighting in Australia

Future energy efficiency regulation

Electrical safety regulation

EMC/EMI regulation

SPARC International Lighting Event 2015 – Sydney

Lighting Council Australia

• Peak body for Australia’s lighting industry• Formed in 2001• 98 member companies

- luminaire manufacturers/suppliers- lamp suppliers- SSL suppliers- control gear manufacturers/suppliers- retailers

• Extensive involvement in standardisation – Standards Australia and IEC

• Work closely with Australian regulators – energy efficiency, electrical safety, EMC/EMI

• Member of Global Lighting Association

Code of Conduct binding on all members• Emphasis on supply of energy efficient, safe product that conforms to

Australia’s regulatory requirements• Adherence to World Economic Forum’s Partnering Against Corruption

Initiative (PACI Principles)

Energy efficiency regulation

Lighting products currently subjected to energy efficiency regulation:

Ballasts - ferromagnetic and electronic (EEI requirement aligns with EU)Fluorescent lamps (regulations introduced to phase-out halophosphor T8 lamps and limit Hg content)Extra low voltage (nominal 12V) ferromagnetic and electronic transformersTungsten filament lamps - incandescent and halogen (ELV, mains voltage and reflector lamps)CFLi Lamps

Product registration – energy efficeincy

Products regulated for energy efficiency in Australia must be compliant with applicable standards or government determination, registered and meet a number of legal requirements before they can be sold or offered for supply.

To apply for registration complete an online application form on the Energy Rating Registration Site –www.energyrating.gov.au

Product registration – energy efficiency

Steps to register a product:1. Check if product is regulated for energy efficiency and

find out the legal requirementsSee Australian GEMS Determinations at www.energyrating.gov.au

2. Test the product or obtain test results from the manufacturer

3. Check if a registration fee applies4. Log in to Energy Rating Registration Site and complete

product registration application5. Allow 28 days for application to be processed

Future energy efficiency regulation

Australian Government has released a Draft Product Profile – detailed, 68 page documentExplores options for future regulation of incandescent, halogen and compact fluorescent lamps. Options include:

No action (business as usual)

Increase MEPS stringency

Endorsement labelling

Regulating lighting design

Information campaigns

Aligning MEPS levels with European Union

Phasing-out ELV halogen lamps

Future energy efficiency regulation

New product profile covering LED efficiency and quality expected shortly

No visibility on what the LED product profile might recommend. However:

anticipated large market for CFLi did not materialise after phasing-out of GLS lamps in 2009

regulator concerned about number of halogen lamps in Australian homes (estimated 300 million)

hence the regulator is predisposed to phase-out halogen lamps as soon as possible

Future energy efficiency regulation

Lighting Council Australia’s position on future regulation

Supportive of MEPS because helps create fairness in market place, removes poorest performing products and provides an authority to undertake enforcement

Australia should harmonise with future EU Directives and IEC standards

Retain current regulations - with no increased stringency requirements - until LED products and pricing are ready to replace MR16 halogen downlights

No MEPS requirements for luminaires

Increase monitoring, verification and enforcement

Electrical Safety

Minimum standards for electrical equipment

Joint Australian/New Zealand standard AS/NZS 3820:2009 contains requirements to ensure electrical equipment does not endanger safety of people, domestic animals or property - similar in concept to EU Low Voltage Directive.Suppliers may be required to provide documentation such as certification or test reports.AS/NZS 60598.1:2013 (IEC 7th ed.) specifies general and safety requirements for luminaires with related tests for classification, marking, mechanical and electrical construction. Products are tested/certified against part 2 of this standard.

Electrical Safety

LED drivers• Almost all LED drivers or modules are considered high-risk electrical

items and are known as ‘prescribed Items’ (sometimes called ‘declared articles’).

• They must comply with mandatory safety requirements before the product can be offered for sale in Australia.

• Prescribed items include all drivers that are separate modules—that is, standalone and external to a luminaire e.g. a LED driver used in a similar fashion to a power supply (transformer or converter) used with 50W MR 16 halogen lamps.

• The current standard for safety of LED drivers is AS/NZS 61347.1 and AS/NZS 61347-2-13.

• In addition the luminaire must comply with product specific part 2 of AS/NZS 60598 and with Part 1 ‘General requirements’.

Electrical Safety

Electrical Equipment Safety Scheme - www.erac.gov.au

All electrical equipment supply companies must register on a national database ($200 per annum)In registering the company must declare that product placed on the Australian market is safeAll product will carry Regulatory Compliance Mark (RCM)

New product – RCM mandatory from 1 March 2014Existing product – RCM voluntary until March 2016

EMC/EMI

All electrical and electronic equipment, unless specifically exempt, must comply with Australia’s EMC Framework.

Compliance is to CISPR 15 to 300MHz – (same as EU). Supplier registration and declaration are required.

It is now mandatory for medium risk product, such as switch mode power supply products – including electronic transformers, ballasts, LED lamps, drivers etc - to comply to 30-300MHz limits.

EMC/EMI

EMC/EMI regulations

Changes to labelling arrangements

The three existing compliance marks (C-Tick, A-Tick and RCM) are being consolidated into a single compliance mark—the RCM.

Timetable for implementation

New RCM labelling arrangements commenced 1 March 2013.

From 1 March 2013, the new arrangements applied only to first-time suppliers

From 1 March 2016, the arrangements apply to all suppliers.

Australia’s foremost lighting industry event – organised by industry, for industryExhibition – 70% of space soldWorld-class conference of invited international and Australian speakersGala Dinner at Sydney Town HallCoincides with Vivid Sydney – a major festival of light, music and ideas

SPARC International Lighting Event27‐29 May 2015

Sydney Exhibition Centre, Glebe Island