Electrical Contractor

CODEAPPLICATIONS BY MARK C. ODE

Article 410.6 in the 2014 National Electrical Code (NEC) requires LED retrofit kits to be listed for installation in luminaires. Article 600.3 requires fixed, mobile or portable electric signs, section signs, outline lighting and LED retrofit kits for signs, regardless of voltage, to be listed, provided with installation instructions and installed in conformance with that listing, unless otherwise approved by special permission in writing by the authority having jurisdiction.

Having discussed the NEC installation and listing requirements, the IAEI group was then shown pictures of improper LED-retrofit-kit jobs. Many of these installations were an attempt to upgrade or retrofit existing luminaires to create more energy-efficient lighting. Instead, some of these installations resulted in potential fire or shock hazards.

How could an installation, meant to modernize and provide higher efficiency lighting, go so terribly wrong? Surely an electrical contractor (EC) would not knowingly create a fire or shock hazard. So where did the installers go wrong, and what happened to the electrical inspections designed to ensure electrical safety?

Many of these installations may not have been installed by ECs. Instead, they may have been installed by big-box-store contractors who specialize in retrofits, and they may have occurred without the issuance of electrical permits.

Many electric utilities have pushed
to replace incandescent and fluorescent
luminaires with LED lighting. Rebates
and tax incentives are often offered to
commercial and industrial customers to
encourage these changes. Unfortunately,
Many ECs may not know about listed
retrofit kits for incandescent and fluores-
cent luminaires, recess cans, exit signs,
emergency lights and others. A typical
LED-retrofit-kit luminaire conversion
consists of parts or assemblies intended
for field installation in listed luminaires,
office furnishing luminaires or portable
luminaires. These products have been
investigated to determine that, when
installed in accordance with the manu-
facturer’s instructions, the conversion
continues to comply with the listing
requirements for a complete luminaire.

Conversion kits can include reflector kits and other devices to enhance luminaire operation after the installation of the LED units. Reflector kits are intended to add or replace the reflectors originally installed in fluorescent luminaires and may also involve relocation, removal or replacement of wiring, lampholders and ballasts. The wiring, lampholders, ballasts, LED units and power supplies must still be enclosed inside the luminaire housing in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions as well as with the listing and labeling instructions.

The following information is located
on page 228 in the 2016 UL White Book
as it relates to LED luminaire retrofit
kits in Category IFAR: “These kits con-
sist of LED light sources, installation
instructions, subassemblies (LED driv-
ers, or other parts where appropriate),
luminaire marking labels, and assembly
aids (where appropriate) to facilitate
the replacement of the existing light
sources for complete luminaires. The
kits may also consist of the replacement
and/or upgrade of existing LED lumi-
naire components, such as LED drivers,
LED arrays, and other required parts,
for complete luminaires. The retrofit
installation may require modifications
to the luminaire in accordance with the
installation instructions provided with
the retrofit kits.”
The retrofit kits may be intended for
specific luminaire models identified in
the installation instructions or one or
more generic-type luminaires that meet
specific criteria identified in the instal-
lation-kit instructions. In addition, the
retrofit kits may be offered by the origi-
nal equipment manufacturer (OEM), or
by manufacturers engaged in producing
retrofit kits for the general market.

A luminaire that is modified so it can no longer accept non-LED lamps has a label—provided by the retrofit kit manufacturer—affixed to the luminaire. It must be visible during relamping and indicate the luminaire has been modified and can no longer operate the originally intended lamp(s). In addition, the luminaire markings must identify the replacement LED lamp type and model to be used together with the manufacturer’s name and ordering information.

Remember, retrofit kits are required to be listed and must be installed based on the installation instructions included in the kit.

The Ins and Outs of Safety
Improper LED retrofit installations can be hazardous

IN MARCH, I ATTENDED a Central Arizona Chapter International Association of Electrical Inspectors (IAEI) meeting. A discussion ensued about the growing number of improperly installed and uncertified light-emitting diode (LED) retrofit lighting kits. In fact, Underwriters Laboratories (UL) just issued a public notice to warn of these dangers. The notice can be found in the newsroom at www.ul.com.