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.
OD E is a lead engineering instructor at Underwriters Laboratories Inc., based in Peoria, Ariz.
He can be reached at 919.949.2576 and mark.c.ode@us.ul.com. I S T
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