The DesignLights Consortium (DLC) released the final version of its Technical Requirements for LED-based Horticultural Lighting: Version 2.0. The update will continue the industry transition from traditional lighting data and metrics to horticultural-specific lighting data and metrics that best represent horticultural lighting performance. The changes will take effect March 31, 2021.
After analysis of stakeholder comments on Draft 1 of the policy released in May and in order to allow continued development of the nascent horticultural lighting market, the DLC determined that a change in the efficacy threshold for the Horticultural Lighting Qualified Products List (QPL) is not warranted at this time. The current photosynthetic photon efficacy (PPE) threshold of ≥ 1.90 µmol × J -1 will remain constant with V2.0. The DLC will review this aspect of the Technical Requirements in future versions of the specification.
“In continued support of development of this industry, reflective of both the latest science and market trends, the new version of the DLC’s Horticultural Lighting Technical Requirements contains key updates in the benchmarks manufacturers must meet for listing products on our QPL,” says DLC executive director and CEO Christina Halfpenny.
Among updates in V2.0 of the Horticultural Technical Requirements is the requirement that QPL products be certified by an Occupational Safety and Health Administration Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory, or Standards Council of Canada-recognized body, to the ASNI/UL 8800 standard for horticultural lighting equipment. The update also requires that manufacturers submit performance data in the form of a new industry standard for reporting aspects such as spectral content and intensity distribution (the Illuminating Engineering Society’s (IES) TM-33-18 document).
After gathering stakeholder comment with release of V2.0 Draft 1 in May, the DLC will also implement two changes designed to reduce testing burden and simplify the Horticultural QPL application review process. These include family grouping, which allows manufacturers to provide limited testing of the worst-case models within a product family group that demonstrate compliance with DLC requirements, and private labeling, which allows listing of products under multiple organizations and brands that are identical to the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) products already listed on the QPL.
With V2.0 the DLC is introducing two new optional reporting measures intended to convey flux and efficacy performance information across the range of electromagnetic radiation often associated with growth and development effects in plants (280-800nm). While not required for DLC qualification, manufacturers will have the option of reporting these measures for listing on the QPL under the V2.0 requirements.