The peak body for Australia’s lighting industry has released a practical guide for assessing LEDs and LED suppliers.

A Guide to Choosing LED Products and Suppliers provides a checklist which includes information on safety, electromagnetic compatibility, quality, warranty, component compatibility and installation.

In the section dealing with electrical safety, for example, information is provided on how to check registration of LED products under Australia’s new Electrical Equipment Safety Scheme. In the section on performance readers are advised how to verify such critical parameters as power consumption, light output and luminous efficacy. The section on component compatibility provides information on assessing whether the LED will work with components such as dimmers.

Lighting Council Australia chief executive Bryan Douglas says that the guide has been published in response to market demand for independent information at a time of profound change in lighting technology and the lighting industry.

“While the technology has developed rapidly in recent times and there is now excellent product available, the fact remains that there are many sub-standard LEDs in the Australian market,” he says.

“Sadly there are also many sub-standard suppliers peddling LED wares who know little and care less about Australia’s regulatory environment for lighting products.”

“There are also many products in the market which fail to meet the performance claims of their suppliers,” Bryan says.

The guide, which is intended for commercial users of LEDs, is in PDF format and may be downloaded from the News section on Lighting Council Australia’s website: http://www.lightingcouncil.com.au/pdf/news/A%20Guide%20to%20Choosing%20LED%20Products%20and%20Suppliers.pdf