DLC: A Performance Test to Help Ensure Incentives

LDS 7 1 UL Hans 400

Jan 12, 2021

By Dr. Hans Laschefski, industry marketing manager, UL’s Lighting division

If you intend to sell your lighting products in North America, please note that many U.S. and Canadian utilities rely on the DesignLights Consortium (DLC) Qualified Product List (QPL) to provide utility rebates to end customers of professional applications.

The DLC is a nonprofit organization that partners with utilities and energy efficiency program members, manufacturers, lighting designers, and federal, state and local entities to establish specifications and educate the industry. You will find a summary of the incentive programs in the resources menu of www.DesignLights.org. Such programs are available for energy-efficient solid-state (LED) lighting solutions, horticultural luminaires and networked lighting control (NLC) systems (a combination of sensors, network interfaces and controllers that effect lighting changes in luminaires, retrofit kits or lamps).

Within the solid-state lighting program, you will find various requirements leading either to a DLC premium or standard listing of the product. For the premium listing, the luminaire must meet higher efficacy and lumen maintenance requirements and must also provide a driver in-situ and information about integral controls. The driver needs to be designed to last at least 50,000 hours based on case temperature measurements and manufacturer documentation. The idea behind this is obvious and useful. The product on the QPL should satisfy both the expectation of the customer buying  the LED products and shouldn’t fail in a short amount of time due to electronical problems.

The DLC QPL requirements for all three product categories are regularly updated. For the NLC systems, the DLC released Version 5 (NLC5) on June 23, 2020. It incorporates cybersecurity testing requirements and leads to a delisting of only NLC4 approved systems without a cybersecurity test from the QPL after Feb. 28, 2022. The DLC cybersecurity requirements are in line with our expectations for UL´s IoT Security Rating. UL’s IoT rating determines the cybersecurity level of a product and offers the manufacturer an opportunity to prove their attentiveness to cybersecurity aspects for their IoT connected luminaires and systems. At the same time, with the full IoT rating service, you have an option for UL Marketing Claim Verification — at a Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum or Diamond levels — to distinguish your cybersecure product from the competition. This program is called UL Verify, and more information is available HERE.

At our recognized laboratories we can provide independent, third-party testing that is key to eligibility and required for manufacturers to apply for DLC performance and quality recognition. In Europe, the tests can be performed in our UL lighting laboratory in Carugate, Italy. For cybersecurity testing, a UL-laboratory in Frankfurt, Germany, is available.

Source

Related Articles


Changing Scene

  • LEDVANCE Expands Ontario Presence with New Specification Agent

    LEDVANCE Expands Ontario Presence with New Specification Agent

    LEDVANCE is pleased to announce the appointment of Sterling Architectural Products Ltd. (Sterling Lights) as their new specification agent in Ontario. This partnership strengthens LEDVANCE’s presence in the region and reinforces their commitment to serving the professional lighting design and specification community with innovative, reliable lighting solutions. With decades of experience and a service-driven mindset,… Read More…

  • May 29, 2025 - Eureka Wins Three 2025 Red Dot Awards for Product Design

    Eureka Wins Three 2025 Red Dot Awards for Product Design

    Eureka is pleased to announce that its Velia, Cirra, and Junction luminaires have each received a 2025 Red Dot Design Award for Product Design. It is the 11th consecutive year that Eureka products have been honored with this prestigious award, which is a testament to the company’s consistency and relentless drive to design exceptional luminaires.… Read More…


Design

  • What is Human Centric Lighting: Benefits & Applications

    What is Human Centric Lighting: Benefits & Applications

    Human centric lighting (HCL) is a kind of illuminated way based on human physical and psychological needs. Its core goal is to imitate the changes in natural light to support the body’s circadian rhythm, improve visual comfort, and enhance mood. The key element of human centric lighting contains dynamic ​color temperature adjustment, adjustable brightness, spectrum… Read More…

  • Mac’s II Agencies: Case Study – Tesoro, Vancouver, BC

    Mac’s II Agencies: Case Study – Tesoro, Vancouver, BC

    At the crest of False Creek, Tesoro stands as a contemporary interpretation of classic luxury, offering 92 exclusive waterfront homes in the heart of Vancouver. Developed by Concert Properties, this 17-story residential tower embraces a distinctly modern character, harmonizing sleek design with timeless sophistication. The vision for Tesoro extended beyond its architectural presence—it was about… Read More…


New Products

  • GVA Lighting: PIXEL GEN2 COLOR CHANGING

    GVA Lighting: PIXEL GEN2 COLOR CHANGING

    PIXEL GEN2 is the second generation of the direct-view PIXEL series, designed for dynamic color effects, low-resolution image displays, and media façades. Built on the award-winning COLOR-STREAM platform, it delivers 16X faster communication than DMX, ensuring ultra-smooth dimming and real-time responsiveness. With INFINITY technology, PIXEL GEN2 supports lighting circuits of up to 1,565 PIXELs, providing… Read More…

  • Cyclone Lighting Introduces New Taji Luminaire

    Cyclone Lighting Introduces New Taji Luminaire

    Cyclone Lighting is excited to announce the release of its new Taji luminaire. Taji’s captivating design features high-performance optics and enhances a variety of aesthetics. Taji’s distinctive, stylish silhouette and slender lines are a refreshing departure from the ubiquitous dome luminaire. The unique flared form maintains a slender, minimalist feel yet provides high-performance optics. The… Read More…