DIM I

The directives DIM I (244/2009 measures from September 1st 2009, amendment 859/2009) and DIM II (1194/2012, measures from September 1st 2013) set efficiency limit values for certain lamp types which are mainly used for home lighting. When these minimal standards cannot be met they must not carry the CE marking any more and, therefore, will vanish from the market slowly, but there will not be an explicit ban - other than the picture shown in the press.

Lamps from previous production lots with CE-marking - so warehouse stock, too - may be sold off and users may also still operate them just as always. But in most application cases it does make sense to think about energy saving alternatives - not just to save energy effectively, but also from the lighting quality point of view.

Alternatives

Good light as well as lighting quality mainly depends on how much the lighting concept and the illumination planning corresponds with the utilisation profile of the room regarded. Thus, the trend has led away from the standard incandescent lamp for some time already, new technologies and new ideas will find more and more followers.

So, highly efficient halogen lamps, energy saving lamps (compact fluorescent lamps with integral ballast) and LED retrofit lamps as well as completely new lighting concepts will take their place soon. Those lamp types recommended for direct exchange can be identified by looking them up in tables or by Radium ErP Plug&Save.

Especially for professional applications (like in catering/ gastronomy and hotel sector), it may be rewarding to think about a fundamentally different lighting alternative. A lighting concept with metal halide lamps of small wattages, fluorescent lamps and/ or compact fluorescent lamps saves energy, highly efficient halogen lamps supply dimmable and comfy light with perfect colour rendering. With a professional illumination planning such a concept can be put perfectly into practise. Furthermore, by employing state of the art luminiares and operational gear further savings potential can be realised.

Lamp types affected

Lamps without reflector which are - in general - used for home lighting:

GL = Incandescent lamps
HAL = Halogen lamps
ESL = Energy saving lamps (compact fluorescent lamps with standard base)
LED = LED lamps (for direct exchange with incandescent lamps)

Regulations

For the lamp types mentioned above requirements of efficiency and functionality will be set according to a certain time scheme. Lamps which do not meet those requirements must not carry the CE marking any more and must not be brought to market by the manufacturer.

Any lamp produced previously which has got a CE marking even though it may not literally be entitled to do so, may still be sold off the warehouse stock of retail.

Certain technical data such as, for example, number of switchings until failure or mercury content must be shown on packaging in a defined way and must be shown as free access information e.g. in the internet. There, many more (technical) details have to be published.

Timetable of measures

2009 Only lamps with energy label A may be called energy saving lamps.
frosted GL must be replaced by lamps with energy label A
clear GL from about 100W (950 lm) min. energy label C, others energy label E
functional quality requirements for ESL with energy label A
(e.g. MSL= B50 min. 6000h, Ra ≥ 80, at 200h less than 2% early failures)

2010 clear GL from about 75W min. (725 lm) energy label C, others energy label E
2011 clear GL from about 60W min. (450 lm) energy label C, others energy label E
2012 clear GL from about 10W (60 lm) min. energy label C
2013 GL with base S14, S15 and S19 and low voltage lamps min. energy label C
More demanding functional quality requirements for ESL with energy label A
(e.g. B70 min. 6000h, at 400h less than 2% early failures)

2018 GL from 60 lm min. energy label B, lamps with G9 or R7s-base still min. energy label C
(Step 6 has been postponed to 2018 from originally 2016).

"Ban on Incandescent Lamps": Minimal standards for home lighting

Alternatives

Lamp types affected

Regulations

Timetable of measures

News

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