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The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) has published two new standards that concern electrical contractors. ANSI_ANSLG C78.380-2007 American National Standard for Electric Lamps—High-Intensity Discharge Lamps, Method of Designation is a proposed revision of ANSI C78.380-2005. And LSD2A-2007 is an application note in regards to T8 lamps.
ANSI_ANSLG C78.380-2007 describes a system for the designation of high-intensity discharge lamps, including compact, enclosed-arc discharge light sources such as mercury, metal halide, high-pressure sodium and similar types of lamps. For convenience, low-pressure sodium lamps are included.
The standard incorporates two significant changes. The first is a proposed addendum to use the National Electric Code as a normative annex to assign physical codes for lamp and luminaire attributes. The second involves the administration of the lamp designation program.
The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) also has published LSD2A-2007 Application Note: Wiring Requirements for T-8 Fluorescent Lamps with Instant-Start Ballasts. The NEMA Lighting Systems Division reminds original equipment manufacturers and installers that adherence to wiring and other requirements contributes to the safe operation and optimum performance of T8 lamps when used with instant-start ballasts. Improper wiring may cause field problems related to installation and retrofit of T8 lamps with instant-start ballasts. LSD2A-2007 includes examples of correct and incorrect wiring.
Standards are available for download at www.nema.org. EC
