General service lamps

Energy Efficiency Regulations

Regulatory definition

General service lamp means an electrical device that is used in general lighting applications and that:

  • has a base that complies with ANSI C81.61;
  • is able to operate, in the case of an integrated lamp, at
    • a voltage of 12 V or 24V,
    • a voltage ranging from 100 V to 130 V,
    • a voltage ranging from 220 V to 240 V, or
    • a voltage of 277 V or 347 V;
  • is able to operate at any voltage, in the case of a non-integrated lamp; and
  • has an initial lumen output of
    • at least 310 lm but no more than 3300 lm, or
    • in the case of a modified spectrum incandescent lamp, at least 232 lm but no more than 3300 lm.

It includes

  • compact fluorescent lamps
  • general service incandescent lamps;
  • general service incandescent reflector lamps;
  • general service light-emitting diode (LED) lamps, and
  • general service organic light-emitting diode (OLED) lamps

General service lamps do not include:

  • a light fixture;
  • an LED downlight retrofit kit;
  • an appliance lamp;
  • a black light lamp;
  • a bug lamp;
  • a coloured lamp;
  • a G-shape lamp, as described in ANSI C78.79, with a diameter of 127 mm (5 inches) or more;
  • a high-intensity discharge lamp;
  • an infrared lamp;
  • a J-, JC-, JCD-, JCS-, JCV-, JCX-, JD-, JS- or JT-shape lamp that does not have an Edison screw base as defined in ANSI C81.61;
  • a lamp that has a wedge base or pre-focus base;
  • a left-hand thread lamp;
  • a marine lamp;
  • a marine signal service lamp;
  • a mine service lamp;
  • an MR-shape lamp that has a first number symbol equal to 16 (diameter equal to 51 mm (2 inches)), as described in ANSI C78.79, operates at 12 V and has a lumen output greater than or equal to 800 lm;
  • a fluorescent lamp other than a CFL;
  • a plant lamp;
  • an R20 short lamp;
  • a reflector lamp that
    • has a first number symbol less than 16 (diameter less than 51 mm (2 inches)), as described in ANSI C78.79, and
    • does not have an E26/E24, E26d, E26/50x39, E26/53x39, E29/28, E29/53x39, E39, E39d, EP39 or EX39 base;
  • an S-shape or G-shape lamp that has a first number symbol less than or equal to 12.5 (diameter less than or equal to 40 mm (1.5625 inches)), as described in ANSI C78.79;
  • a sign service lamp;
  • a silver bowl lamp;
  • a showcase lamp;
  • a specialty MR lamp;
  • a T-shape lamp, other than a CFL, that
    • has a first number symbol less than or equal to 8 (diameter less than or equal to 25 mm (1 inch)), as described in ANSI C78.79, and
    • has a nominal overall length less than 305 mm (12 inches); or
  • a traffic signal lamp.

Compliance date

Manufactured on or after January 1st, 2026 for general service incandescent lamps or a general service incandescent reflector lamps.

Manufactured on or after January 1st, 2027 for other general service lamps.

For models manufactured prior, refer to the Regulations

Early compliance

A general service lamps is deemed to satisfy the requirements of sections 4, 5, 435 and 436 if

  • for general service incandescent lamps or general service incandescent reflector lamps, it was manufactured on or after January 1, 2024 and before January 1, 2026 and satisfies the requirements of sections 4, 5, 435 and 436 that would have applied to the lamp if it had been manufactured on or after January 1, 2026; and
  • for other general service lamps, it was manufactured on or after January 1, 2025 and before January 1, 2027 and satisfies the requirements of sections 4, 5, 435 and 436 that would have applied to the lamp if it had been manufactured on or after January 1, 2027.

Labelling requirements

General service lamps manufactured on or after January 1, 2027 must have a principal display panel on the product’s package that displays the following information in the following order:

  • the words “Light output” and “Flux lumineux”, followed by the numerical value of the product’s luminous flux and the word “lumens”;
  • the words “Efficacy” and “Efficacité”, followed by the numerical value of the product’s nominal efficacy and the words “lumens/watt”;
  • the words “Power” and “Puissance”, followed by the numerical value of the product’s nominal power consumption and the word “watts”;
  • the words “Life” and “Durée de vie”, followed by the numerical value of the product’s life and the words “hours” and “heures”, respectively; and
  • the words “Light appearance” and “Apparence de la lumière”, followed by the numerical value of the product’s correlated colour temperature and the upper case letter “K” or the word “Kelvin”.

The principal display should follow these additional label requirements:

  • Have the words “Light output”, “Flux lumineux”, “Efficacy”, “Efficacité”, “Power”, “Puissance”, “Life”, “Durée de vie”, “Light appearance” and “Apparence de la lumière” be in the same font and be equal in size.
  • Have the words “lumens”, “lumens/watt”, “watts”, “hours”, “heures” and “Kelvin” and the upper case letter “K” be in the same font and be equal in size, but not be more than 50% of the size of the words referred to above.
  • The numerical values must be in the same font and size.
  • If the product is a three-way lamp, the information required must be displayed for each level of the lamp’s operation.
  • If the product has a variable correlated colour temperature, the information must be displayed for the lamp’s range of operation or for each level of its operation.
  • The lamp model number must be indicated on both the product packaging and the lamp itself.

Testing standard

Paragraph 430.23(gg) of Subpart B, Part 430 of Title 10 to the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, entitled General Service Lamps.

Energy efficiency regulations by province

Some provinces also have their own energy efficiency regulations for many of the federally regulated products – find out which ones!

Energy efficiency standard

All general service lamps defined in the Regulations must meet a minimum efficacy of 45 lumens per watt (lm/W) per the energy efficiency standards set out in TSD D7SB001.

Energy efficiency report

The energy efficiency report required for GSLs would include the following product specific information:

  • a description of the lamp, collected in accordance with ANSI C78.79,
  • the rated lumen output or, in the case of a three-way lamp, the three rated lumen outputs, in lumens,
  • the rated power or, in the case of a three-way lamp, the three values for rated power, in watts,
  • the rated lamp efficacy, in lm/W,
  • the rated life, in hours,
  • the rated correlated colour temperature or range of correlated colour temperatures, in degrees Kelvin, and
  • the rated colour rendering index.

This document does not constitute part of the Energy Efficiency Act (Act) or its associated regulations. This document is an administrative document that is intended to facilitate compliance by the regulated party with the Act and its associated regulations. This document is not intended to provide legal advice regarding the interpretation of the Act or its associated regulations. If a regulated party has questions about their legal obligations or responsibilities under the Act or its associated regulations, they should seek the advice of legal counsel.

 
Date modified: