News-Spot | Business News | Nov 29, 2013

Gamma Scientific Awarded IES LM-80 Accreditation for LED Life Testing

The Gamma Scientific Laboratory has been awarded accreditation by the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program for IES LM-80: 2008. IES LM-80 is an approved method for measuring lumen depreciation and maintenance of Solid State Lighting (LED) light sources, arrays and modules. The Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) developed the standard to provide an objective method to evaluate and compare LED components from different manufacturers.

LED Lifetime and Lumen Maintenance:
Lumen maintenance is the percentage of initial lumens that a light source maintains over a defined period of time.  LM-80 measures the depreciation of lumens over a specific timeframe to determine the useful life of LED components.

Life tests for other more traditional light sources measure rated lamp life, which is typically set at a 50% failure rate since these sources burn out. However, since LEDs do not have a filament to burn out, the light output for an LED will degrade over time until it is no longer useful.  LM-80 tests measure this depreciation.  

LM-79 Accreditation:
The Gamma Scientific Laboratory is also accredited by NVLAP to perform LM-79 tests for Solid State Lighting (LED) Luminaires.  IES LM-79 is an approved method for testing electrical and photometric measurements of solid-state lighting products. This covers complete LED luminaires and integrated LED sources.

To view the complete scope of Gamma Scientific’s NVLAP Accreditation please visit: http://www.gamma-sci.com/services/nvlap-laboratory-accreditation/

About Gamma Scientific:
With over 50 years of experience in developing commercial light measurement instruments, Gamma Scientific is trusted by the world’s leading organizations to provide accurate and reliable results.  Based in San Diego, California, Gamma Scientific manufactures laboratory grade spectroradiometers, spectrometers, spectrophotometers and integrating spheres. Gamma Scientific also operates an ISO 17025 compliant, NVLAP accredited laboratory that performs ENERGY STAR® lighting certification, LM-79 and LM-80 testing.

page_peel