DLC Certification for Commercial Lighting: The "Elite Mark" for Access to the North American High-End Market

Unlike mandatory DOE certification, DLC (DesignLights Consortium®) certification is voluntary, administered by a coalition of U.S. utilities and energy efficiency organizations. However, in the commercial lighting sector, DLC certification is just as critical as mandatory certification for market success.

I. Why Is DLC Certification So Crucial?

1. Ticket to Financial Subsidies

U.S. state utilities offer substantial energy efficiency subsidies to end-users (e.g., shopping malls, factories, office buildings) that purchase DLC-certified products. If your product lacks DLC certification, customers cannot apply for these subsidies—directly disqualifying your product from competitive bidding.

2. Access Pass to the High-End Market

Most contractors, designers, and government procurement lists explicitly require products to be listed in the DLC Certified Products Directory. It serves as authoritative proof of a product’s high quality and energy efficiency.

3. Brand Value Enhancement

DLC certification signifies that your product meets industry-leading energy efficiency and performance standards, directly reflecting your brand’s technical strength and commitment to sustainability.

II. Core Technical Requirements of DLC Certification (Versions V5.1 & V5.2)

DLC standards are regularly updated—Version V5.1 is now widely adopted, while Version V5.2 imposes even stricter performance requirements. Certification focuses on the following key areas:

1. Minimum Luminous Efficacy Requirement

DLC sets minimum luminous efficacy values (lumens per watt, LPW) for various lighting types that are far higher than DOE’s mandatory standards. Products must meet or exceed these LPW thresholds to qualify.

2. Performance Requirements (Key Differentiators)

• Light Quality: Mandates specific color rendering index (CRI) requirements and incorporates the TM-30 standard to comprehensively evaluate color fidelity and saturation—ensuring accurate and consistent color reproduction.
• Lumen Maintenance: Requires products to maintain high light output at the end of their rated life (e.g., L70, meaning 70% of initial lumen output remains). This requires a TM-28 report, derived from LM-80 test data, to validate long-term performance.
• Power Factor: Typically requires a minimum power factor of 0.9 to minimize harmonic pollution to the power grid.
• Color Consistency (Chromaticity Tolerance): Demands that the color coordinates of the light source deviate from the target value within a specific range, ensuring uniform color across product batches.

3. "Standard" vs. "Premium" Tiers

DLC offers two certification tiers:

• Standard Tier: Meets basic high-efficiency requirements.
• Premium Tier: Enforces stricter criteria for efficacy, lifespan, and warranty—enabling end-users to access higher subsidies. This tier is highly sought after for high-end market positioning.

III. Detailed DLC Certification Process

Step 1: Pre-Evaluation & Planning

Involve experts early in the product design phase to conduct a gap analysis against the latest DLC standards. This proactive step avoids costly post-design modifications—a core value-added service provided by GTG Testing.

Step 2: Sample Submission & Comprehensive Testing

Send samples to a DLC-recognized laboratory (such as GTG Testing) for full compliance testing, including:

• LM-79 Testing: Evaluates photoelectric performance (e.g., luminous flux, efficacy, color temperature).
• LM-80 Testing: Measures long-term lumen maintenance of LED components (critical for validating lifespan claims).

Step 3: Data Calculation & Report Generation

Using LM-80 test data, calculate the product’s lumen maintenance lifespan via the TM-28 calculator and compile a complete test report that meets DLC’s formatting requirements.

Step 4: Online Application Submission

The manufacturer creates an account on the official DLC online portal, fills in product details, and uploads all required documents (test reports, specifications, product photos, warranty terms, etc.).

Step 5: DLC Review & Listing

DLC’s technical team reviews the submitted materials. If discrepancies are found, they issue queries for clarification. Once approved, the product is officially listed in the DLC Certified Products Directory, visible to U.S. utilities and buyers nationwide.

IV. Choose GTG Testing: Empowering Your DLC Certification Journey

DLC certification involves complex processes, high technical barriers, and strict reviews. The Lighting Testing Division of GTG Testing Group, with deep standard expertise and extensive project experience, is your ideal DLC certification partner:

1. Standard Forecasting & Consulting

We closely track DLC standard updates (e.g., the transition from V5.1 to V5.2) and provide forward-looking design guidance to ensure your product passes certification on the first attempt.

2. Full-Scope Recognized Testing Capabilities

Our laboratory is fully equipped to conduct LM-79, LM-80, and TM-30 tests. Reports issued by GTG are directly recognized by DLC, eliminating the need to coordinate with multiple institutions.

3. Efficient TM-28 Lifespan Calculation

Our experts master the TM-28 standard, enabling accurate lifespan projections and the delivery of highly credible data reports that meet DLC’s strict validation requirements.

4. Professional Document Preparation & Submission Support

We offer end-to-end guidance—from organizing technical documents to filling out online application forms—and review materials to avoid delays or rejections caused by documentation errors.

Conclusion

In the North American commercial lighting market, DLC certification forms a solid business loop: Manufacturers obtain certification → End-users claim subsidies with certified products → Market demand drives continuous certification. Proactively pursuing DLC certification—especially the "Premium" tier—means you hold the golden key to unlocking the high-end market and maximizing profits.

Contact the Lighting Testing Division of GTG Testing Group now! Let our professional DLC certification services help your products shine in the U.S. market.