Electrical Contracting News (ECN) September 2016 | Page 38

INDUSTRY TRENDS

LED-ING THE WAY
The demand for LED lighting is ever increasing. Not least because of its energy saving capabilities but also
because it’s one of the easiest and quickest ways for contractors to make massive energy cost savings.
However, product specification and poor quality are still issues that continue to blight the LED domain. Here,
James Harding at Newey & Eyre explains how contractors can ensure they choose the right LED product.

W

ith LED saving
around 80
per cent more
energy than
traditional
lighting, and
prices getting
lower, the
market outlook for this newcomer is an
extremely positive one. A recent report
predicted the UK market for LEDs will
increase by four per cent in this year
alone, while Lux Research has predicted
the global LED market will reach $25bn
by 2020, representing a 12-fold expansion
over 10 years.
And the government target of reducing
the UK’s emissions between 2028 and
2032 to be 57 per cent below 1990 levels,
announced in July’s Carbon Report, means
that take up of LEDs will only increase.

producing poor quality LED products.
Last year BBC’s Fake Britain revealed a
shipment of 1,000 LED lamps from the
Far East which, despite having a printed
‘CE mark’, were shown to have insufficient
insulation and exposed live elements;
being potentially lethal. What’s more,
out of 230 samples tested by consumer
watchdog Which? 66 failed before 10,000
hours and some did not even reach the
EU’s minimum of 6,000 hours.
The industry has made significant
progress in tackling the issue of poor quality
LEDs. The Electrical Safety Council has
published guidance on specifying LEDs.
And lighting manufacturer Osram has
launched a security check process so that
consumers can easily verify whether the
lamps they have bought are Osram original.

Quality control

Despite this, we believe that more can be
done to help contractors choose the right
product in line with user requirements
and legislation. As industry experts, we
are able to filter the newest technologies
first, questioning their credentials and
ensuring they effectively do what they ‘say
on the tin’ before putting them on the trade
counter shelf.
What’s more, the Rexel branded LED
Solutions guide offers time stretched
contractors a quick and easy overview of
the most cost effective, genuine likefor-like energy efficient replacements
for all traditional light sources. From
downlighters to floodlights, commercial

According to research by Greenpeace, if
all lights across the country were switched
to LEDs the need for electricity to provide
improved lighting would fall by about
8GW, a saving of about 15 per cent of all
power consumption. The same research
study assessed 100 case histories of
switches from other types of lights to
LEDs in industry, commerce and the
public sector, and found that, on average,
replacing less efficient lamps saved two
thirds of the electricity bill.
It is perhaps these attractive qualities
that have led to cowboy manufacturers

panels to battens; we offer a simple LED
retrofit for everything from schools, offices
and commercial buildings through to
hospitals and retail premises. All of the
products featured in the guide are set
against a rigorous benchmarking system,
whereby supplier credentials are checked
and products are tested extensively to
make sure they perform to the highest
levels and meet all UK legislation.
Currently there is no standardisation of
lumen output and colour temperature for
LEDs. However, at Newey & Eyre we are
committed to driving the introduction of a
standard for colour temperatures. All of our

products are available with a 5,000k colour
temperature matched to +/- 3 macadam
elipses. This ensures that whether fitting
LED panels, circular panels, downlighters,
battens or bulkheads, the colour temperature
will look exactly the same – even if installation
takes place over numerous phases.
LED is the future when it comes to
lighting technology – offering sufficient
energy and cost savings to both installers
and consumers. However, contractors
should be aware of poor quality LED
products and ensure they’re getting the
best every time by purchasing from a
reputable wholesaler.

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10/08/2016 16:28