Flicker-free LED lighting is becoming increasingly important, especially in schools and offices where people are exposed to LED lights for an extended period of time. The flickering of LED lighting can cause headaches, eyestrain, and fatigue, which can affect productivity and well-being. Olympia Lighting recognizes the importance of flicker-free LED lighting, and their products have been tested to ensure that they meet international standards for low optical flicker. Read on to learn more!
Understanding Flicker in LED Lighting
The cause of flickering by LED lighting is usually due to the rapid switching of the LED light’s circuitry. This switching can create small fluctuations in the current, which can cause an LED light to flicker. LED lighting systems can also suffer from flickering if they are controlled by dimmer switches or have incompatible drivers.
To avoid flicker in LED lighting applications, manufacturers must ensure that they use high-quality LED drivers and circuitry. Ensuring the LED lighting system is compatible with dimmer switches and other lighting controls is also essential. Additionally, manufacturers can design LED lighting products that are specifically optimized to reduce flicker.
UL Verification Program: A Step Towards Standardizing Flicker Testing
To address the issue of flicker in LED lighting, Underwriters Laboratories (UL) has introduced a marketing claim verification program. Manufacturers can submit their LED products to a neutral, third-party assessment of flicker performance. UL Verification checks whether lighting products produce only a slow optical flicker, which has well-defined limits. The limits for UL Verification are 10% for products powered by mains voltage with a sinusoidal 60 Hz frequency and 8% for products powered by mains voltage with a sinusoidal 50 Hz frequency.
While there is still much work to be done in standardizing testing methods for flicker, the UL Verification program is an essential step toward increasing awareness of the issue. A worldwide metric with standardized testing methods would allow the global lighting market to better rate and understand product differences. Until such a metric is implemented, UL will continue to work with the global lighting community to increase their understanding, improve testing, and help ensure the safety and comfort of those using artificial light.
Finding Flicker-Free LED Lighting
Products that have successfully had their flicker claims verified can include a packaging mark of “Low Optical Flicker Less than X%,” where X indicates the percentage detected as a result of the UL Verification tests. This program is an essential step toward increasing the public’s understanding and awareness of flickering by LED lighting. Moreover, it helps manufacturers ensure that their products meet international standards and are safe for consumers to use.
Olympia Lighting: A Trusted Name in Flicker-Free LED Lighting Solutions
For those looking for reliable and high-quality LED lighting solutions, Olympia Lighting is a great option to consider. With our new generation of deep flicker-free LED tubes and fixtures, which have only 1–2% flicker, we’re committed to providing safe and sustainable lighting solutions that minimize flicker to one-fifth or less than that of older incandescent or fluorescent lamp technologies. By prioritizing the health and well-being of the public, Olympia Lighting is setting a new standard for flicker-free LED lighting solutions that other manufacturers would do well to follow. Contact us today to learn more!
