Seoul Semiconductor Earns EPA Recognition for LM-80 Testing

Seoul Semiconductor, a global LED manufacturer, announced that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) added the company to the list of recognized laboratories for conducting LM-80 testing of Light Emitting Diodes (News - Alert) (LEDs).

 LM-80 testing is an essential requirement to ensure lumen maintenance standards are met by LEDs intended to be used in luminaries targeted for ENERGY STAR (News - Alert) certification. Seoul Semiconductor joins the list as a 1st party testing lab authorized to test its own LEDs and modules.

With the EPA recognition, Seoul Semiconductor can provide the solid state lighting market its LM-80 test reports, the LED reliability evaluation standard of the EPA’s ENERGY STAR Program. Currently, only a handful of companies around the world have obtained the certification, according to company officials.

IES LM-80 is a standard testing method for measuring Lumen maintenance (light depreciation over time) of LED light sources over a 6,000 hour time frame. LM-80 testing is a way to offer comparable measurements of lumen maintenance and eliminate confusion occurring from each LED manufacturer using different test methods, company officials said.

For getting the EPA recognition for LM-80 testing and test its LED technology and products on its own, Seoul Semiconductor made significant investment in test equipment, procedures and personnel to perform the tests. This kind of investment signals Seoul Semiconductor’s commitment for offering high-quality, reliable LED emitters and modules while meeting local standards and requirements around the globe.

“Achieving LM-80 certification is an important step in showing Seoul Semiconductor’s commitment to the U.S. lighting market and in meeting the exacting standards set to protect consumers,” said Brian Wilcox, VP of sales for North America, Seoul Semiconductor, in a statement. “As one of the world’s leading LED providers, we are dedicated to complying with the industry standards and government regulations that will help speed LED adoption in the general illumination market space.”

Recently, Seoul Semiconductor announced its new AC-powered LED lighting product named Acriche A7. The company recently released two new high-brightness white LED products according to their 2011 plan that aims to release new products every month. The new Acriche A7 is smaller in size but significantly improved in terms of reliability and ESD-withstand.