ICS 29.140.30                  NTON 10 009 -08          June  2008           1/09 
 
  
Republic of 
Nicaragua  
Central 
America  NICARAGUAN MA NDATORY TECHNICAL 
STANDARD.   
ENERGY EFFICIENCY. SELF -BALLASTED 
COMPACT FLUORESCENT LAMPS.  
CLASSIFICATION AND LABELLING   
    NTON  
10 009 - 08 
 
 
 
 
 
NICARAGUAN MANDATORY TECHNICAL STANDARD  
 
 
 
Standard under discussion - unofficial  
[translator's note: the abo ve wording is printed diagonally across each page]  
 
 
 
 
 
______________________________________ _______________________________  
This document may not be reproduced    
 
 National Committee on Technical Standardisation and Quality, Ministry of  Public Works, 
Industry and Trade  (fax: 2674551 ; ext.1228 ) 
Nica raguan Mandatory Technical Stan dard [Spanish abbreviation NTON] 
 2 
NTON 10 009 -98 
Continued on next pageThe following persons representing their respective institutions were involved in drawing up 
Nicaraguan  Mandatory Technical Standard  10 009 -08 on Energy efficiency - Self-ballasted  
compact fluorescent lamps  - Classification and labelling.  
Rolando Lugo       Ministry of Energy and Mines  
         [Spanish abbreviation MEM]  
Carlos P érez Méndez      Nicaraguan Energy Institute  
       [Spanish abbreviation INE]  
Ruth Largaespada Z apata     Nicaraguan Ironmongers ' Association  
       [Spanish abbreviation: AFENIC]  
Irma Monjarrez      Directorate -General of Customs  
       Service s 
       [Spanish abbreviation DGA]  
Augusto C ésar Palacios     National Engineering University  
 
Ana Cecilia Ve ga     Nicaraguan Chamber of Industries  
       [Spanish abbreviation CADIN]  
Silvia Aguilera      Nicaraguan  'Cleaner Production ' Centre  
Sandra Gutiérrez      Multiconsult & CIA Ltd.  
Lizeth Z úñiga      BUN -CA 
Erick Méndez  Ministry of Public Works, Industry an d Trade 
[Spanish abbreviation  MIFIC]  
Javier Cruz  Ministry of Public Works, Industry and Trade 
[Spanish abbreviation MIFIC]  
C. Valeria Pineda  Ministry of Public Works, Industry and Trade 
[Spanish abbreviation MIFIC]  
 
This standar d was revised and adopted by  the Technical Committee on Energy Efficiency  
at its meeting of 19 June 2008.  
 
 
 3 
NTON 10 009 -98 
Continued on next page 
1. OBJECTIVE  
To establish a methodology for classifying self-ballasted  compact fluorescent lamps  [Spanish 
abbreviation LFCAs]  on the basis of their energy efficiency , and t o stipulate the markings and the 
labelling of such lamps.  
2. SCOPE  
This standard applies to compact hot -cathode, integrated -ballast fluorescent lamps  with a cap which 
fits conventional incandescent -bulb sockets (E -26 and E -27) and  a nominal voltage  of betw een 110V 
and 240V, op erating on alternating current at a frequency of 60Hz (nominal power between 5W and 
110W).  
2.1 Exclusions :  this standard does not apply to coloured lamps, anti -insect lamps and special UV- 
radiation lamps.  
3. DEFINITIONS  
Please refer to Standard NTON 10 008 -08. 
4. REQUIREMENTS  
4.1 Energy classif ication of  self-ballasted  fluorescent lamps   
4.1.1  Formulae  for classifying energy performance .  The energy performance of LFCAs  is to be 
classified by means of the following formulae:  
4.1.1.1  Classification A . An LFCA  shall be classified as Type A if it satisfies  the following equation:  
Translator's note: please refer to page 3 of the original for this equation.  
 
Where:  
P = power of the lamp in watts (W)  
 = lum inous flux of the lamp in lumens (1m)  
 4 
NTON 10 009 -98 
Continued on next page4.1.1.2 Classification from B to G :   
The energy -efficiency index 'I' must be calculated as follows :  
I(%) =  P .100 
     Pr 
 
Where: 
Translator's note: please refer to page 4 of the original for the two equati ons in question.  
 
P  =  Power of the lamp in watts (W)  
Pr =  Reference power (W)  
 =      Luminous flux  of the lamp in lumens (1 m) 
 
4.1.2  Luminous  Flux and Energy Power   
 
The luminous  flux and the power of lamps shall be measured in accordance with Standa rd NTON 10 
008-08. 
The corresponding efficiency class is shown in Table 1:  
 
              Table 1  
                   Classification of energy efficiency  
Class (labelling letter)  Energy -efficiency i ndex  
B I < 60%  
C 60%   I < 80%  
D 80%   I < 95%  
E 95%   I < 110%  
F 110%   I < 110%  
G 130%  I 5 
NTON 10 009 -98 
Continued on next page 
4.1.3  Minimum luminous  flux . The minimum luminous flux  measured  in any unit of a batch of 
LFCAs  must meet the specifications laid down in paragraph 5.3 of Standard NTON 10 008 -08. 
4.1.4  Minimum efficiency of com pact fluorescen t lamps.   The efficiency values measured must 
meet the specifications laid down in paragraph 5.4 of Standard NTON 10 008 -8. 
4.2 Labelling  
4.2.1  General requirements .  The energy efficiency of lamps must be stated by means of a label 
such as the one described in th is Standard.  
4.2.1.1  Location. The label must be a ffixed  to or printed on any of the outer faces  of the individual 
packaging of lamps.  
4.2.1.2  Duration. The label must remain on the packaging at least until the product has been 
purch ased by the final consumer.  
4.2.1.3  Information. The label must be marked legibly and contain a s a minimum  the information 
shown below and presented as in Figure 1.  
• Efficiency class  
• Luminous  flux 
• Power  
• Frequency  
• Normal life time of the lamp  
4.2.1.4  Language . The labelling must be written in Spanish or in the language of the target 
country.  
4.2.2  Specific requirements  
4.2.2.1  Labelling. The label upon which the class of energy efficiency is stated must be in 
accordance with Standard NTON 10 008 -08 (Energy efficiency  of a self -ballasted compact lamp – 
efficiency requirements).  
4.2.2.2  Dimensions  
The dimensions of the labels must be in accordance with the proportions indicated in Figure 1.  
In cases where none of the faces  of the packaging is large enough to acco mmodate the label and its 
white surround, or where they would occupy more than 50% of the area of the largest face, the label 
and its surround may be reduced in size but only by what is necessary  in order to comply with the 
above two requirements.  
The exte rnal dimensions of the label must be at least 18.5 mm by 26 mm , with due regard to  the 
proportions shown in Figure 1.  6 
NTON 10 009 -98 
Continued on next pageIn cases where the packaging is too small to accommodate the reduced -size label, the latter must be 
enclosed with the lamp.  
The internal e lements must be legible  and must comply with the requirements laid down in Figure 1.  
4.2.2.3  Colour  
The label must preferably  be in colour , or otherwise monochrome.  
In the case of a monochrome label there must be a contrast between the background colour u sed and 
the information shown on the label.  
A colour label must be in accordance with Figure 1 and the following table.  
Table 2  
Label colours  
Efficiency  Class  Cyan  Magenta  Yellow  Black  
A 100%  0% 100%  0% 
B 70% 0% 100%  0% 
C 30% 0% 100%  0% 
D 0% 0% 100%  0% 
E 0% 30% 100%  0% 
F 0% 70% 100%  0% 
G 0% 100%  100%  0% 
Label surround  100%  0% 70% 0% 
Text 0% 0% 0% 100%  
Background  0% 0% 0% 0% 
 
4.2.2.4  Label design. The label sizes and colours shall be in accordance with the requirements 
specified in Chapter 5 and F igure 1  
The inner  field (indicated by means of  dotted lines in Figure 1) shall be set aside for information  
concerning the luminous  flux of the lamp in lumens (1m), the power  of the lamp in w atts (W) , the 
nominal life of the lamp in hours (h) and additiona l information  relating to the energy -efficiency 
programme and a  reference to this  standard to which the label relates.  
a) Colour  label  
b) Monochrome label  7 
NTON 10 009 -98 
Continued on next page 
 
Translator's note: please refer to the original document for the graphics which appear at the top of page 
7. The terms included  in the graphics are translated as follows:  
Energía = energy  
Más eficiente = most efficient  
Menos eficiente = least efficient  
Lumenes = lumens  
Horas = hours  
* Podrá utilizarse helvética = Helvetica may be used  
 
Measurements ar e shown in mi llimetres and are given as a guide . 
Figure 1: Energy -efficiency label  
 
As an alternative  the label may be headed by an expression meaning "Energy"  in the language of the 
country in which the lamp  is being sold, for example:  
 
Translator's note : please refer to the original document for the graphic which appear s at the bottom  of 
page 7.  The word means "Energy" in a variety of European languages.  
 
 8 
NTON 10 009 -98 
Continued on next page 
4.3  Markings  
4.3.1   On the body of the product  
4.3.1 .1  The body of the LFCAs  covered by th is proposed standard must be marked legibly and 
indelibly  with the following data , using  the units pr escribed by the International System of Units.  
a) The name of the manufacturer or the registered trade mark or some other descriptive mark 
enabling the organi sation responsible for the product to be identified;  
b) Nominal electrical data concerning input  voltage and power.  
Exception No 1:  The frequency may be omitted if the ballast is an electronic circuit  which operates 
independently  of the input  frequency wi thin a range of 50 Hz to 60 Hz.  
4.3.1.2    An LFCA  which is not designed to be used in a dimmer circuit must be marked with the 
words "Not to be used with light dimmers".  
4.3.1.3   If a device is marked with a harmonic -distortion factor or harmonic  total  distortion, the 
quantity must not exceed the values measured as described in the harmonic total distortion  test, in 
accordance with the limits laid down in each country  
4.3.1.4    An LFCA  must be marked with the power factor in accordanc e with Standard  NTON 10 008 -
08,  point 5.6. An LFCA may be marked as "high  power factor" ("hpf") if the powe r factor calculated 
is 0.9 or greater.  
4.3.2  On the packaging  
4.3.2.1   Packaging for the LFCAs  covered by this draft standard must bear the following legibly and 
indelib ly:  
a) An illustration o r the name of the product (unless the latter is obvious) and the name, 
designation  or trad ing name and the registered office  of the domestic manufacturer or the 
importer.  
b) Wording to identify the product's country of origin (e.g.  "Made in .…" , "Manufactured in ...." 
or other, similar wordings).  
c) Nominal electrical data concerning input  voltage, frequency, power and luminous flux.  
d) The contents (in cases where the product is not visible).  
e) A graphic scale  showing how LFCAs c ompare with  the incandescent lamps  they are designed 
to replace (with the exception of reflector lamps ). 9 
NTON 10 009 -98 
Continued on next page 
f) The a verage life of the bulb expressed in hours  
Whilst they are being handled and transported under normal circumstances, lamps  must be  protected  
by means of suitable materials in order to ensure that they are not damaged, they do not deteriorate and 
they operate satisfactorily during their useful life.  
5. REFERENCES  
CIE 84:1989 – The Measurement of Luminous Flux, 1st Edition, V ienna  
CIE-IEC 60081 – Double -capped fluorescent lamps – Performance specifications, Annex B  
IEC-60901 – Sing le-capped fluorescent lamps – Performance specifications  
IEC-60969 – Self-ballasted lamps for general lighting services - Performance requirements.  
Lumi nous flux, 1st Edition , Vienna  
6. MONITORING OF THE STANDARD  
Monitoring compliance with this Standard is the responsibility of the MIFIC through the intermediary 
of the Directorate for Consumer Protection , on the basis of its remit and the legislation in force in the 
country  
7. ENTRY INTO FORCE  
This Standard will take effect 60 days after it is published in the Official Gazette.  
 
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