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CHAPTER 9. TRIAL STANDARD LEVELS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

9.1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................... 9-1

9.2 REPRESENTATIVE PRODUCT CLASSES ................................................................. 9-1

9.3 TRIAL STANDARD LEVELS ....................................................................................... 9-2

LIST OF TABLES

Table 9.1 Fluorescent Lamp Ballast Product Classes .................................................................. 9-1

Table 9.2 Trial Standard Levels ................................................................................................... 9-2
9-1

CHAPTER 9. TRIAL STANDARD LEVELS 

9.1 INTRODUCTION

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) generated national energy savings (NES) and net 

present value (NPV) results based on trial standard levels (TSLs). The TSLs designate an 

efficiency level (EL) for each product class. ELs are developed for each product class in the 

engineering analysis. In this chapter, DOE is only presenting the TSLs of the product classes 

that DOE analyzed directly (the “representative product classes”).

9.2 REPRESENTATIVE PRODUCT CLASSES

In chapter 3 of the technical support document (TSD), DOE identifies five product 

classes for fluorescent lamp ballasts. Rather than analyze all product classes, DOE selected 

certain product classes as “representative” to analyze in further detail. Representative product 

classes include: (1) instant start (IS) and rapid start (RS) ballasts that operate 4-foot medium 

bipin (MBP) and 8-foot slimline lamps; (2) programmed start (PS) ballasts that operate 4-foot 

MBP, 4-foot T5 miniature bipin (MiniBP) standard output (SO), and 4-foot T5 MiniBP high 

output (HO) lamps; (3) IS and RS ballasts that operate 8-foot HO lamps; and (4) sign ballasts. 

Details on how these product classes were selected can be found in chapter 5 of the TSD. Table 

9.1 shows all of the product classes and designates those which were considered to be 

representative.

Table 9.1 Fluorescent Lamp Ballast Product Classes

Description Product Class Number**

IS and RS ballasts that operate

 4-foot MBP lamps* 

 8-foot slimline lamps 

1 (representative)

PS ballasts that operate

 4-foot MBP lamps* 

 4-foot MiniBP SO lamps

 4-foot MiniBP HO lamps

2 (representative)

IS and RS ballasts that operate

 8-foot HO lamps 3 (representative)

PS ballasts that operate

 8-foot HO lamps 4 

Ballasts that operate

 8-foot HO lamps in cold 

 temperature outdoor signs

5 (representative)

*Includes both commercial and residential ballasts

**Efficiency levels for all product classes are based on an equation
9-2

9.3 TRIAL STANDARD LEVELS

 DOE analyzed the benefits and burdens of a number of TSLs for the ballasts that are the 

subject of today’s proposed rule. Table 9.2 presents the trial standard levels and the 

corresponding product class efficiency levels. See the engineering analysis in chapter 5 of the 

TSD for a more detailed discussion of the efficiency levels.

Table 9.2 Trial Standard Levels

Representative Product Class TSL 1 TSL 2 TSL 3

IS and RS ballasts that operate

 4-foot MBP lamps 

 8-foot slimline lamps

EL1 EL2 EL3

PS ballasts that operate

 4-foot MBP lamps 

 4-foot MiniBP SO lamps

 4-foot MiniBP HO lamps

EL1 EL2 EL3 

IS and RS ballasts that operate

 8-foot HO lamps EL1 EL2 EL3 

Ballasts that operate

 8-foot HO lamps in cold 

 temperature outdoor signs

EL1 EL1 EL1

 

TSL 1, which would set energy conservation standards at EL1 for all product classes, 

would eliminate currently available 2-lamp MBP T12 RS (commercial and residential), lowefficiency 2-lamp 4-foot MBP T8 PS, magnetic 8-foot HO, and magnetic sign ballasts. TSL 1 

would require IS and RS 2-lamp MBP ballasts that operate T8 lamps. TSL 1 does not impact 8-

foot slimline or 4-lamp MBP IS and RS ballasts. TSL 1 also prevents the baseline inefficient T5 

standard and high output ballasts from becoming prevalent in future years. Because sign ballasts 

have only one EL, TSL 1 represents the max tech level for the sign ballast representative product 

class. TSL 2 and TSL 3 also require EL1 for sign ballasts. 

TSL 2 would set energy conservation standards at EL2 for the IS and RS, PS, and 8-foot 

HO IS and RS product classes. This level would eliminate standard-efficiency, dedicated voltage 

2-lamp MBP T8 IS ballasts (commercial and residential), but can be met with standardefficiency universal input voltage 2-lamp MBP T8 IS ballasts commercial ballasts and highefficiency dedicated input voltage 2-lamp MBP T8 IS residential ballasts. TSL 2 eliminates the 

least efficient T12 2-lamp slimline ballasts, and is just met by the least efficient T8 8-foot 

slimline ballasts. TSL 2 does not affect 4-lamp MBP T8 IS ballasts. For PS ballasts, highefficiency 4-foot MBP and high-efficiency T5 standard and high output ballasts are required at 

TSL 2. This TSL would eliminate the least efficient currently available standard and high output 

T5 ballasts. TSL 2 for the 8-foot HO IS and RS product class results in the elimination of current 

T12 electronic ballasts, but can be met with T8 electronic ballasts. 

TSL 3 would set energy conservation standards at EL3 for the IS and RS, PS, and 8-foot 

HO IS and RS product class. TSL 3 represents the highest EL analyzed in all representative 
9-3

product classes and is the max tech TSL. Ballasts that meet TSL 3 represent the most efficient 

models tested by DOE in their respective representative product classes.