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CHAPTER 9. TRIAL STANDARD LEVELS 

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

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

9.2 GENERAL SERVICE FLUORESCENT LAMPS.......................................................... 9-1

9.2.1 Representative Product Classes ...........................................................................9-1

9.2.2 Trial Standard Levels........................................................................................... 9-2

9.3 INCANDESCENT REFLECTOR LAMPS..................................................................... 9-4

9.3.1 Representative Product Classes ...........................................................................9-4

9.3.2 Trial Standard Levels........................................................................................... 9-4

LIST OF TABLES 

Table 9.1 Product Classes for GSFL........................................................................................... 9-2

Table 9.2 Trial Standard Levels for GSFL, Represented by Efficacy Levels ............................ 9-2

Table 9.3 Trial Standard Levels for GSFL, as Shown by Efficacy Values ................................9-2

Table 9.4 Product Classes for IRL.............................................................................................. 9-4

Table 9.5 Trial Standard Levels for IRL, as Shown by Efficacy Levels....................................9-5

Table 9.6 Trial Standard Levels for IRL, as Shown by Efficacy Values....................................9-5
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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 

efficacy 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”). Chapter 5 of the TSD and 

section V.A.1 of the final rule Federal Register notice discuss product classes in greater detail. 

DOE then scaled the standards for the representative product classes to create standards for other 

product classes that were not directly analyzed. 

9.2 GENERAL SERVICE FLUORESCENT LAMPS 

9.2.1 Representative Product Classes 

The following lamps with a color correlated temperature (CCT) less than 4,500 kelvin 

(K) compose the five representative product classes for GSFL: (1) 4-foot medium bipin (MBP); 

(2) 8-foot single pin (SP) slimline; (3) 8-foot recessed double contact (RDC) high output (HO) 

lamps; (4) 4-foot miniature bipin (MiniBP) T5 standard output (SO); and (5) 4-foot miniature 

MiniBP T5 HO lamps. Details on how these product classes were selected can be found in 

chapter 5 of the TSD. Table 9.1 shows all GSFL product classes and designates those which 

were considered to be representative. 
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Table 9.1 Product Classes for GSFL 

Lamp Type 

For CCT ≤ 4,500K 

Minimum Lamp Efficacy 

lm/W* 

For CCT > 4,500K 

Minimum Lamp Efficacy 

lm/W 

4-foot medium bipin Representative product class Scaled from ≤4,500K 

2-foot U-shaped Scaled from 4-foot medium bipin Scaled from ≤4,500K 

8-foot single pin slimline Representative product class Scaled from ≤4,500K 

8-foot recessed double contact HO Representative product class Scaled from ≤4,500K 

4-foot T5 miniature bipin SO Representative product class Scaled from ≤ 4,500K 

4-foot T5 miniature bipin HO Representative product class Scaled from ≤ 4,500K 

* lm/W = lumens per watt 

9.2.2 Trial Standard Levels 

DOE developed TSLs that generally follow a trend of increasing efficacy by using higher 

quality phosphors. The TSLs also represent a general move from higher wattage technologies to 

lower wattage, smaller diameter lamps with higher efficacies. DOE analyzes systems that meet 

each efficacy level in the TSLs by pairing standard and reduced-wattage lamps featuring a 

variety of design options with appropriate magnetic or electronic ballasts. As discussed in the 

screening analysis (chapter 4), DOE uses design options with highly emissive electrode coatings, 

higher efficiency lamp fill gas composition, higher efficiency phosphors, glass coatings, or lamp 

diameter to achieve higher efficacy levels. The TSLs for the five representative GSFL product 

classes are shown in Table 9.2 and Table 9.3. 

Table 9.2 Trial Standard Levels for GSFL, Represented by Efficacy Levels 

Representative Product Class TSL 1 TSL 2 TSL 3 TSL 4 TSL 5 

4-Foot Medium Bipin, CCT ≤ 4,500K EL1 EL2 EL3 EL4 EL5 

8-Foot Single Pin Slimline, CCT ≤ 4,500K EL1 EL2 EL3 EL4 EL5 

8-Foot RDC HO, CCT ≤ 4,500K EL1 EL2 EL3 EL4 EL5 

4-Foot Miniature Bipin T5 SO, CCT ≤ 4,500K EL1 EL1 EL1 EL1 EL2 

4-Foot Miniature Bipin T5 HO, CCT ≤ 4,500K EL1 EL1 EL1 EL1 EL1 

Table 9.3 Trial Standard Levels for GSFL, as Shown by Efficacy Values 

Representative Product Class TSL 1 TSL 2 TSL 3 TSL 4 TSL 5 

4-Foot Medium Bipin, CCT ≤ 4,500K 78 81 85 89 93

8-Foot Single Pin Slimline, CCT ≤ 4,500K 86 92 95 97 98

8-Foot RDC HO, CCT ≤ 4,500K 83 86 88 92 95

4-Foot Miniature Bipin T5 SO, CCT ≤ 4,500K 86 86 86 86 90

4-Foot Miniature Bipin T5 HO, CCT ≤ 4,500K 76 76 76 76 76

TSL1, which would set energy conservation standards for GSFL to EL1 for all product 

classes, would eliminate the 4-foot MBP T12 baselines, the 95W T12 8-foot RDC HO baseline, 
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and the 75W T12 8-foot single pin slimline baseline from the market. In the 4-foot MBP product 

class, this TSL could be met either with a 40W T12 lamp using improved 700-series or 800-

series phosphors, or with a 34W T12 lamp using a 700-series phosphor. A 4-foot MBP lamp 

using only halophosphors would not be able to meet this TSL. The 75W 8-foot SP slimline T12 

and 110W RDC HO lamps would need to use an 800-series rare earth phosphor to meet TSL1. 

TSL1 also represents a level which would likely prevent the commercialization of T5 lamps 

which halophosphor coating while allowing for 800-series 4-foot T5 MiniBP and 4-foot T5 

MiniBP HO lamps that are currently commercially available to remain on the market. 

TSL2 would set energy conservation standards for GSFL at EL2 for 4-foot MBP, 8-foot 

SP slimline, and 8-foot RDC HO lamps. The 34W T12 4-foot MBP lamps would likely be 

required to use 800-series rare earth phosphors to meet TSL2. For 40W T12 lamps, TSL2 is 

expected to require a premium 800-series rare earth phosphor and is the maximum TSL that a 

40W T12 would be able to meet. In the 8-foot SP slimline product class, TSL2 is expected to 

require a premium 800-series rare earth phosphor for the 75W T12 and is the maximum TSL that 

75W T12 would likely be able to meet. This standard level would eliminate the 60W T12 

baseline and require a 700-series phosphor for this lamp. In the 8-foot RDC HO product class, 

TSL2 would eliminate 110W T12 lamps and the 95W T12 baseline and would require rare earth 

700-series phosphors for 95W T12 lamps. For T5s, TSL2 still represents the first efficacy level, 

which would allow for 800-series 4-foot T5 MiniBP and 4-foot T5 MiniBP HO lamps to remain 

on the market. 

TSL3 would set energy conservation standards for GSFL at EL3 for 4-foot MBP, 8-foot 

SP slimline, and 8-foot RDC HO lamps. In this product class, the 32W T8 baseline would be 

eliminated from the market. To produce a TSL3-compliant 32W T8 lamp, manufacturers would 

need to use an 800-series rare earth phosphor. The 34W T12 lamps would likely require an 

improved 800-series rare earth phosphor mixture and possibly other design options, such as a 

different gas fill or increased thickness of the bulb-wall phosphor. Only reduced-wattage (34W) 

4-foot MBP T12 lamps are expected to meet this TSL. In the 8-foot SP slimline product class, 

TSL3 would require the use of an 800-series 60W T12 lamp. This standard level is expected to 

eliminate all 75W T12 lamps and require an improved 700-series phosphor for the 60W T12. In 

the 8-foot RDC HO class, TSL3 requires 95W T12 lamps to shift to 800-series rare earth 

phosphors. TSL3 also represents the first efficacy level for 4-foot T5 MiniBP and 4-foot T5 

MiniBP HO lamps, retaining 800-series versions of those lamps on the market. 

TSL4, which would set energy conservation standards for GSFL at EL4 for 4-foot MBP, 

8-foot SP slimline, and 8-foot RDC HO, is expected to eliminate 4,100K T12 lamps from the 

marketplace. TSL4 is also expected to raise the efficacy of all full-wattage T8 lamps above the 

baselines for the aforementioned product classes. In the 4-foot MBP product class, TSL4 could 

be met by improved 800-series full-wattage T8 lamps, or by 800-series 30W and 25W T8 lamps. 

For the 8-foot SP slimline product class. 59W T8 lamps would likely need to use an 800-series 

rare earth phosphor to meet TSL4. TSL4, while expected to eliminate 8-foot T12 RDC HO 

lamps from the market, would require an improved 700-series mixture to be used in T8 lamps for 

this product class. TSL4 also represents the first efficacy level for 4-foot T5 MiniBP and 4-foot 

T5 MiniBP HO lamps, retaining 800-series T5 lamps on the market. 
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 TSL5 represents the max-tech EL for all GSFL product classes. T12 lamps and 700-

series T8 lamps are expected to not be able to meet this level. In the 4-foot MBP and 8-foot SP 

slimline product class, T8 lamps would need to have a premium 800-series rare earth phosphor 

coating to meet TSL5. TSL5 could also be met by the 28W reduced-wattage 4-foot MBP T8 

lamp and the 57W and 55W reduced-wattage 8-foot SP slimline T8 lamps. TSL5 would require 

movement 800-series T8 lamps in the 8-foot RDC HO product class. For the 4-foot T5 MiniBP 

SO product class, a standard-wattage (28W) and reduced-wattage (26W) T5 with an improved 

800-series phosphor would need to be used in order to meet TSL5. Because DOE created only 

one efficacy level for the 4-foot T5 MiniBP HO lamps, TSL5 would set energy conservation 

standards 4-foot T5 MiniBP HO lamps at EL1 and allow 800-series T5 HO lamps to remain on 

the market. 

9.3 INCANDESCENT REFLECTOR LAMPS 

9.3.1 Representative Product Classes 

DOE selected standard-spectrum IRL with a diameter greater than or equal to 2.5 inches 

and voltage less than 125 volts to be a representative product class for IRL. Representative 

product classes are discussed in more detail in chapter 5 of the TSD. Table 9.4 lists the IRL 

product classes. 

Table 9.4 Product Classes for IRL

Lamp Type Diameter Voltage 

≥ 125 > 2.5 inches 

< 125 (representative) 

≥ 125 Standard Spectrum 

≤ 2.5 inches 

< 125 

≥ 125 > 2.5 inches 

< 125 

≥ 125 Modified Spectrum 

≤ 2.5 inches 

< 125 

9.3.2 Trial Standard Levels 

As discussed in the screening analysis (chapter 4), DOE uses design options with highertemperature operation, thinner filaments, efficient filament coiling, efficient filament orientation, 

higher-efficiency inert fill gas, tungsten halogen lamps, higher pressure tungsten halogen lamps, 

infrared glass coatings, higher-efficiency reflector coatings, integrally ballasted low-voltage 

lamps, and efficient filament placing to achieve higher efficacy levels. The efficacy levels for 
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the representative IRL product class and the corresponding efficacy values are shown in Table 

9.5 and Table 9.6. Each TSL is comprised of the same numbered efficacy level for all eight IRL 

product classes. For example, TSL1 contains EL1 for all eight product classes. 

Table 9.5 Trial Standard Levels for IRL, as Shown by Efficacy Levels 

Trial Standard Level (lm/W)* 

IRL Product Class TSL1 TSL2 TSL3 TSL4 TSL5 

Standard Spectrum, Diameter > 2.5in, 

Voltage < 125 EL1 EL2 EL3 EL4 EL5 

*P is the rated wattage of the lamp. 

Table 9.6 Trial Standard Levels for IRL, as Shown by Efficacy Values 

Trial Standard Level (lm/W)* 

IRL Product Class TSL1 TSL2 TSL3 TSL4 TSL5 

Standard Spectrum, Diameter > 2.5in, 

Voltage < 125 4.6P0.27 4.8P0.27 5.4P0.27 5.9P0.27 6.4P0.27

*P is the rated wattage of the lamp. 

TSL1 considers moving all reflector lamps to a level that could be achieved with 

improved efficacy halogen lamps using xenon, a higher efficacy inert fill gas. Such a lamp is 

currently not commercially available at any of the three lumen packages that DOE analyzed, but 

is technologically feasible to produce. To create EL1, DOE developed a model of a lamp with 

xenon gas using information from technical literature and confidential information from 

manufacturers. 

TSL2 considers a level that could be achieved by a halogen capsule with an infrared 

reflective coating and a lamp lifetime of 6,000 hours. An improved halogen lamp that utilizes a 

silver reflective coating, based on an improved halogen lamp with a lifetime of 3,000 hours 

could also meet this level. 

TSL3 considers a level that could be achieved by a halogen capsule with an infrared 

reflective coating and a lamp lifetime of 3,000 hours. Decreasing the lamp lifetime from 6,000 

to 3,000 hours effectively improves the efficiency of the tungsten filament. 

TSL4 considers a level that could be achieved by a 4,000-hour-lifetime improved halogen 

infrared lamp. Improvements in the halogen infrared lamp may include the use of a doubleended halogen infrared burner, higher-efficiency inert fill gas, or more-efficient filament 

orientation. DOE also models an EL4 lamp for the Baseline Lifetime scenario (see chapter 10) 

that utilizes the same technology but features the same lifetime as the baseline lamp in each 

lumen package (2,500 hours, 2,500 hours, and 3,000 hours for the 90W, 75W, and 50W lumen 

packages, respectively). 

 TSL5 considers a level that could be achieved with a 4,200-hour-lifetime halogen 

infrared lamp (even further improved). These further improvements include an improved 

reflector, improved IR coating, or filament and capsule design that produce higher temperature 
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operation. DOE also models an EL5 lamp for the Baseline Lifetime scenario that utilizes the 

same technology as an EL4 lamp but features a lifetime of 2,500 hours for all lumen packages.