Wednesday, 

March 24, 2010 

Part III 

Department of 

Energy 

10 CFR Part 430 

Energy Conservation Program: Test 

Procedures and Standards for Fluorescent 

Lamp Ballasts; Public Meeting and 

Availability of the Preliminary Technical 

Support Document; Proposed Rules 

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14288 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 56 / Wednesday, March 24, 2010 / Proposed Rules 

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 

10 CFR Part 430 

[Docket No. EERE–2009–BT–TP–0016] 

RIN 1904–AB99 

Energy Conservation Program: Test 

Procedures for Fluorescent Lamp 

Ballasts 

AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and 

Renewable Energy, Department of 

Energy. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

and public meeting. 

SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of 

Energy (DOE) proposes major revisions 

to its test procedures for fluorescent 

lamp ballasts established under the 

Energy Policy and Conservation Act. 

The proposed test method would 

eliminate the use of photometric 

measurements in favor of purely 

electrical measurements with the goal of 

reducing measurement variation. DOE 

proposes a set of transfer functions to 

convert the measured ballast electrical 

efficiency to a ballast efficacy factor 

value. These revisions, however, do not 

concern the measurement of energy 

consumption of ballasts in the standby 

and off modes, which DOE addressed in 

another rulemaking. DOE also 

announces a public meeting to receive 

comment on the issues presented in this 

notice. 

DATES: DOE will hold a public meeting 

on Monday, April 26, 2010, beginning at 

9 a.m. in Washington, DC. The agenda 

for the public meeting will first cover 

this test procedure rulemaking for 

fluorescent lamp ballasts, and then the 

concurrent energy conservation 

standards rulemaking (see proposal in 

today’s Federal Register) for the same 

products. Any person requesting to 

speak at the public meeting should 

submit such a request, along with an 

electronic copy of the statement to be 

given at the public meeting, before 4 

p.m., Monday, April 12, 2010. 

DOE will accept comments, data, and 

information regarding this notice of 

proposed rulemaking (NOPR) before or 

after the public meeting, but no later 

than June 7, 2010. See section V, ‘‘Public 

Participation,’’ of this NOPR for details. 

ADDRESSES: The public meeting will be 

held at the U.S. Department of Energy, 

Forrestal Building, Room 8E–089, 1000 

Independence Avenue, SW., 

Washington, DC 20585–0121. To attend 

the public meeting, please notify Ms. 

Brenda Edwards at (202) 586–2945. 

Please note that foreign nationals 

participating in the public meeting are 

subject to advance security screening 

procedures. If a foreign national wishes 

to participate in the workshop, please 

inform DOE of this fact as soon as 

possible by contacting Ms. Brenda 

Edwards at (202) 586–2945 so that the 

necessary procedures can be completed. 

Any comments submitted must 

identify the Fluorescent Lamp Ballast 

Active Mode Test Procedures NOPR, 

and provide the docket number EERE– 

2009–BT–TP–0016 and/or Regulation 

Identifier Number (RIN) 1904–AB99. 

Comments may be submitted using any 

of the following methods: 

Federal eRulemaking Portal: http:// 

www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

instructions for submitting comments. 

E-mail: FLB–2009–TP– 

0016@ee.doe.gov. Include the docket 

number EERE–2009–BT–TP–0016 and/ 

or RIN 1904–AB99 in the subject line of 

the message. 

Postal Mail: Ms. Brenda Edwards, 

U.S. Department of Energy, Building 

Technologies Program, Mailstop EE–2J, 

1000 Independence Avenue, SW., 

Washington, DC, 20585–0121. Please 

submit one signed paper original. 

Hand Delivery/Courier: Ms. Brenda 

Edwards, U.S. Department of Energy, 

Building Technologies Program, 6th 

Floor, 950 L’Enfant Plaza, SW., 

Washington, DC 20024. Telephone: 

(202) 586–2945. Please submit one 

signed paper original. 

For detailed instructions on 

submitting comments and additional 

information on the rulemaking process, 

see section V, ‘‘Public Participation,’’ of 

this document. 

Docket: For access to the docket to 

read background documents or 

comments received, visit the U.S. 

Department of Energy, 6th Floor, 950 

L’Enfant Plaza, SW., Washington, DC 

20024, (202) 586–2945, between 9 a.m. 

and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, 

except Federal holidays. Please call Ms. 

Brenda Edwards at (202) 586–2945 for 

additional information regarding 

visiting the Resource Room. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. 

Linda Graves, U.S. Department of 

Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and 

Renewable Energy, Building 

Technologies Program, EE–2J, 1000 

Independence Avenue, SW., 

Washington, DC 20585–0121. 

Telephone: (202) 586–1851. E-mail: 

Linda.Graves@ee.doe.gov. In the Office 

of General Counsel, contact Ms. Betsy 

Kohl, U.S. Department of Energy, Office 

of the General Counsel, GC–71, 1000 

Independence Avenue, SW., 

Washington, DC 20585. Telephone: 

(202) 586–7796. E-mail: 

Betsy.Kohl@hq.doe.gov. 

For additional information on how to 

submit or review public comments and 

on how to participate in the public 

meeting, contact Ms. Brenda Edwards, 

U.S. Department of Energy, Office of 

Energy Efficiency and Renewable 

Energy, Building Technologies Program, 

EE–2J, 1000 Independence Avenue, 

SW., Washington, DC 20585–0121. 

Telephone: (202) 586–2945. E-mail: 

Brenda.Edwards@ee.doe.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Table of Contents 

I. Authority and Background 

II. Summary of the Proposal 

III. Discussion 

A. Scope of Applicability 

1. Ballasts Covered 

2. Effective Date 

B. Existing Test Procedure 

C. Drawbacks of Existing BEF Test 

Procedure 

D. Efficiency Metric for Fluorescent Lamp 

Ballasts 

E. Test Procedure Improvement Options 

1. Resistor-Based Ballast Efficiency 

Correlated to Ballast Efficacy Factor 

2. Lamp-Based Ballast Efficiency 

Correlated to Ballast Efficacy Factor 

3. Improvements to Existing Test 

Procedure 

4. Relative System Efficacy 

F. Proposed Test Procedure 

1. Test Conditions 

2. Test Setup 

3. Test Method 

4. Calculations 

5. Transfer Equations—General Method 

6. Transfer Equations—Testing, Analysis, 

and Results 

7. Resistor Value Determination 

8. Non-Operational Ballasts When 

Connected to a Resistor 

9. Existing Test Procedure Update 

10. References to ANSI C82.2–2002 

G. Burden to Conduct the Proposed Test 

Procedure 

H. Impact on Measured Energy Efficiency 

I. Certification and Enforcement 

IV. Procedural Issues and Regulatory Review 

A. Executive Order 12866 

B. National Environmental Policy Act 

C. Regulatory Flexibility Act 

D. Paperwork Reduction Act 

E. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 

F. Treasury and General Government 

Appropriations Act, 1999 

G. Executive Order 13132 

H. Executive Order 12988 

I. Treasury and General Government 

Appropriations Act, 2001 

J. Executive Order 13211 

K. Executive Order 12630 

L. Section 32 of the Federal Energy 

Administration Act of 1974 

V. Public Participation 

A. Attendance at Public Meeting 

B. Procedure for Submitting Requests to 

Speak 

C. Conduct of Public Meeting 

D. Submission of Comments 

E. Issues on Which DOE Seeks Comment 

1. All Aspects of the Existing Test 

Procedure for Active Mode Energy 

Consumption 

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Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 56 / Wednesday, March 24, 2010 / Proposed Rules 14289 

1American National Standards Institute. 

2 ‘‘American National Standards for Fluorescent 

Lamp Ballasts—Methods of Measurement.’’ 

Approved October 21, 1983. 

2. Appropriate Usage of ANSI Standards 

3. Method of Measurement for Dimming 

Ballasts 

4. Resistor-based Ballast Efficiency Test 

Method 

5. Alternative Approaches to Amending 

the Test Procedure 

6. Ballasts that do not Operate Resistors 

7. Ballast Factor Variation Due to 

Variations in Measured Lamp Power 

8. Ballast Factor Binning 

9. Transfer Equations 

10. Scaling Transfer Equations 

11. Burden on Manufacturers and Testing 

Facilities 

VI. Approval of the Office of the Secretary 

I. Authority and Background 

Title III of the Energy Policy and 

Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6291 et 

seq.; EPCA or the Act) sets forth a 

variety of provisions designed to 

improve energy efficiency. Part A of 

Title III (42 U.S.C. 6291–6309) 

establishes the ‘‘Energy Conservation 

Program for Consumer Products Other 

Than Automobiles,’’ which covers 

consumer products and certain 

commercial products (all of which are 

referred to below as ‘‘covered 

products’’), including fluorescent lamp 

ballasts (ballasts). (42 U.S.C. 6291(1)(2) 

and 6292(a)(13)) 

Under the Act, the overall program 

consists essentially of the following 

parts: testing, labeling, and Federal 

energy conservation standards. The 

testing requirements consist of test 

procedures, prescribed under EPCA, 

that manufacturers of covered products 

must use as the basis for certifying to 

the DOE that their products comply 

with energy conservation standards 

adopted under EPCA and for 

representations as to the efficiency of 

their products. Also, these test 

procedures must be used whenever 

testing is required in an enforcement 

action to determine whether covered 

products comply with EPCA standards. 

Section 323 of EPCA (42 U.S.C. 6293) 

sets forth generally applicable criteria 

and procedures for DOE’s adoption and 

amendment of test procedures. It states, 

for example, that ‘‘[a]ny test procedures 

prescribed or amended under this 

section shall be reasonably designed to 

produce test results which measure 

energy efficiency, energy use,* * * or 

estimated annual operating cost of a 

covered product during a representative 

average use cycle or period of use, as 

determined by the Secretary [of Energy], 

and shall not be unduly burdensome to 

conduct.’’ (42 U.S.C. 6293(b)(3)) In 

addition, if DOE determines that a test 

procedure amendment is warranted, it 

must publish proposed test procedures 

and offer the public an opportunity to 

present oral and written comments on 

them. (42 U.S.C. 6293(b)(2)) Finally, in 

any rulemaking to amend a test 

procedure, DOE must determine ‘‘to 

what extent, if any, the proposed test 

procedure would alter the measured 

energy efficiency * * * of any covered 

product as determined under the 

existing test procedure.’’ (42 U.S.C. 

6293(e)(1)) If DOE determines that the 

amended test procedure would alter the 

measured efficiency of a covered 

product, DOE must amend the 

applicable energy conservation standard 

accordingly. (42 U.S.C. 6293(e)(2)) 

As to fluorescent lamp ballasts 

specifically, DOE must ‘‘prescribe test 

procedures that are in accord with 

ANSI 1 standard C82.2–1984 2 or other 

test procedures determined appropriate 

by the Secretary.’’ (42 U.S.C. 6293(b)(5)) 

DOE’s existing test procedures for 

ballasts, adopted pursuant to these and 

the above-described provisions, appear 

at 10 CFR Part 430, Subpart B, 

Appendix Q. 

This test procedure rulemaking will 

fulfill the periodic review requirement 

prescribed by the Energy Independence 

and Security Act of 2007. ‘‘At least once 

every 7 years, the Secretary shall review 

test procedures for all covered products 

and—amend test procedures with 

respect to any covered product * * * or 

publish notice in the Federal Register of 

any determination not to amend a test 

procedure.’’ (42 U.S.C. 6293(b)(1)(A) 

DOE invites comment on all aspects of 

the existing test procedures for 

fluorescent lamp ballasts for active 

mode energy consumption that appear 

at Title 10 of the CFR Part 430, Subpart 

B, Appendix Q (‘‘Uniform Test Method 

for Measuring the Energy Consumption 

of Fluorescent Lamp Ballasts’’). 

In a separate rulemaking proceeding, 

DOE is considering amending energy 

conservation standards for fluorescent 

lamp ballasts (docket number EERE– 

2007–BT–STD– 0016; hereinafter 

referred to as the ‘‘fluorescent lamp 

ballast standards rulemaking’’). DOE 

initiated that rulemaking by publishing 

a Federal Register (FR) notice 

announcing a public meeting and 

availability of the framework document 

(‘‘Energy Efficiency Program for 

Consumer Products: Public Meeting and 

Availability of the Framework 

Document for Fluorescent Lamp 

Ballasts,’’) on January 22, 2008. 73 FR 

3653. DOE has completed the 

preliminary analyses for the energy 

conservation standard rulemaking and 

published in today’s Federal Register a 

notice announcing a public meeting and 

availability of the preliminary technical 

support document. 

On February 6, 2008, DOE held a 

public meeting in Washington, DC, to 

discuss the framework document for the 

fluorescent lamp ballast energy 

conservation standards rulemaking 

(hereinafter referred to as the ‘‘2008 

public meeting’’). At that meeting, 

attendees also discussed potential 

revisions to the test procedure for active 

mode energy consumption. All 

comments on the fluorescent lamp 

ballast standards rulemaking regarding 

the measurement of active mode energy 

consumption are discussed in section III 

of this proposed rulemaking. 

DOE has also completed a standby 

mode and off mode test procedure. The 

Energy Independence and Security Act 

of 2007 (Pub. L. 110–140) amended 

EPCA to require that, for each covered 

product for which DOE’s current test 

procedures do not fully account for 

standby mode and off mode energy 

consumption, DOE amend the test 

procedures to include standby mode 

and off mode energy consumption into 

the overall energy efficiency, energy 

consumption, or other energy descriptor 

for that product. If an integrated test 

procedure is technically infeasible, DOE 

must prescribe a separate standby mode 

and off mode energy use test procedure, 

if technically feasible. (EPCA section 

325(gg)(2)(A); 42 U.S.C. 6295(gg)(2)(A)) 

DOE published a final rule addressing 

standby mode and off mode energy 

consumption for fluorescent lamp 

ballasts in the Federal Register on 

October 22, 2009. 74 FR 54445. 

II. Summary of the Proposal 

In this notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NOPR), DOE proposes to modify the 

current test procedures for fluorescent 

lamp ballasts to revise the scope of 

applicability of this test procedure for 

consistency with the ongoing 

fluorescent lamp ballast standards 

rulemaking, improve measurement 

variability, and update the referenced 

standards. DOE also proposes 

provisions for manufacturers to submit 

compliance statements and certification 

reports for fluorescent lamp ballasts. 

The following paragraphs summarize 

these proposed changes. 

In the preliminary technical support 

document for the fluorescent lamp 

ballast standards rulemaking, DOE 

makes a preliminary determination of 

the scope of coverage. Today’s proposed 

test procedure includes specific 

procedures for ballasts identified in the 

preliminary determination of scope. If 

the scope of coverage changes in the 

fluorescent lamp ballast standards 

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14290 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 56 / Wednesday, March 24, 2010 / Proposed Rules 

rulemaking, DOE will add or remove 

provisions from the test procedure so 

that it is consistent with the final scope 

of coverage of standards. The 

preliminary determination of scope 

includes ballasts that operate multiple 

numbers of lamps (one through six), all 

values of ballast factor, and many 

different lamp classes including 4-foot 

medium bipin T8 and T12 lamps, 4-foot 

T5 miniature bipin lamps, 8-foot single 

pin slimline T8 and T12 lamps, and 8- 

foot recessed double contact high output 

T8 and T12 lamps. See section III.A.1 

for further detail. 

In addition to matching the scope of 

coverage for the active mode test 

procedure to the scope of coverage being 

considered in the fluorescent lamp 

ballast standards rulemaking, the 

proposed amendments seek to reduce 

the measurement variation inherent in 

the existing test procedure. The existing 

test procedure exhibits variation in 

measurements of a similar magnitude to 

the spread in efficiency within many 

fluorescent lamp ballast product classes 

analyzed in the preliminary 

determination. The test measurement 

variation can be attributed to reference 

lamp variation, lamp operation 

conditions, and ballast wiring. DOE 

believes a test procedure with reduced 

variation will allow for more precise 

standard setting and certification, 

compliance, and enforcement testing. 

DOE’s proposed test method greatly 

reduces the impact of reference lamps 

on measurement variation. The method 

calculates a ballast input power and 

output power using only electrical 

measurements and resistors that 

simulate the load placed on a ballast by 

a fluorescent lamp at a given operating 

condition. Because a resistor can be 

manufactured with much smaller 

performance tolerances than a 

fluorescent lamp, the resistor introduces 

much less variation to the operating 

characteristics of the ballast. This 

revised test method delivers increased 

precision, thereby allowing for greater 

resolution. The procedure proposed in 

this rulemaking measures ballast input 

power and ballast output power and 

then calculates ballast electrical 

efficiency (output power divided by 

input power). The ballast electrical 

efficiency is then converted to ballast 

efficacy factor (BEF) using a transfer 

equation to maintain the reported metric 

for energy efficiency as BEF for 

consistency with use of BEF in 42 

U.S.C. 6295(g)(5) and (g)(8). DOE 

developed the transfer equation by 

measuring several ballasts within a 

product class for ballast efficiency (BE) 

using the proposed BE test procedure 

and for BEF using the existing test 

procedure, and then calculating a line of 

best fit for the combined data. This 

proposed method is hereafter referred to 

as the resistor-based ballast efficiency 

test procedure. 

Prior to selecting the proposed test 

method, DOE also considered three 

other methods as potential 

improvements in the revised test 

procedure: (1) The lamp-based ballast 

efficiency (correlated to BEF) method, 

(2) the existing BEF method with 

revisions to reduce variation; and (3) the 

relative system efficacy (RSE) method. 

DOE’s initial assessment of the lampbased ballast efficiency method, which 

uses a lamp as a load, rather than a 

resistor, indicated that, similar to the 

resistor-based ballast efficiency method, 

there could be significant improvements 

by eliminating light output-based 

measurements. However, adopting that 

method would result in a test procedure 

that was still susceptible to lamp-tolamp variability. DOE explored the 

existing light-output-based test 

procedure and found improvements 

could be made without making 

fundamental changes. DOE believes that 

tightening tolerances on certain 

specifications and clarifying looselydefined directions can reduce 

measurement variation relative to the 

existing test procedure for fluorescent 

ballasts, but to a lesser extent than the 

proposed resistor-based BE test 

procedure. DOE found the RSE method 

to exhibit larger variation than the 

proposed resistor-based BE test 

procedure because it uses the same 

measurement techniques as the existing 

test procedure. 

In any rulemaking to amend a test 

procedure, DOE must determine ‘‘to 

what extent, if any, the proposed test 

procedure would alter the measured 

energy efficiency * * * of any covered 

product as determined under the 

existing test procedure.’’ (42 U.S.C. 

6293(e)(1)) If DOE determines that the 

amended test procedure would alter the 

measured efficiency of a covered 

product, DOE must amend the 

applicable energy conservation standard 

accordingly. (42 U.S.C. 6293(e)(2)) The 

proposed test procedure would change 

the measured energy efficiency of some 

products relative to the existing test 

procedure. To ensure that the standards 

developed in the ongoing fluorescent 

lamp ballast standards rulemaking 

account for any changes to the test 

procedure, DOE is developing the 

standards based on the measured energy 

efficiency generated by the active mode 

test procedure proposed in this 

rulemaking. As a result, DOE proposes 

an effective date for this revised test 

procedure, to be published as Appendix 

Q1 of 10 CFR part 430 Subpart B, 

concurrent with the compliance date of 

the fluorescent lamp ballast standards 

rulemaking (approximately June 30, 

2014). DOE plans to publish the final 

rule establishing the procedures in 

Appendix Q1 in the same rule 

document as the final rule establishing 

any amended standards. 

DOE notes that ballasts that operate 

one or two 40 or 34 watt (W) 4-foot T12 

medium bipin lamps (F40T12 and 

F34T12), two 75 W or 60 W 8-foot T12 

single pin slimline lamps (F96T12 and 

F96T12/ES); and two 110 W and 95 W 

8-foot T12 recessed double contact high 

output lamps (F96T12HO and 

F96T12HO/ES) are covered by existing 

energy conservation standards. 10 CFR 

430.32(m). Until the proposed effective 

date of the test procedure to be 

published at Appendix Q1, these 

ballasts should continue to be tested 

using the existing test procedure to 

determine compliance with existing 

standards. DOE proposes in this NOPR 

to make minor updates to the existing 

test procedure, published at Appendix 

Q to Subpart B of part 430. DOE would 

update the reference to ANSI C82.2– 

1984 in the existing test procedure 

(appendix Q) to ANSI C82.2–2002. 

Because DOE does not believe the 

updated standard will impose increased 

testing burden or alter the measured 

BEF of fluorescent lamp ballasts, DOE 

proposes that the amendments to 

Appendix Q be effective 30 days after 

publication of this test procedure final 

rule. DOE notes that because use of the 

test method in Appendix Q1 is not 

appropriate for those ballasts that 

cannot operate a resistor load bank, 

manufacturers would continue to test 

those ballasts using the test method set 

forth in Appendix Q. In addition, the 

test procedures for any ballasts that 

operate in standby mode are also 

located in Appendix Q. 

DOE also proposes amending the 

language in 10 CFR 430.62 to require 

fluorescent lamp ballast manufacturers 

to submit compliance statements and 

certification reports. This provision 

would also be effective 30 days after 

publication of this test procedure final 

rule. Ballast manufacturers would begin 

to submit these documents to certify 

compliance with existing fluorescent 

lamp ballast energy conservation 

standards using the test procedures at 

Appendix Q one year following 

publication of this final rule. Ballast 

manufacturers would certify compliance 

with any amended standards using the 

test procedures at Appendix Q1 

beginning one year following the 

compliance date of the amended 

standards. 

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3The July 14, 2009 final rule establishing 

amended energy conservation standard for general 

service fluorescent lamps and incandescent 

reflector lamps (74 FR 34080) adopted a new 

definition for ‘‘rated wattage’’ that can be found in 

10 CFR 430.2. Please see http:// 

www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/ 

appliance_standards/residential/ 

incandescent_lamps.html for further information. 

4Lumen package refers to the quantity of light 

generated by a lamp and ballast system. For 

example, 8-foot RDC high output HO lamps and 4- 

foot miniature bipin (MiniBP) HO lamps tend to 

operate at higher currents than 8-foot single pin 

(SP) slimline lamps and 4-foot MiniBP standard 

output (SO) lamps, respectively. This difference in 

operating design increases the quantity of light per 

unit of lamp length. 

5A notation in the form ‘‘ASAP, Public Meeting 

Transcript, No. 9 at p. 29’’ identifies a statement 

made in a public meeting that DOE has received 

and has included in the docket of this rulemaking. 

This particular notation refers to a comment: (1) 

Submitted during the public meeting on February 

6, 2008; (2) in document number 9 in the docket 

of this rulemaking; and (3) appearing on page 29 of 

the transcript. 

6Ballast type refers to a grouping of ballasts that 

use the same starting method, and operate lamps of 

the same diameter, lumen package, base type, and 

length. For example, instant-start ballasts that 

operate 4-foot medium bipin T8 lamps. 

III. Discussion 

A. Scope of Applicability 

1. Ballasts Covered 

Today’s proposed test procedure is 

applicable to the fluorescent lamp 

ballasts covered in the preliminary 

determination of scope outlined in the 

preliminary technical support document 

for the fluorescent lamp ballast 

standards rulemaking. The preliminary 

determination of scope is as follows: 

(1) Ballasts that operate one, two, three, 

four, five, or six straight-shaped lamps 

(commonly referred to as 4-foot medium 

bipin lamps) with medium bipin bases, a 

nominal overall length of 48 inches, a rated 

wattage 3 of 25 watts (W) or more, and an 

input voltage at or between 120 volts (V) and 

277 V; 

(2) Ballasts that operate one, two, three, 

four, five, or six U-shaped lamps (commonly 

referred to as 2-foot U-shaped lamps) with 

medium bipin bases, a nominal overall 

length between 22 and 25 inches, a rated 

wattage of 25 W or more, and an input 

voltage at or between 120 V and 277 V; 

(3) Ballasts that operate one or two rapidstart lamps (commonly referred to as 8-foot 

high output lamps) with recessed double 

contact bases, a nominal overall length of 96 

inches and an input voltage at or between 

120 V and 277 V; 

(4) Ballasts that operate one or two instantstart lamps (commonly referred to as 8-foot 

slimline lamps) with single pin bases, a 

nominal overall length of 96 inches, a rated 

wattage of 52 W or more, and an input 

voltage at or between 120 V and 277 V; 

(5) Ballasts that operate one or two straightshaped lamps (commonly referred to as 4- 

foot miniature bipin standard output lamps) 

with miniature bipin bases, a nominal length 

between 45 and 48 inches, a rated wattage of 

26 W or more, and an input voltage at or 

between 120 V and 277 V; 

(6) Ballasts that operate one, two, three, or 

four straight-shaped lamps (commonly 

referred to as 4-foot miniature bipin high 

output lamps) with miniature bipin bases, a 

nominal length between 45 and 48 inches, a 

rated wattage of 49 W or more, and an input 

voltage at or between 120 V and 277 V; 

(7) Ballasts that operate one, two, three, or 

four straight-shaped lamps (commonly 

referred to as 4-foot medium bipin lamps) 

with medium bipin bases, a nominal overall 

length of 48 inches, a rated wattage of 25 W 

or more, an input voltage at or between 120 

V and 277 V, a power factor of less than 0.90, 

and designed and labeled for use in 

residential applications; and 

(8) Ballasts that operate one, two, three, 

four, five, or six rapid-start lamps (commonly 

referred to as 8-foot high output lamps) with 

recessed double contact bases, a nominal 

overall length of 96 inches, an input voltage 

at or between 120 V and 277 V, and that 

operate at ambient temperatures of 20 

degrees Fahrenheit (°F) or less and are used 

in outdoor signs. 

For the proposed test procedure in 

this rulemaking, DOE would establish 

particular test setups and calculations 

depending on the product class. When 

evaluating and establishing energy 

conservation standards, DOE divides 

covered products into product classes 

by the type of energy used, capacity, or 

other performance-related features that 

affect efficiency, considering factors 

such as the utility of the product to 

users. (See 42 U.S.C. 6295(q)) The 

fluorescent lamp ballast standards 

rulemaking delineates product classes 

based on the maximum number of 

lamps operated by a ballast, ballast 

factor, starting method, lumen package,4

lamp base, market sector, and lamp 

length. Ballasts contained in the same 

product class are subject to the same 

energy conservation standards. 

At the 2008 Framework public 

meeting for the fluorescent lamp ballast 

standards rulemaking, the Appliance 

Standards Awareness Project (ASAP) 

asked DOE to elaborate on how the 

schedules for the fluorescent lamp 

ballast energy conservation standard 

and active mode test procedure 

rulemakings interact. (ASAP,5 Public 

Meeting Transcript, No. 9 at p. 29) 

Because the fluorescent lamp ballast 

standards rulemaking is in the 

preliminary analysis phase of the 

rulemaking process, the proposed scope 

of coverage is still in draft form. To 

ensure consistency in the scope of 

coverage, DOE plans to publish the final 

rule for this test procedure rulemaking 

concurrently with the ballasts standards 

rulemaking final rule (scheduled for 

June 30, 2011). Concurrent publication 

affords DOE the opportunity to 

synchronize its test procedure with the 

final scope of coverage for the 

fluorescent lamp ballast standards 

rulemaking. If a ballast type 6 is 

removed from the scope of coverage, 

DOE will eliminate the pertinent test 

procedures from the active mode test 

procedure in the final rule. Conversely, 

in the event additional ballasts are 

added to the scope of coverage, DOE 

will develop test procedures for these 

ballasts and update the active mode test 

procedure in a subsequent rulemaking. 

For example, in the preliminary 

analyses of the fluorescent lamp ballast 

standards rulemaking, DOE’s 

preliminary scope of coverage that does 

not include ballasts capable of dimming. 

As DOE invites comment on this in the 

fluorescent lamp ballast standards 

rulemaking, if DOE’s final scope of 

coverage includes dimming ballasts, 

DOE will need finalize test procedures 

for these ballasts. DOE also invites 

comment in this test procedure 

rulemaking on suggested methods of 

measuring the efficiency of dimmingcapable ballasts. 

2. Effective Date 

Because some of the test procedure 

amendments proposed for Appendix Q1 

will change measured efficiency and 

therefore affect compliance with 

existing standards, DOE proposes an 

effective date of the revised test 

procedure in Appendix Q1 to Subpart B 

concurrent with the compliance date of 

the energy conservation standards 

prescribed by the fluorescent lamp 

ballast standards rulemaking. DOE also 

plans to publish the final rule 

establishing the procedures in 

Appendix Q1 in the same rule 

document as the final rule establishing 

any amended standards. In the 

fluorescent lamp ballast standards 

rulemaking, DOE is developing 

standards that correspond with the 

active mode test procedure proposed in 

this rulemaking. The proposed active 

mode test procedure would be used to 

test ballast efficiency on or after the 

compliance date of the fluorescent lamp 

ballast standards rulemaking 

(approximately June 2014). Until this 

compliance date, fluorescent lamp 

ballasts would continue to be tested 

using the existing test procedure in 

Appendix Q to determine compliance 

with existing standards. Because the 

modifications to Appendix Q (an update 

to referenced industry standards) do not 

affect the measured efficiency, DOE 

proposes that they be effective 30 days 

after publication of this test procedure 

final rule. DOE notes that because use 

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7The photocell output of a light source is 

measured in units of watts. Photocell output (watts) 

is one method of measuring the light output of a 

light source. Through the remainder of this 

document, DOE refers to the output of a fluorescent 

lamp as ‘‘light output,’’ even though the existing test 

procedure indicates measuring the light with 

photocell output. 

8A notation in the form ‘‘NEMA, No. 11 at p. 2’’ 

identifies a written comment that DOE has received 

and has included in the docket of this rulemaking 

or a written docket submission. This particular 

notation refers to a comment: (1) Submitted by 

NEMA; (2) in document number 11 in the docket 

of this rulemaking; and appearing on page 2. 

of the test method in Appendix Q1 is 

not appropriate for those ballasts that 

cannot operate a resistor load bank, 

manufacturers would continue to test 

those ballasts using the test method set 

forth in Appendix Q. In addition, the 

test procedures for any ballasts that 

operate in standby mode are also 

located in Appendix Q. 

Certification and compliance 

procedures for fluorescent lamp ballasts 

are also proposed in this rulemaking. 

Because these provisions also do not 

affect measured efficiency, DOE 

proposes that they be effective 30 days 

after publication of this test procedure 

final rule. Accordingly, manufacturers 

of fluorescent lamp ballasts would be 

required to submit compliance 

statements and certification reports to 

certify compliance with existing 

standards, using the test procedures at 

Appendix Q, one year following 

publication of the test procedure final 

rule. Ballast manufacturers would 

certify compliance with any amended 

standards using the test procedures at 

Appendix Q1 beginning one year 

following the compliance date of the 

amended standards. 

B. Existing Test Procedure 

The existing ballast test procedure (in 

Appendix Q to Subpart B of 10 CFR part 

430) used to determine the energy 

efficiency of a fluorescent lamp ballast 

is based on light output measurements 

and ballast input power. The metric 

used is called ballast efficacy factor 

(BEF). BEF is the relative light output 

divided by the power input of a 

fluorescent lamp ballast, as measured 

under test conditions specified in ANSI 

standard C82.2–1984, or as may be 

prescribed by the Secretary. 42 U.S.C. 

6291(29)(C) 

The BEF metric uses light output of 

the lamp and ballast system instead of 

ballast electrical output power in its 

calculation of the efficiency of a ballast. 

To measure relative light output, ANSI 

C82.2–1984 directs the user to measure 

the photocell output 7 of the test ballast 

operating a reference lamp and the light 

output of a reference ballast operating 

the same reference lamp. Dividing 

photocell output of the test ballast by 

the photocell output of the reference 

ballast yields relative light output or 

ballast factor (BF). Concurrent with 

measuring relative light output, the user 

is directed to measure ballast input 

power. BEF is then calculated by 

dividing relative light output by input 

power. A ballast that produces more 

light than another ballast with the same 

input power will have a larger BEF. 

C. Drawbacks of Existing BEF Test 

Procedure 

In response to the framework 

document for the fluorescent lamp 

ballast standards rulemaking, DOE 

received numerous written and verbal 

comments from interested parties on the 

usage of ballast efficacy factor as the 

metric for describing the energy 

consumption of fluorescent lamp 

ballasts. The National Electrical 

Manufacturers Association (NEMA) 

commented that in previous 

rulemakings regarding efficiency of 

ballasts, the variation in BEF 

measurements was less of an issue 

because the range of efficiency in the 

market was much larger. The spread in 

the measured energy efficiency between 

magnetic and electronic ballasts, for 

example, was much larger than the 

measurement variation inherent to the 

existing test procedure. However, in the 

current market, the spread in efficiency 

between ballasts has a much smaller 

range. (NEMA, Public Meeting 

Transcript, No. 9 at p. 23, pp. 56–57) 

NEMA commented that DOE should 

change the metric away from BEF 

because BEF measurements made in 

accordance with the current fluorescent 

lamp ballast test procedure (appendix 

Q) can be shown to have a measurement 

uncertainty on the order of 5 percent. 

NEMA stated that when measuring the 

same ballast at different test laboratories 

with different examples of the same 

reference lamp, the spread in test results 

is similar to the range of T8 ballast BEFs 

observed in the market today. NEMA 

reasoned that in order to have 

meaningful verification of a standard 

DOE would need a metric that 

delineates between the products on the 

market. According to NEMA, the ballast 

industry would be challenged to come 

to consensus on a standard when so 

much variation existed in the data. 

(NEMA, Public Meeting Transcript, No. 

9 at p. 23, pp. 35–36, pp. 56–58; 

NEMA,8 No. 11 at p. 2) 

DOE understands NEMA’s concerns 

regarding the measurement uncertainty 

related to the BEF measurement method 

under the existing fluorescent lamp 

ballast test procedure. The measurement 

uncertainty would negatively impact 

DOE’s ability to set standards for 

ballasts, as it could be difficult to 

distinguish between typical and highefficiency ballasts. DOE agrees with 

NEMA’s description that the range of 

efficiencies of ballasts available in the 

market have in general decreased and 

acknowledges the need for a test method 

or metric that reduces systematic error 

and generates more reliable test results. 

Reduced variation in test procedure 

calculations will allow for more precise 

standard setting and certification, 

compliance, and enforcement testing. 

DOE is proposing a test procedure that 

is designed to reduce systematic error 

and enhance energy conservation 

standard-setting capabilities. 

NEMA also stated that lamp 

manufacturing variations will create 

variations in measured BEF values. 

(NEMA, Public Meeting Transcript, No. 

9 at p. 38; NEMA, No. 11 at p. 6; GE, 

Public Meeting Transcript, No. 9 at p. 

43) DOE agrees that a number of factors, 

in particular the manufacturing 

variability of lamps, can contribute to 

producing this uncertainty. Due to lamp 

manufacturing variability and in order 

to reduce the performance variation 

among those lamps selected for testing, 

industry standards referenced in the test 

procedure specify a narrower range of 

operating conditions for reference 

lamps. ANSI C82.1–1977 (referenced by 

ANSI C82.2–1984) specifies that a 

reference lamp must not vary more than 

2.5 percent from the lamp parameters 

given in the ANSI C78 Series (1972 

edition and 1975 supplement) for 

fluorescent lamp electrical 

characteristics. Even this narrowed 

variation allowed in the measured lamp 

power, however, has a significant 

impact on the variation in BEF. Changes 

in measured lamp input power result in 

disproportionate changes to the 

numerator (ballast factor) and the 

denominator (input power) in the BEF 

metric. The percent change in ballast 

factor is not as great as the percent 

change in ballast input power for a 

given change in measured lamp input 

power. Consequently, the same ballast 

will generate different values of BEF 

when tested on reference lamps with 

different measured power. 

GE commented that in addition to 

reference lamp manufacturing variation, 

BEF can vary depending on the testing 

facility. (GE, Public Meeting Transcript, 

No. 9 at p. 43) DOE agrees that 

deviations in test facility environmental 

conditions can result in dissimilarities 

in measured BEF. ANSI C82.2–1984 

(incorporated in the existing test 

procedure) allows ambient temperature 

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9Lamp type describes a grouping of lamps that 

have the same length, lumen package, base type, 

and diameter. 

10 In the fluorescent lamp ballast standards 

rulemaking, DOE has tentatively determined that 

while rapid-start ballasts do not offer distinct utility 

compared to instant-start ballasts, programmed-start 

ballasts do offer distinct utility compared to instantstart ballasts. DOE found that consumers frequently 

use rapid-start ballasts as replacements for instantstart ballasts. Programmed-start ballasts, however, 

can increase lamp lifetime for frequent on/off 

cycling applications (e.g. for use with occupancy 

sensors), providing consumer utility. Therefore, 

DOE has tentatively determined to group rapid-start 

ballasts and instant-start ballast in the same product 

class and place programmed-start ballasts in a 

separate product class. 

to vary ±1 degrees Celsius (°C) from 25 

°C. Through testing, DOE has shown 

ambient temperature to have an effect 

on BEF measurements. Specifically, 

DOE found that changes in ambient 

temperature as small as 1 °C resulted in 

changes in BEF as much as 1.5 percent. 

NEMA commented that the BEF 

measurement requires photometric 

measurements of a reference lamp 

attached to the test ballast; thus, BEF 

values cannot be compared across 

ballasts that operate different lamp 

types. A more appropriate metric would 

not depend on lamp parameters or 

requirements. (NEMA, Public Meeting 

Transcript, No. 9 at p. 38, pp. 124–125; 

NEMA, No. 11 at p. 6) NEMA also stated 

that an alternative metric that is 

comparable across all instant-start or 

programmed-start ballasts and capable 

of including lamp types yet to be 

developed would be preferable to the 

existing test procedure using BEF. 

(NEMA, Public Meeting Transcript, No. 

9 at pp. 76–77, p. 99) NEMA further 

commented that some lamps do not 

have ANSI standards governing their 

operating characteristics. Considerable 

variation in lamp operating conditions 

exists among manufacturers for these 

lamps because the industry has not 

reached a formal consensus. (NEMA, 

Public Meeting Transcript, No. 9 at pp. 

76–77) NEMA suggested that DOE 

consider an alternative metric based on 

measuring ballast input and output 

electrical power as discussed in section 

III.E. (NEMA, Public Meeting 

Transcript, No. 9 at p. 32, pp. 37–38) 

DOE recognizes that BEF is not 

comparable across all ballasts. BEF is 

measured and calculated using 

fluorescent lamps that vary in measured 

power, thereby impacting ballast input 

power. As a consequence, BEF is 

dependent on lamp type.9 DOE plans to 

organize the covered ballasts into 

different product classes based on 

consumer utility and energy efficiency 

differences. Because DOE will consider 

a separate energy conservation standard 

for each of these product classes, the 

test procedure must make comparisons 

in energy efficiency possible within a 

product class. However, the existing 

BEF method does not allow for such 

comparisons in all circumstances, as 

explained in the following paragraph. 

DOE recognizes that comparison across 

product classes may also be useful for 

consumers of fluorescent lamp ballasts. 

DOE addresses this issue in its 

discussion of the resistor-based BE 

method in section III.E.1. 

In the ongoing fluorescent lamp 

ballast standards rulemaking, DOE has 

tentatively determined there is no 

distinct consumer utility difference 

between T8 and T12 ballasts. As a 

result, DOE is considering grouping T8 

and T12 ballasts in the same product 

class. Due to the difference in rated 

powers of the reference lamps, however, 

measured BEF values for T8 and T12 

ballasts are not comparable. Because 

DOE plans to subject certain T8 and T12 

ballasts to the same energy conservation 

standard (by including these ballasts in 

the same product class), DOE agrees that 

amendments to the existing active mode 

test procedure to allow for greater 

comparability across lamp types is 

warranted. Therefore, in this notice DOE 

proposes to revise the test procedure 

such that the reported BEF for a T12 

ballast will be comparable to the 

reported BEF for a T8 ballast. These 

proposed revisions are discussed in 

further detail in section III.F.5. 

DOE also agrees that the revised test 

procedure and metric should be able to 

encompass newly-developed lamps. The 

industry has not come to consensus on 

operating specification standards for 

some of these new, reduced-wattage 

lamps. Without consistent industry 

standards for lamps, light-output-based 

testing of BEF can vary greatly. DOE 

proposes to test ballasts while operating 

one representative load, characterizing 

the lamp wattage most commonly 

operated. The development and 

marketing of new, reduced-wattage 

lamps (with or without ANSI standards) 

is not a concern because today’s test 

procedure proposes to specify a 

particular lamp and ballast combination 

for testing. See section III.F.2 for 

additional detail on DOE’s preliminary 

decision to test ballasts while operating 

a load characteristic of the most 

common wattage lamp. 

NEMA commented that lamp filament 

heating introduces variability into the 

existing BEF measurement (NEMA, 

Public Meeting Transcript, No. 9 at p. 

39). DOE agrees the existing ballast test 

procedure is unclear on whether or not 

electrode heating should be used in the 

reference circuit. Electrode heating is 

known to increase the efficiency of a 

lamp, which means the same amount of 

input power produces more light. 

Consequently, the ballast factor of a test 

ballast tends to be smaller if the 

reference circuit uses electrode heating 

compared to a reference circuit without 

electrode heating. DOE agrees that the 

current test procedure inserts some 

variability into the measurement of BF 

and consequently BEF due to the 

apparent flexibility in the use of 

reference circuit heating. In today’s 

proposed test procedure, DOE addresses 

this issue by specifying that electrode 

heating should always be used in the 

reference circuit for medium bipin, 

recessed double contact, and miniature 

bipin lamps. Electrode heating should 

not be used in the reference circuit for 

single pin lamps. As discussed in 

section III.E.3, DOE believes specifying 

whether electrode heating should be 

used in the reference case limits 

opportunity for introducing variation in 

the test procedure. DOE also 

understands that the efficiency change 

due to electrode heating may vary from 

lamp to lamp. DOE believes the 

variation to be relatively small, though 

it does not have quantitative data to 

characterize this variation among lamps. 

DOE invites comment on reasonable 

techniques to reduce this source of 

variation. 

NEMA also commented that filament 

heating should be taken into account in 

comparison of ballasts with different 

starting methods. (NEMA, Public 

Meeting Transcript, No. 9 at p. 39) DOE 

is aware starting method can impact the 

measurement of ballast output power. 

Ballasts that employ constant electrode 

heating generate smaller BEF values 

than ballasts without constant electrode 

heating. Because BEF considers the light 

output of a ballast, constant cathode 

heating tends to decrease BEF because 

some of the ballast output power is used 

for purposes other than light 

production. From a system viewpoint, 

however, BEF reflects the loss in 

lighting efficiency due to electrode 

heating. Contrary to NEMA, DOE does 

not believe that power dissipated by the 

lamp electrodes should be included in 

the measurement of output power as 

this power is not used directly toward 

the primary function of producing light. 

DOE notes that it will consider setting 

specific standards for ballasts that 

employ electrode heating based on any 

potential consumer utility differences 10

in the ongoing fluorescent lamp ballast 

standards rulemaking. 

NEMA also indicated T8 ballasts are 

particularly impacted by measurement 

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11Ballast efficiency aims to capture the electrical 

efficiency of a ballast by eliminating usage of lamps 

and photometric measurements in the test method. 

Ballast efficiency equals ballast output power 

divided by ballast input power. See section III.E.4. 

12Relative system efficacy provides a greater 

range of comparability among ballast types in 

comparison to ballast efficacy factor. RSE is based 

on the BEF metric and creates minimal incremental 

testing burden. See section III.E.4. 

uncertainty because much of the T8 

ballast market is high-frequency 

electronic and T8 lamps are first 

operated on a low-frequency (60-hertz) 

reference ballast during BEF testing. 

NEMA asserted that lamps increase in 

efficiency when switching from low- to 

high-frequency operation, but that all 

lamps will not gain exactly the same 

amount of efficiency. NEMA mentioned 

it could provide data to show error of 

several percent when the same ballast is 

tested at different labs with different 

lamps due to the high-frequency to lowfrequency comparison. (NEMA, Public 

Meeting Transcript, No. 9 at p. 26, p. 39) 

DOE agrees that random error is 

introduced into the measurement and 

calculation of BEF due to variation in 

lamp efficiency gains when switching 

from magnetic to electronic ballasts. In 

general, when a lamp is run at highfrequency (electronic ballasts), the lamp 

requires less power to produce the same 

amount of light when compared to a 

low-frequency (magnetic) ballast. 

Electronic ballasts run at high 

frequency, so they tend to display 

higher BEF values than low-frequency 

magnetic ballasts. Part of this difference 

is due to the lamp operating at a lower 

rated wattage (increased efficiency), 

while the remainder is due to 

improvements in the electrical 

efficiency of the ballast. ANSI does not 

specify high-frequency reference 

conditions for 32W F32T8, 60W 

F96T12/ES, 95W F96T12HO/ES, and 

110W F96T12HO fluorescent lamps. 

Another source of variation in the 

existing test procedure is lamp and 

ballast wiring for rapid- and 

programmed-start ballasts. These 

ballasts have two wires connected to the 

pins on each end of the lamp. One of the 

two wires supplies power to the lamp 

arc, and the second provides power to 

the electrode. Depending on which pin 

the lamp arc wire is connected to, the 

current supplied to the lamp arc will 

encounter different amounts of 

resistance. The difference in resistance 

is due to the position on the lamp 

electrode where the current starts and 

finishes the lamp arc. When this 

position (hotspot) is in the center of the 

electrode, wiring differences do not 

change the measured BEF. However, 

when the hotspot is closer to one end or 

the other of the electrode, the current 

encounters varied resistances based on 

the distance it must travel through the 

electrode. Because ballast wires are not 

identified as delivering energy to the 

lamp arc or electrode and the position 

of the hotspot is unknown, this source 

of variation cannot be eliminated. 

At the framework document public 

meeting, DOE received comments that 

ballast manufacturers and independent 

test labs use light output measurements 

for calculating ballast factor for both 

rapid-start and instant-start ballasts. 

(GE, Public Meeting Transcript, No. 9 at 

p. 73; Philips, Public Meeting 

Transcript, No. 9 at p. 74) ANSI C82.2– 

1984 suggests the usage of power 

measurements for instant-start systems, 

but common industry practice has been 

the usage of light output measurements 

for all ballast starting methods. Ballast 

factor can be calculated either as a ratio 

of test and reference circuit light output 

or as a ratio of measured lamp power. 

DOE notes that power measurements are 

somewhat impractical to conduct on 

ballasts that employ electrode heating 

because these ballasts use two wires to 

connect to a lamp electrode. The 

presence of additional wires requires 

more measurements to determine output 

power which introduces error into the 

results. DOE believes this technique 

introduces significant error through 

capacitance to ground and loading 

effects on ballasts that use electrode 

heating. As discussed in section III.E.3, 

DOE believes that one way to reduce 

this error would be to require lightoutput measurements to be used for all 

ballast types. 

D. Efficiency Metric for Fluorescent 

Lamp Ballasts 

A joint comment (hereafter the ‘‘Joint 

Comment’’) submitted by ASAP, the 

American Council for an EnergyEfficient Economy (ACEEE), the 

Alliance to Save Energy (ASE), the 

Natural Resources Defense Council 

(NRDC), the Northeast Energy Efficiency 

Partnerships (NEEP), and the Northwest 

Power and Conservation Council 

(NPCC) suggested that DOE consider a 

metric other than BEF that permits 

comparison between different lamp 

wattages, ballast types, and numbers of 

lamps operated by a ballast. (Joint 

Comment, No. 12 at p. 1) NEMA also 

recommended that DOE consider 

changing the metric away from BEF and 

toward an alternate metric. (NEMA, No. 

11 at p. 2, pp. 11–12) NEMA suggested 

if DOE cannot change the metric from 

BEF, it should develop a test procedure 

that requires the measurement of some 

other metric unrelated to lamp lumen 

output, such as ballast efficiency 11 or 

relative system efficacy,12 and then give 

correlations to BEF so that BEF can still 

be used in standard-setting. The New 

York State Energy Research and 

Development Authority (NYSERDA) 

also recommended consideration of RSE 

as an alternative metric. (NYSERDA, No. 

9, pp. 27–28) NEMA asked if DOE might 

accept a NEMA- and ANSI-supported 

method of measuring BE, and 

correlating BE measurements with BEF 

values. (NEMA, Public Meeting 

Transcript, No. 9 at p. 32, pp. 37–38) 

The energy conservation standard is 

specified using the metric of ballast 

efficacy factor. 42 U.S.C. 6295(g)(5), 

(g)(8) In this rulemaking, DOE proposes 

measuring an alternate metric (ballast 

efficiency) and using a set of correlation 

functions so that BEF values can be 

reported. 

Acuity Brands Lighting also 

commented that much of the 

marketplace (end-users, lighting 

designers, architects, and electrical 

engineers) do not use the BEF metric 

and may not have knowledge of it. 

Acuity Brands indicated that luminaire 

manufacturers are the primary users of 

BEF values, using them in ballast 

purchasing decisions for selection of 

products compliant with regulations. 

Acuity Brands also indicated that a 

change in metric would not impact the 

end-user as much it may impact 

luminaire manufacturers. (Acuity 

Brands Lighting, Public Meeting 

Transcript, No. 9 at pp. 45–46) DOE 

understands that the lighting design 

process involves metrics other than 

BEF. Lamp, ballast, and luminaire 

combinations may be more or less 

efficient when analyzed as a complete 

system. End-users may make their 

purchasing decisions from this system 

viewpoint. DOE appreciates this 

comment; however, DOE proposes the 

use of transfer equations to convert BE 

values to BEF for consistency with use 

of the BEF metric in 42 U.S.C. 6295(g)(5) 

and (g)(8). 

The Joint Comment suggested that an 

alternate metric should account for all 

power loads served by the ballast, 

including lamp arc power, cathode 

power, and standby power 

consumption. (Joint Comment, No. 12 at 

p. 1) DOE understands the importance 

of capturing all power loads served by 

a fluorescent lamp ballast. DOE notes 

that BEF does capture all power modes 

listed by the Joint Comment (lamp arc 

power and cathode power) except for 

standby mode consumption. However, 

DOE does not believe it is feasible to 

incorporate standby power into the BEF 

metric. The BEF metric relates light 

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output (relative to a reference system) to 

input power. Ballasts that produce more 

light using the same input wattage have 

a larger BEF value. Standby mode 

power, however, performs a different 

function. Instead of using power for 

light output, standby mode power is 

used to facilitate activation or 

deactivation of other functions (active 

mode functions, i.e., light output) by a 

remote switch. Because BEF is a 

measure of light output divided by 

input power and not energy 

consumption, DOE does not believe it is 

feasible to incorporate a measure of 

standby mode energy use into the BEF 

metric for active mode energy 

consumption. While DOE’s preliminary 

determination of the scope of coverage 

in the fluorescent lamp ballasts 

standards rulemaking does not include 

ballasts capable of operating in standby 

mode, if the scope of coverage changes 

to include these ballasts, DOE will set 

separate standby mode energy 

conservation standards. Test procedures 

for the measurement of standby mode 

energy consumption for fluorescent 

lamp ballasts can be found in Appendix 

Q. 

E. Test Procedure Improvement Options 

Given that alternative methods of 

testing may result in reduced 

measurement variation compared to the 

existing test procedure for BEF, DOE 

considered three new methods for 

measuring the efficiency of a ballast and 

one improved version of the existing 

method. The first method is called the 

resistor-based ballast efficiency method, 

and requires first measuring an estimate 

of ballast electrical efficiency when 

operating a resistor load and then 

converting the estimate to BEF. The 

second method, called the lamp-based 

ballast efficiency method, involves 

measuring ballast efficiency using a 

lamp as the ballast load and then 

converting that BE to BEF. The third 

method makes small changes to the 

existing test procedure to improve the 

precision of BEF measurement. The 

fourth method measures relative system 

efficacy, which is a variation of ballast 

efficacy factor that is more comparable 

across ballast types. While DOE 

proposes the first method to be used as 

the new test procedure for 

determination of fluorescent lamp 

ballast energy consumption, DOE is still 

considering all of these options for 

improvement of the test procedure and 

therefore invites comments on all 

alternative methods. The following 

sections discuss the merits and 

drawbacks of the four methods. 

1. Resistor-Based Ballast Efficiency 

Correlated to Ballast Efficacy Factor 

NEMA suggested at the framework 

document public meeting for the 

fluorescent lamp ballast standards 

rulemaking that DOE should consider 

using the BE metric. (NEMA, Public 

Meeting Transcript, No. 9 at p. 32, pp. 

37–38) Following the public meeting, 

DOE participated in the NEMA task 

force on ballast efficiency through June 

2009. Through a series of conference 

calls and meetings, DOE learned about 

the resistor-based BE method and 

participated in its development for fourfoot 32W MBP T8 normal ballast factor 

ballasts. Using the data gathered and 

methodology used in the NEMA task 

force DOE then continued development 

of the proposed test procedure for other 

lamp types. DOE defined additional 

resistor values, conducted extensive 

testing for both BE and BEF in many 

product classes, created transfer 

equations so that BEF values could be 

reported, and specified instrumentation 

specifications in its development of the 

proposed test procedure. 

Ballast efficiency equals lamp arc 

power divided by ballast input power. 

Ballast efficiency aims to capture the 

electrical efficiency of a ballast by 

eliminating usage of lamps and 

photometric measurements. Instead of 

using a lamp and measuring light 

output, the resistor-based BE method 

uses resistors (a resistor load bank) to 

simulate the lamp and makes an 

electrical measurement of power 

through the arc-resistor. Because a 

resistor can be manufactured with much 

smaller performance tolerances than a 

fluorescent lamp, the resistor introduces 

much less variation into the operating 

characteristics of the ballast. 

NEMA commented that a BE 

measurement does not require lamp 

electrical and photometric 

measurements and, thus, is both easier 

to execute and more accurate. NEMA 

also stated that BE measurements have 

lower measurement variation (on the 

order of 1 to 2 percent) between test 

facilities and do not require ANSI 

standards for lamps that the ballast is 

designed to operate. NEMA believes that 

the ballast efficiency metric could be 

used to compare all ballasts of a given 

type (e.g., all instant-start ballasts, all 

programmed-start ballasts), regardless of 

the lamp types that the ballasts support 

(including lamp types yet to be 

developed). (NEMA, Public Meeting 

Transcript, No. 9 at pp. 25–27, p. 36, pp. 

76–77, pp. 100–101) 

DOE agrees that ballast efficiency 

would likely show less variation than 

BEF and would allow for more equitable 

comparison among ballasts operating 

different numbers of lamps or lamp 

wattages. As discussed in section III.C, 

much of the variation inherent in the 

existing test procedure is due to 

variation among reference lamps. The 

resistor-based BE method reduces much 

of the measurement variation due to 

reference lamps by using a resistor load 

bank to simulate the load placed on a 

ballast during the measurement of input 

and output power. Decreased 

measurement variation allows for more 

precise standard setting and 

certification, compliance, and 

enforcement testing. DOE acknowledges 

that the BE metric would allow for 

comparability across large portions of 

the ballast market and that such 

comparability provides benefit to 

consumers. DOE proposes conversion to 

BEF values, however, to measure energy 

efficiency in a repeatable manner that 

provides comparison for products in the 

same product class and that is also 

consistent with the statutory metric set 

forth at 42 U.S.C. 6295(g)(5) and (g)(8). 

DOE notes that use of ANSI standards 

would be required for lamps in today’s 

proposed test method because of the 

need to define the ballast factor of a 

ballast. Ballast factor is a necessary 

input to the transfer equations between 

BE and BEF as discussed in section 

III.F.5. Because DOE proposes to test a 

ballast using only one lamp type, 

however, new lamps without ANSI 

standards will not affect the test 

procedure. The test procedure indicates 

using currently-available and ANSIspecified lamps for the measurement 

and calculation of ballast factor. 

While NEMA commented that BE is 

the best descriptor for instant-start 

energy efficiency measurements, NEMA 

also stated that electrode heating effects 

should be taken into account for rapidstart and programmed-start systems 

(NEMA, Public Meeting Transcript, No. 

9 at pp. 37–39). The use of electrode 

heating impacts the ratio of ballast input 

power to power dissipated in the lamp 

arc. Unlike instant-start ballasts, 

programmed-start and rapid-start 

ballasts use a portion of the ballast input 

power to heat the electrodes. Ion 

bombardment at the electrode (known 

as sputtering) during the voltage pulse 

deteriorates the lamp electrode over 

time. Electrode heating reduces the 

magnitude of the voltage pulse required 

to start a lamp, thereby increasing lamp 

lifetime for applications that require 

frequent on and off switching. Because 

the resistor-based BE test method 

measures only the power across the 

lamp arc resistor, measured output 

power (lamp arc power) for ballasts 

such as rapid-start and some 

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programmed-start ballasts tends to be 

smaller than the true total ballast output 

power. Instant-start ballasts are less 

affected by this issue because these 

ballasts do not employ electrode 

heating. From a lighting efficiency 

perspective, the BE metric captures the 

percentage of input power utilized for 

lighting in the output stage. DOE 

believes accounting for output power in 

this way is useful because it does 

indicate that instant-start ballasts use a 

greater percentage of input power in the 

direct production of light. The 

fluorescent lamp ballast standards 

rulemaking will consider the impact of 

starting method on consumer utility and 

will set energy conservation standards 

accordingly. 

DOE investigated the possibility of 

measuring the total output power of a 

ballast for the BE metric to include 

electrode heating and lamp arc power. 

To measure the total output power 

across the entire resistor load bank, a 

user needs to measure the electrode and 

lamp arc voltage separately. DOE found 

this measurement to introduce too much 

error through capacitance to ground and 

loading effects on the ballast during 

high-frequency operation. Accordingly, 

DOE has tentatively concluded that 

reducing the number of measurements 

to ensure a more accurate measurement 

is the more reasonable approach. 

Therefore, DOE proposes measuring the 

voltage drop across the lamp arc resistor 

and the input current to the resistor load 

bank to calculate output power for the 

ballast efficiency metric. 

GE commented that ballast 

manufacturers do not have control over 

the performance of a lamp or the 

measurement variation associated with 

the usage of reference lamps in the 

existing test procedure. GE noted that 

the resistor-based BE metric allows 

ballast designers to meet a specification 

that is independent of lamp variation. 

(GE, Public Meeting Transcript, No. 9 at 

p. 43) DOE understands that ballast 

designers would prefer ballast energy 

efficiency to be measured 

independently from a lamp. DOE agrees 

that measured BEF is subject to 

variations in measured lamp wattage 

and intends to reduce this source of 

variation. Today’s proposed test 

procedure reduces the effect of reference 

lamp variation on variation in BEF. 

DOE also believes that industry is 

starting to adopt BE method. NEMA has 

already initiated the usage of BE in its 

Premium Ballast Program, where BE is 

used in an alternative verification 

procedure. NEMA invited DOE and 

other interested parties to participate in 

the investigation process of the BE 

metric. (NEMA, Public Meeting 

Transcript, No. 9 at p. 41, pp. 48–50, p. 

53; NEMA, No. 11 at p. 3) In particular, 

NEMA indicated that it has been 

studying the measurement variation of 

ballast efficiency through ballast testing 

and wished to collaborate directly with 

DOE. NEMA went on to mention that 

lamp manufacturers as well as the 

technical coordinators for ANSI C82.11 

and the ANSI C82.11 Annex are 

involved and that lamp manufacturers 

are aware of the BE effort and have not 

voiced any resistance to the concept. 

(NEMA, Public Meeting Transcript, No. 

9 at pp. 23–25, p. 42, p. 45, p. 48, pp. 

54–55) ASAP stated that DOE’s 

participation could speed the metrics 

replacement process and that the 

presence of non-industry experts would 

increase ASAP’s confidence in the new 

metric. (ASAP, Public Meeting 

Transcript, No. 9 at p. 47, p. 49) 

DOE participated in the NEMA task 

force on ballast efficiency by taking part 

in conference calls, providing technical 

expertise, and participating in ballast 

testing. NEMA measured ballast 

efficiency using the resistor-based BE 

method through a round robin activity 

(involving multiple ballast 

manufacturers and independent test 

labs) for ballasts that operate 32W, 4- 

foot medium bipin T8 lamps. Using 

these data, the task force honed the 

details of the test method and examined 

the level of variation present in the data. 

DOE’s involvement with the NEMA task 

force was for the purpose of 

participating in round robin testing. 

Once testing was complete, DOE 

finalized development of today’s 

proposed test procedure. 

DOE believes the resistor-based 

ballast efficiency method reduces 

measurement variation, in comparison 

to the existing test method, to a greater 

extent than RSE or the improved lightoutput-based test procedure. DOE 

prefers a test procedure with reduced 

variation as it will allow for more 

precise standard setting and 

certification, compliance, and 

enforcement testing. DOE invites 

comment on the effectiveness of the 

resistor-based BE test method and its 

expected improvement in measurement 

variation. 

2. Lamp-Based Ballast Efficiency 

Correlated to Ballast Efficacy Factor 

As an alternative to the resistor-based 

ballast efficiency method (with results 

correlated through transfer equations to 

BEF) discussed in the previous section, 

DOE also considered using a similar 

method using a lamp (rather than a 

resistor load bank) as the ballast load. 

This arrangement has several potential 

advantages over today’s proposed 

method. As ballasts are designed to 

operate lamps, not resistors, testing the 

efficiency of a ballast while operating a 

lamp may provide for a more accurate 

representation of power consumption 

and efficiency than when operating a 

resistor. For example, a lamp is a 

dynamic load which changes 

impedance in response to being 

operated at different powers. In order to 

account for this effect using the resistorbased ballast efficiency method, DOE 

proposes using separate resistors for 

different bins of ballast factor (as 

discussed in section III.F.5). Using a 

lamp load to test ballast efficiency, 

would allow manufacturers to use a 

single lamp to act as the appropriate 

load for ballasts of all ballast factors. 

Also, as discussed in section III.F.8, 

DOE found that several ballasts are 

incompatible with the resistor-based 

method of testing ballast efficiency. In 

order to provide a viable test procedure 

for these ballasts, DOE proposes that 

manufacturers use the light outputbased test to measure BEF directly. 

Using lamp-based ballast efficiency 

method could maintain a consistent 

testing procedure across these ballast 

types. Below is a brief summary of the 

lamp-based ballast efficiency (correlated 

to ballast efficacy factor) test method. 

Similar to the resistor-based ballast 

efficiency method, in the lamp-based 

ballast efficiency method, input and 

output power measurements would be 

simultaneously taken by the technician 

while the ballast is operating a lamp 

(specified by the test procedure). To 

calculate ballast efficiency, the 

technician would divide the measured 

output power by the measured input 

power. More specifically, a lamp would 

be seasoned at least 12 hours prior to 

testing to ensure stable electrical 

characteristics. The lamp and ballast 

pairing would be selected based on 

DOE’s determination of the most 

common wattage lamp a ballast operates 

and the maximum number of lamps a 

ballast is designed to operate. The lamp 

or lamps, selected for consistency with 

the specifications in ANSI C78.81–2005, 

would be mounted in a standard strip 

fixture according to ANSI C82.1–2004 

and ANSI C78.81–2005. Ballast and 

output power would be measured using 

a suitable power analyzer and current 

probe. DOE would consider the same 

specifications as proposed the resistorbased method as follows. 

Instrumentation for current, voltage, and 

power measurements would be selected 

in accordance with ANSI C78.375–1997 

Section 9, which specifies that 

instruments should be ‘‘of the true RMS 

type, essentially free from wave form 

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errors, and suitable for the frequency of 

operation.’’ Instrument performance 

could be further specified within the 

guidelines of the ANSI C78.375–1997 

and ANSI C82.2–2002. Specifically, 

current would be measured using a 

galvanically isolated current probe/ 

monitor with frequency response 

between 40 Hertz (Hz) and 20 MHz. In 

addition, voltage would be measured 

directly by a power analyzer with a 

maximum 100 picofarad (pF) 

capacitance to ground and have 

frequency response between 40 Hz and 

1 MHz. 

Once the ballast is connected to the 

lamp and fixture, the ballast would be 

energized at its highest rated input 

voltage and the lamp and ballast system 

would be stabilized for up to one hour 

(at least fifteen minutes) as determined 

in ANSI C78.375–1997. Within one hour 

of energizing the ballast and after the 

lamp and ballast system have stabilized, 

the technician would record the input 

power and sum of the output powers 

measured for each lamp. The technician 

would then divide the total output 

power by the input power to yield BE. 

Finally, if DOE were to adopt the lampbased BE method, similar to the resistorbased BE method, DOE would establish 

correlation relationships between BE 

and BEF. 

While DOE recognizes the several 

advantages to the lamp-based BE 

method (discussed earlier), DOE 

tentatively believes that testing for BE 

using resistor load instead of a lamp 

load would result in reduced 

measurement variation by eliminating 

lamp-to-lamp variability. At this time, 

DOE does not have test data to support 

the validity of the lamp-based BE 

method or for the generation of 

appropriate transfer equations to 

correlate lamp-based BE to BEF. DOE 

requests additional information on this 

alternative lamp-based BE method, 

including repeatability and 

reproducibility statistics and test data. 

DOE also invites comment on the 

burden that the lamp-based BE method 

imposes for testing. 

3. Improvements to Existing Test 

Procedure 

As an alternative to the ballast 

efficiency methods (with results 

correlated through transfer equations to 

BEF), DOE considered modifying certain 

aspects of the existing test procedure. 

DOE believes that some of the 

measurement variation inherent in the 

existing test procedure can be reduced 

without making fundamental changes. 

The measurement variation in BEF can 

be attributed to operating conditions, 

electrode heating in the reference 

circuit, variation in measured power of 

reference lamps, inconsistent output 

power measurements in determining 

ballast factor, and ambient temperature. 

DOE investigated methods for 

improving the requirements governing 

these specifications. 

The Illuminating Engineering Society 

of North America (IESNA) Lighting 

Measurements Testing & Calculation 

Guide (LM) IESNA LM–9–1999 

describes several options for operating a 

reference lamp. DOE believes that the 

industry is not uniform in its selection 

of operating conditions, which results in 

potential for varied BEF measurements. 

Under Electrical Settings (section 8.0), 

IESNA LM–9–1999 states 

‘‘measurements may be taken with the 

lamp operating and stabilized at the 

specified input volts to the reference 

circuit or, alternatively, measurements 

may be taken with the lamp stabilized, 

at the rated lamp power or at a specified 

current.’’ These different operating 

conditions can lead to varying reference 

ballast light outputs for the calculation 

of ballast factor. For example, if the 

reference ballast operates the reference 

lamp such that it produces less light, the 

ballast factor and BEF of the test ballast 

will increase. If ballast operators run the 

reference circuit only at the specified 

input voltage to the reference circuit, 

DOE believes the test procedure will be 

more reproducible between test 

facilities because only a single operating 

condition will be permitted. DOE 

believes using the specified input 

voltage to the reference circuit is the 

best option because it is the most 

common operating condition used by 

industry and simplest to execute. DOE 

also notes that the most recent test 

procedure final rule for general service 

fluorescent lamps also specifies testing 

lamps at a constant and specified input 

voltage. 74 FR 31829, 31834 (July 6, 

2009). 

The existing ballast test procedure is 

unclear as to whether electrode heating 

should be used in the reference circuit. 

Electrode heating is known to increase 

the efficiency of a lamp, which means 

the same amount of input power 

produces more light. Compared to a 

reference circuit that employs electrode 

heating, the ballast factor of the test 

ballast tends to be larger if the reference 

circuit does not use electrode heating. 

An issue arises when instant-start 

ballasts (no electrode heating) are 

compared to a reference circuit that uses 

electrode heating. The additional lamp 

efficiency in the reference circuit 

decreases the ballast factor and BEF for 

an instant-start ballast compared to a 

test method that uses no electrode 

heating in the reference circuit. 

Although DOE acknowledges the effect 

on BEF due to electrode heating in the 

reference circuit for instant-start test 

ballasts, it notes there are no industry 

supported standards defining reference 

circuit operating conditions for medium 

bipin, miniature-bipin, and recessed 

double contact lamps without electrode 

heating. These lamps are specified in 

ANSI standards according to operation 

with reference ballasts using electrode 

heating, but instant-start, rapid-start, or 

programmed-start ballasts can operate 

these lamps. One cannot simply remove 

electrode heating from the circuit, as it 

would alter the way the ballast operates 

the lamp. Without industry standards, 

DOE is unable to quantify the effect new 

operating conditions might have on 

ballast factor. DOE expects the effect on 

BEF as a result of increased of lamp 

efficiency in the reference circuit to be 

relatively small and consistent among 

all instant-start ballasts such that no 

particular product is affected to a greater 

or lesser extent than any other product. 

DOE believes that requiring electrode 

heating in the reference circuit for all 

ballasts that operate medium bipin, 

miniature-bipin, and recessed double 

contact lamps would limit potential 

variation between test facilities. 

The existing test procedure specifies 

that the reference lamp electrical 

characteristics must not vary more than 

2.5 percent from the specifications in 

the ANSI C78 Series (1972 Edition and 

1975 Supplement) for fluorescent lamp 

electrical characteristics. While this 

spread in operating conditions is less 

than the general requirements for the 

manufacturing of fluorescent lamps, it 

still leads to much of the variation in 

ballast input power and BEF. Tightening 

the tolerance on lamp electrical 

characteristics to ± 1 percent of the 

specifications found in the ANSI C78 

Series (1972 Edition and 1975 

Supplement) would decrease 

measurement variation due to 

variability in measured lamp power. 

DOE believes this change alone could 

result in a large reduction in 

measurement variation. 

Decreasing the tolerance for ambient 

temperature would also reduce 

measurement variation. Differences in 

ambient temperature change the 

effective load a lamp places on a ballast 

which affects BEF through changes in 

the input power measurement. DOE 

found that changes in ambient 

temperature as small as 1 °C resulted in 

changes in BEF as large as 1.5 percent. 

DOE believes limiting ambient 

temperature to 25 °C ± 0.5 °C would 

reduce the measurement variation of 

BEF. 

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13American National Standards for Lamp 

Ballasts—High Frequency Lamp Ballasts— 

Supplements,’’ approved January 17, 2002. 

14 ‘‘American National Standards for Lamp 

Ballasts—Method of Measurement of Fluorescent 

Lamp Ballasts,’’ approved June 6, 2002. 

In response to the fluorescent lamp 

ballast standards rulemaking framework 

document, DOE also received several 

comments related to the ANSI standard 

referenced by the current fluorescent 

lamp ballast test procedure. In written 

and verbal comments, NEMA 

acknowledged that ANSI C82.2–1984 

cited in the current fluorescent lamp 

ballast test procedure is intended only 

for low-frequency ballasts and, thus, can 

be confusing for technicians attempting 

to test high-frequency electronic 

ballasts. NEMA indicated that ANSI is 

creating an update of ANSI C82.11–2002 

and the associated C82.11–2002 Annex 

(collectively known as ANSI C82.11 

Consolidated-2002 13) that specifies an 

appropriate measurement method for 

high-frequency electronic ballasts. 

(NEMA, Public Meeting Transcript, No. 

9 at pp. 71–73; NEMA, No. 11 at p. 2) 

DOE agrees that the ANSI C82.2–1984 

cited in the current test procedure may 

be confusing for high-frequency ballast 

operation. Thus, DOE believes updating 

ANSI C82.2–1984 to ANSI C82.2– 

2002 14 and indicating the use of ANSI 

C82.11–2002 and ANSI C82.11 Annex 

would improve the clarity of the 

electronic ballast test method. DOE 

believes these changes would reduce 

measurement inconsistencies but not 

affect the measured energy efficiency of 

the ballast. Specifically, DOE believes 

the input power measurement of ANSI 

C82.2–2002 reduces the interference of 

instrumentation on the input power 

measurement as compared to ANSI 

C82.2–1984. DOE also believes, 

however, that because modern 

instrumentation does not significantly 

interfere with input power 

measurements, the differences between 

the input power measurements of the 

two test procedures are negligible. DOE 

believes ANSI C82.2–2002 should be 

used as the guide for measurement for 

both high- and low-frequency ballasts. 

For ballast operating conditions, DOE 

believes ANSI C82.1–2004 should be 

used for low-frequency (60 Hz) ballasts 

and ANSI C82.11 Consolidated-2002 for 

high-frequency ballasts. As discussed 

later in section III.F.9, while DOE is 

proposing to adopt the resistor-based BE 

test method for compliance with any 

future amended standards (using 

transfer equations so BEF values can be 

reported), DOE also proposes updating 

the ANSI C82.2–1984 reference in the 

existing test procedure for purposes of 

compliance with the existing standards. 

DOE invites comment on this issue. 

In the existing test procedure, ballast 

factor can be calculated either as a ratio 

of test and reference circuit light output 

or as a ratio of measured lamp power. 

Requiring light output measurements to 

be used for all starting methods in the 

calculation of ballast factor should 

reduce measurement variation and 

increase the consistency and 

comparability of results. In instant-start 

systems, power measurements are 

possible because fewer measurements 

are required to measure lamp power. 

For programmed-start and rapid-start 

ballasts, two wires attach to each end of 

the lamp, requiring additional voltage 

and current measurements compared to 

the instant-start system. During highfrequency operation, these extra 

measurements make it difficult to 

accurately capture lamp power due to 

capacitance and loading effects on the 

ballast. For this reason, light output 

measurements are used for rapid-start 

and programmed-start ballasts for the 

measurement of ballast factor. Although 

the existing test procedure indicates the 

usage of power measurements for 

instant-start ballasts, industry practice 

has been to use light output 

measurements for all starting methods. 

DOE believes the use of light output for 

the measurement of ballast factor for all 

ballast types would render the values of 

BF more consistent between testing 

facilities. 

Many ballasts are capable of operating 

lamps with different lamp wattages. For 

example, a ballast designed to operate 

two four-foot 32W medium bipin (MBP) 

T8 lamps can also operate two 30W, 

28W, or 25W lamps. The BEF will vary 

based on the rated wattage of the lamp 

operated by the ballast. When a ballast 

operates a lamp with a lower rated 

wattage, BEF tends to increase due to 

reduced ballast input power. In an 

improved light-output-based test 

procedure, DOE would specify 

particular lamp-and-ballast 

combinations for testing such that a 

ballast is only tested while operating 

one specific load. DOE believes this 

method would mitigate testing burden 

on manufacturers, provide a 

representative measurement of ballast 

energy consumption, and make the test 

procedure more flexible to new lampand-ballast combinations. See section 

III.F.2 for additional detail on using one 

lamp (resistor) and ballast combination 

for testing. 

To test every lamp-and-ballast 

combination, manufacturers would need 

to purchase and maintain the requisite 

number of reference lamps (or in the 

case of the resistor-based BE method, 

resistors) for every lamp wattage that a 

ballast can operate. In the example 

mentioned above, this would require six 

lamps (or resistors) in addition to the 

two required for the 32W lamp. For 

ballasts that operate more than two 

lamps, the impact on manufacturers is 

more significant. Furthermore, ANSI 

standards do not exist for every reduced 

wattage lamp. Because industry has not 

reached a consensus regarding the 

performance characteristics of each 

lamp, DOE did not choose a resistor to 

represent those lamps for which an 

industry standard does not exist. Thus, 

to mitigate the testing burden on 

manufacturers, in the fluorescent lamp 

ballast standards rulemaking, DOE is 

considering setting standards based on 

the ballast operating the most common 

lamp wattage. Consequently, the test 

procedure only requires one lamp-andballast combination to be tested in each 

product class. See section III.F.2 for 

additional discussion on why DOE 

believes testing a ballast while operating 

one representative load is a reasonable 

means of determining the efficiency of 

a ballast. 

Similar to lamp wattage, ballasts are 

designed to operate a certain maximum 

number of lamps. Many ballasts can 

operate fewer than the maximum 

number of lamps. As discussed in 

section III.F.2, DOE found testing a 

ballast on all its possible loads (possible 

numbers of lamps) was unnecessary. 

DOE believes requiring testing of 

fluorescent lamps ballasts while 

operating the maximum number of 

lamps for which the ballast is designed 

would reduce testing burden on 

manufacturers and produce 

representative energy consumption 

measurements. Therefore, this test 

procedure would not require testing of 

ballasts with every possible number of 

lamps it can operate. 

Some ballasts are also capable of 

operating at multiple input voltages 

(universal voltage ballasts). The existing 

energy conservation standards require 

ballasts to be tested at both 120 V and 

277 V, which increases the testing 

burden on manufacturers. The Joint 

Comment suggested testing these multivoltage ballasts at 277 V for commercial 

ballasts and 120 V for residential 

ballasts. (Joint Comment, No. 12 at p. 5) 

DOE believes that 277 V is the most 

common input voltage for commercial 

ballasts and that 120 V is the most 

common for residential ballasts. 

Therefore, DOE agrees with the Joint 

Comment and has tentatively concluded 

that a revised light-output-based test 

procedure should test all universal 

voltage commercial ballasts at 277 V 

and universal voltage residential 

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15ANSI C82.77–2002 specifies commercial 

ballasts must have a power factor greater than 0.9, 

while residential fluorescent ballasts (with an input 

power below 120 W) must have a power factor of 

0.5 or greater. Residential ballasts are designed and 

labeled for use in residential applications. 

ballasts at 120 V.15 Ballasts capable of 

operating only at a single voltage would 

be tested at the rated ballast input 

voltage. 

DOE believes the aforementioned 

improvements to the existing test 

procedure would decrease measurement 

variation. Furthermore, DOE does not 

believe the changes would result in 

significantly increased testing burden 

for manufacturers. DOE believes, 

however, that the proposed resistorbased BE method reduces measurement 

variation to a greater extent than the 

improved light-output-based test 

procedure while also imposing only a 

nominal increase in testing burden. DOE 

invites comment on the effectiveness of 

the improved light-output-based test 

procedure to reduce measurement 

variation and on the burden it imposes 

for testing. 

4. Relative System Efficacy 

DOE considered the RSE metric as 

another alternative to the existing BEF 

test procedure. The RSE metric is 

intended to normalize the existing 

metric of BEF to rated lamp efficacy to 

make it more comparable across ballasts 

operating different numbers of lamps 

and different lamp wattages. DOE 

received comments suggesting use of the 

RSE metric in response to the 

framework document for the fluorescent 

lamp ballast standards rulemaking. 

NEMA, NYSERDA, and the Joint 

Comment recommended the 

investigation of RSE as a potential 

replacement for the BEF metric. 

According to comments, the relative 

system efficacy metric would allow 

comparisons to be made across different 

ballast types, thereby enabling the usage 

of fewer product classes in the energy 

conservation standard. (NYSERDA, 

Public Meeting Transcript, No. 9 at pp. 

27–28, p. 75; NEMA, Public Meeting 

Transcript, No. 9 at p. 100; Joint 

Comment, No. 12 at pp. 6–7) 

Relative system efficacy is equal to 

BEF divided by 100 and multiplied by 

total rated lamp power. RSE provides a 

greater range of comparability among 

ballast types in comparison to BEF. 

Because RSE is based on the BEF metric, 

it creates minimal incremental testing 

burden over the existing test procedure. 

RSE allows for improved comparison 

among ballasts designed to operate 

different number of lamp systems and 

ballasts designed to operate different 

lamp wattages. Lamp and ballast 

systems operating more lamps or higherrated-wattage lamps tend to have lower 

BEF values. When these lower BEF 

values are multiplied by 

correspondingly larger total-rated-lamp 

powers, the resulting value is more 

comparable across different product 

classes. 

NEMA stated that it is attempting to 

correlate the BE and RSE metrics to the 

existing BEF metric. NEMA also stated 

that the RSE metric is likely to be more 

closely correlated to BE than the BEF 

metric is to BE. (NEMA, Public Meeting 

Transcript, No. 9 at p. 28, p. 33) DOE 

believes NEMA may be correct in its 

prediction that RSE is more closely 

correlated to BE than BEF to BE. 

However, DOE proposes the use of 

transfer equations to convert BE values 

to BEF for consistency with use of the 

BEF metric in 42 U.S.C. 6295(g)(5) and 

(g)(8). Therefore, DOE did not consider 

correlating RSE to BE as an option for 

this proposed test procedure. 

Although the RSE metric improves on 

the BEF metric through increased 

comparability between product classes 

with minimal incremental burden, DOE 

believes RSE would ultimately have the 

same measurement uncertainty 

associated with the existing test 

procedure or the improved light-output 

based test procedure. In particular, 

because RSE includes the usage of 

reference lamps in test measurements, 

RSE is based on the same varied inputs 

as BEF. This rulemaking’s test 

procedure revision is intended to reduce 

measurement variation, and DOE 

believes the proposed resistor-based BE 

method reduces measurement variation 

to a greater extent than RSE. DOE 

invites comment on its tentative 

decision not to adopt RSE as a potential 

test method. 

F. Proposed Test Procedure 

In consideration of the comments and 

analysis discussed above, today’s 

proposed test procedure for measuring 

active mode power consumption is the 

resistor-based BE method, with results 

correlated to BEF through the use of 

transfer equations. This method consists 

of the following steps: (1) Measurement 

of input power to the ballast; (2) 

measurement of simulated lamp arc 

power to estimate ballast output power; 

and (3) correlation of the ballast 

efficiency metric to BEF. DOE believes 

the resistor-based BE method results in 

the largest reduction in measurement 

variation over the existing test 

procedure. Interested parties are invited 

to comment on the proposed resistorbased ballast efficiency method, the 

lamp-based ballast efficiency method, 

the improvements to the BEF method, 

and the RSE method described in 

section III.E, or on any other procedures 

they believe would be appropriate. 

In the sections 1 through 8 that 

follow, DOE discusses the language 

proposed for a new appendix Q1 to 

subpart B of 10 CFR part 430 (hereafter 

‘‘appendix Q1’’). The new appendix Q1 

will contain the new test procedure that 

correlates measured BE to BEF that will 

be used for the purposes of compliance 

with future amended standards. Section 

9 describes an update to the existing test 

procedure in appendix Q to subpart B 

of 10 CFR part 430. The change to 

appendix Q updates an industry 

reference from ANSI C82.2–1984 to the 

current ANSI C82.2–2002. DOE 

proposes to create a separate appendix 

Q1 for the proposed new test procedure. 

DOE will retain the existing BEF test 

procedure for compliance with existing 

standards and, once amended standards 

become effective, for use with ballasts 

that cannot operate resistors. Section 10 

discusses amendments DOE is 

proposing regarding references to ANSI 

C82.2–2002. 

1. Test Conditions 

DOE proposes that prior to 

measurement, the ballasts would be 

thermally conditioned at room 

temperature (25 °C ± 2 °C) for at least 4 

hours. During this conditioning period, 

ballasts are not operating or energized. 

Providing time for thermal conditioning 

helps to generate reproducible results as 

electrical products’ performance 

characteristics tend to change in 

response to temperature. 

In addition, DOE proposes that 

ballasts be tested using the electrical 

supply characteristics found in section 

4 of ANSI C82.2–2002 with the 

following changes: (1) Ballasts capable 

of operating at a single voltage would be 

tested at the rated ballast input voltage; 

(2) users of universal voltage ballasts 

would disregard the input voltage 

directions in section 4.1 of ANSI C82.2– 

2002 that indicate a ballast capable of 

operating at multiple voltages should be 

tested at both the lowest and highest 

USA design center voltage; and (3) 

manufacturers use the most recent 

revisions to the normative references 

associated with ANSI C82.2–2002. 

Instead of testing universal voltage 

ballasts at the voltages indicated in 

ANSI C82.2–2002, DOE believes that 

testing ballasts at a single voltage is 

more appropriate and less burdensome. 

DOE believes 277 V is the most common 

input voltage for commercial ballasts 

and that 120 V is the most common for 

residential ballasts. Therefore, DOE 

proposes that all universal voltage 

commercial ballasts be tested at 277 V 

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and that universal voltage residential 

ballasts be tested at 120 V. 

2. Test Setup 

The resistor load bank is a network of 

resistors used to model the load placed 

on a ballast by a fluorescent lamp. It 

consists of five resistors, two for each of 

the two electrodes and one for the lamp 

arc. In a lamp, current can arc from one 

electrode to the other from any two 

positions (known as hotspots) on the 

lamp electrodes. The position can be 

different each time the current flow 

alternates from one direction to the 

other. The exact position determines the 

effective resistance of the electrode by 

determining the distance through which 

current must travel in the electrode. If 

the hotspots are at the ends of the 

electrodes for an instant-start system, 

the total electrode resistance will be 

greater than if the hotspots are both at 

the center of the electrode. When the arc 

begins at the center of the electrode, the 

length of the resistor is divided in half, 

creating a circuit with two equivalent 

resistors in parallel. The hotspots’ 

positions change over time, but the 

design of the resistor load bank is 

limited to one fixed position. Therefore, 

DOE needed to select a position for the 

hotspot, and model the resistor load 

bank accordingly. 

The selection of the hotspot position 

was based largely on the design of 

rapid-start and programmed-start 

ballasts because the position of the 

hotspot impacts the measured value of 

BE. These ballasts use two wires to carry 

ballast output power to the lamp. One 

of these wires supplies power for 

electrode heating, while the other 

provides power for the lamp arc. 

Electrode heating requires significantly 

less power than the lamp arc, so 

different levels of current and voltage 

exist in the two ballast wires leading to 

the lamp. Because these two wires are 

not labeled by the respective loads they 

serve, the user does not know which 

wire is which. With two different 

resistors, depending on which wire was 

attached to the larger or smaller resistor, 

the circuit would display two different 

output powers. Therefore, DOE modeled 

a lamp with the hotspot in the middle 

of the electrode so that the resistance of 

each path would be equal. Section 

III.F.7 describes how DOE determined 

resistor values for each type of lamp. 

DOE proposes that the ballast be 

connected to a main power source and 

to the resistor load bank according to 

the ballast manufacturer’s wiring 

instructions. Where the wiring diagram 

indicates connecting the ballast wire to 

a lamp, the lead would be connected to 

a resistor load bank. Ballast wire lengths 

would be unaltered from the lengths 

supplied by the ballast manufacturer to 

accurately capture the ballast efficiency 

of the product in its original 

manufactured form. Wires running from 

the load bank to the power analyzer 

would be kept loose or unbundled and 

at a minimal working length, to reduce 

error introduced to the ballast circuit 

because of current bypassing the ballast. 

DOE also proposes that the ballast be 

connected to the resistor load bank 

associated with the most common 

wattage lamp the ballast is designed to 

operate. In many cases, a ballast can 

operate several reduced wattage lamps 

in addition to the most common variety. 

For example, ballasts designed to 

operate four-foot MBP T8 lamps can 

operate 32 W, 30 W, 28 W, and 25 W 

lamps. Because ballasts operate 

differently when connected to different 

loads, a single resistor load bank is 

unable to simulate the load induced by 

all lamp wattages. To test every lampand-ballast combination, manufacturers 

would need to purchase and maintain 

the requisite number of reference lamps 

(or in the case of the proposed method, 

resistors and lamps) for every lamp 

wattage that a ballast can operate. 

Maintaining this number of lamps and 

resistors would impose a significant 

burden on manufacturers. Additionally, 

ANSI standards do not exist for every 

reduced wattage lamp. Because industry 

has not reached a consensus regarding 

the performance characteristics of each 

lamp, DOE could not choose a resistor 

to represent those lamps for which an 

industry standard does not exist. Thus, 

to mitigate the testing burden on 

manufacturers, the proposed test 

procedure would only require one lampand-ballast combination to be tested in 

each product class. Therefore, DOE 

proposes a test procedure based on the 

ballast operating the most common 

lamp wattage, resulting in a ballast 

efficiency that represents the way the 

product is primarily used in the market 

and reducing the testing burden on 

manufacturers. 

DOE proposes to test fluorescent lamp 

ballasts operating the maximum number 

of lamps for which they are designed. 

Many ballasts can operate fewer than 

the maximum number of lamps they are 

designed to operate. DOE compared the 

BEF of a ballast operating the maximum 

number of lamps for which it was 

designed to a ballast operating the same 

number of lamps but which was 

designed to operate more lamps. For 

example, a 4-lamp ballast operating two 

lamps has a similar efficiency to a 2- 

lamp ballast operating two lamps. When 

operating the same number of lamps, 

DOE found no correlation between the 

ballasts capable of operating different 

maximum numbers of lamps and BEF. 

Therefore, today’s proposed test 

procedure requires testing of a ballast 

only while it is operating the number of 

resistor load banks equal to the 

maximum number of lamps for which it 

was designed. 

In response to the framework 

document for the fluorescent lamp 

ballast standards rulemaking, the Joint 

Comment stated that DOE should 

establish performance requirements at 

specific dimming levels (such as 100, 

75, 50, and 25 percent) such that 

dimming ballasts can be consistently 

compared. (Joint Comment, No. 12 at p. 

5) DOE agrees that a test procedure for 

dimming ballasts should specify the 

dimming level or levels at which ballast 

efficiency should be tested. The 

preliminary determination of the scope 

of coverage in the fluorescent lamp 

ballast standards rulemaking, however, 

does not include dimming ballasts 

because these ballasts have an overall 

market share of about one percent and 

are already used in energy-saving 

systems. Thus, DOE did not include 

them in the preliminary scope of 

coverage. If DOE determines in the 

fluorescent lamp ballast standards 

rulemaking that the scope of coverage 

should include dimming ballasts, DOE 

will develop a test procedure for these 

ballasts. DOE invites comment on 

potential methods of measurement for 

determining the efficiency of dimming 

ballasts in the event dimming ballasts 

are added to the scope of coverage in the 

ongoing fluorescent lamp ballast 

standards rulemaking. 

Ballast wiring is different depending 

on starting method. Instant-start ballasts 

have only one wire connecting the 

ballast to each end of the load, while 

rapid-start and programmed-start 

ballasts have two wires connected to 

each end. The second wire in rapid-start 

and programmed-start systems is used 

for electrode heating. The resistor load 

banks have two input wires connected 

to two electrode resistors. In this test 

procedure, DOE proposes that the single 

output wire on an instant-start ballast be 

shorted with the two input electrode 

resistors to be consistent with current 

industry practice. DOE notes that this 

circuit topology is consistent with the 

wiring of lamp-and-ballast systems for 

bipin lamps. For example, a four-foot 32 

W MBP T8 lamp has two pins that are 

shorted together with the ballast output 

wire using a jumper wire or an adapter. 

A programmed-start ballast would not 

need to be shorted together because the 

ballast uses two wires for ballast output 

between the ballast and the lamp. 

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DOE proposes that the power analyzer 

voltage leads be attached to the wires 

leading to and from the main power 

source for input voltage measurements 

and that the current probe be placed 

around the same wires for input current. 

The power analyzer should have at least 

one channel per lamp plus one 

additional channel for the ballast input 

power measurement. 

Figure 1 shows the instrumentation 

placement for the output power 

measurement for ballasts that operate 

MBP, recessed double contact (RDC), 

and miniature-bipin (miniBP) lamps 

and Figure 2 shows placement for 

ballasts that operate single pin (SP) 

lamps. 

3. Test Method 

ANSI C82.2–2002 specifies operating 

the reference lamp with the test ballast 

for less than 30 seconds to reduce the 

effect of lamp restabilization on light 

output and to give the ballast less time 

to increase in temperature. Following 

the protocol established in ANSI C82.2– 

2002, a lamp is first stabilized on a 

reference ballast and then transferred to 

a test ballast without being 

extinguished. The output of a 

fluorescent lamp remains relatively 

constant (steady-state) when operated 

under defined conditions. When these 

defined conditions change (e.g., 

switching from a reference ballast to a 

test ballast) the lamp output 


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16Root mean square (RMS) voltage is a statistical 

measure of the magnitude of a voltage signal. RMS 

voltage is equal to the square root of the mean of 

all squared instantaneous voltages over one 

complete cycle of the voltage signal. 

17 ‘‘American National Standard for Fluorescent 

Lamps—Guide for Electrical Measurements,’’ 

approved September 25, 1997. 

characteristics also change. This change 

is not immediate, so by limiting the time 

the test ballast is driving the reference 

lamp, the reference lamp is kept as close 

as possible to its reference conditions. 

In addition, as a ballast operates, it 

increases in temperature until it reaches 

steady-state, though it may take more 

than thirty minutes for a ballast to 

increase from room temperature to 

steady-state temperature. Limiting test 

ballast operation to thirty seconds limits 

the increase in ballast temperature. DOE 

believes that over the course of thirty 

seconds, the change in lamp operating 

characteristics has a more significant 

impact on light output than changes in 

ballast temperature. 

For the proposed resistor-based test 

procedure, DOE found that one minute 

of operation was required to provide 

sufficient time to prepare for the data 

capture while maintaining the ballast 

and resistor load bank near room 

temperature. DOE recognizes that it is 

extending the time of operation 

compared to the procedures outlined in 

ANSI C82.2–2002, but it does not 

believe the additional 30 seconds allow 

for a significant increase in temperature 

of the ballast or in the resistance of the 

resistor load bank. As previously stated, 

DOE believes the main driver in ANSI’s 

decision to limit operation to 30 

seconds was the change in lamp 

operating characteristics, not ballast 

temperature. DOE proposes that after 

one minute of data capture the ballast be 

switched off, so that the resistor load 

bank duty cycle not exceed 50 percent 

(that is, for every operational minute, 

the load should be rested for one 

minute) to minimize any issue with 

thermal drift of the resistor load bank. 

Thermal drift describes the 

phenomenon of a resistor exhibiting a 

different resistance in response to a 

change in its internal temperature. DOE 

believes that operating a resistor load 

bank for one minute followed by one 

minute of zero power will sufficiently 

reduce the opportunity for the resistor 

load bank deviate from its room 

temperature resistance rating. 

During data acquisition, the power 

analyzer should measure the input 

voltage and current and the output 

voltage and current according to the 

setup described in section III.F.2. DOE 

proposes that the measured input 

parameters be voltage (RMS 16), current 

(RMS), power, and power factor 

measured in accordance with ANSI 

C82.2–2002. The measured output 

parameters would include lamp arc 

resistor voltage, current, and power. 

Instrumentation for current, voltage, and 

power measurements would be selected 

in accordance with ANSI C78.375– 

1997 17 Section 9, which specifies that 

instruments should be ‘‘of the true RMS 

type, essentially free from wave form 

errors, and suitable for the frequency of 

operation.’’ DOE proposes to further 

specify instrument performance within 

the guidelines of the ANSI C78.375– 

1997 and ANSI C82.2–2002. 

Specifically, current would be measured 

using a galvanically isolated current 

probe/monitor with frequency response 

between 40 Hertz (Hz) and 20 MHz. In 

addition, voltage would be measured 

directly by a power analyzer with a 

maximum 100 picofarad (pF) 

capacitance to ground and have 

frequency response between 40 Hz and 

1 MHz. 

In addition to making electrical input 

and output measurements, today’s 

proposed test procedure would also 

require measurement of ballast factor for 

the conversion to BEF. As discussed in 

the ballast factor section of III.F.5, 

ballast factor affects the apparent load 

placed on a ballast by a lamp, and 

consequently the measured BEF. BF 

helps assign a ballast to a particular 

product class, and it must be 

determined empirically. DOE proposes 

that ballast factor be measured in 

accordance with ANSI C82.2–2002 

section 12, with a few modifications. 

Because the measurement of ballast 

factor requires a reference lamp, DOE 

proposes to adopt some of the 

improvements to the existing test 

procedure described in section III.E.3. 

DOE believes specifying particular 

electrical operating conditions, 

clarifying in which circumstances 

electrode heating should be used in the 

reference circuit, and using light output 

measurements instead of power 

measurements for all ballasts will 

reduce variation in the measurement of 

BF. These changes are discussed in 

greater detail below. 

First, DOE notes that there are several 

options for operating a reference lamp 

as described in IESNA LM–9–1999. As 

described in section III.E.3, DOE 

proposes operating the reference lamp at 

the specified input voltage to the 

reference circuit. This method is the 

simplest to execute and the most 

common practice in industry. In 

addition, DOE adopted this method in 

the test procedure final rule for general 

service fluorescent lamps. 74 FR 31829, 

31834 (July 6, 2009). Second, the 

existing ballast test procedure is unclear 

on whether electrode heating should be 

used in the reference circuit for all 

ballasts. As described in section III.E.3, 

the presence or absence of electrode 

heating in the reference circuit changes 

the light output of the reference lamp on 

the reference circuit, thereby changing 

the measured value of BF. DOE 

proposes that electrode heating be used 

in the reference circuit for all ballasts 

that operate bipin or recessed double 

contact lamps (MBP, mini-BP, RDC). 

Single-pin lamps should not use heating 

in the reference circuit because these 

ballasts are not capable of undergoing 

electrode heating and are designed for 

use with instant-start ballasts. Third, 

although the existing test procedure 

requires the usage of power 

measurements for instant-start ballasts, 

industry practice has been to use light 

output measurements for all starting 

methods. DOE proposes the use of light 

output for the measurement of ballast 

factor for all ballast types to make the 

values of BF more consistent. 

In addition, because DOE is 

considering establishing a ballast 

efficiency (correlated to BEF) test 

procedure based on operation of a lamp 

at the most common wattage, DOE 

proposes that ballast factor also be 

measured using the most common 

wattage lamp. Ballast factor should be 

measured using a reference lamp with 

the nominal wattage indicated in 

section III.F.7 for a given ballast type. 

This nominal wattage also represents 

the type of lamp the resistor load bank 

simulates. Testing each ballast with 

only the most common wattage lamp 

produces test results that are most 

representative of how the end users 

operate fluorescent lamp ballasts. 

DOE does not believe that the usage 

of reference lamps for the purpose of 

ballast factor determination creates 

significant measurement variation. DOE 

believes that variations in measured 

lamp power affect ballast input power to 

a much greater extent than ballast factor. 

DOE invites comment on the variation 

of ballast factor due to lamp 

manufacturing variations and its effect 

on the measurement variation of BE 

converted to BEF. 

4. Calculations 

As described in Equation 1 below, 

ballast efficiency is equal to output 

power divided by input power. 

BE Output Power

Input Power =

DOE proposes to relate ballast efficacy 

factor to the measured ballast efficiency 


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18 DOE proposes three ballast factor bins: low, 

normal, and high. Low-ballast factor ballasts have 

a ballast factor of 0.78 or less; ballasts designed 

with a ballast factor between 0.78 and 1.10 are 

normal-ballast factor; and high-ballast factor 

ballasts were defined to have a ballast factor of 1.10 

or higher. 

through the empirically derived transfer 

equations discussed in section III.F.5. 

5. Transfer Equations—General Method 

A system of transfer equations is 

needed for correlating BE to BEF 

consistent with 42 U.S.C. 6295(g). DOE 

determined the transfer equations 

empirically by testing ballasts using 

both the proposed resistor-based BE and 

existing BEF test methods. DOE then 

plotted the results and computed a 

linear regression to generate an equation 

for BEF as a function of BE. 

The existing test procedure for 

fluorescent lamp ballasts allows for 

ballasts to operate the reference lamps 

under multiple operating modes. The 

user may operate at constant lamp 

current, voltage, or power. DOE used 

constant input voltage to the reference 

circuits for all of its BEF measurements 

and for lamp resistor determination. 

DOE believes this to be the most 

common industry practice. Therefore, 

the transfer equations that convert BE to 

BEF reflect this decision. 

Because factors like number of lamps, 

ballast factor, starting method, and lamp 

diameter affect the correlation between 

BE and BEF, DOE considered individual 

transfer equations for each product class 

proposed in the fluorescent lamp ballast 

standards rulemaking. The following 

paragraphs discuss each of the factors 

considered in the transfer equation 

development process. DOE invites 

comment on the transfer equations. 

Number of Lamps 

The number of lamps operated by a 

ballast has a disparate effect on the BE 

and BEF metrics. BEF decreases for 

ballasts operating increased number of 

lamps. This is because ballast input 

power increases (denominator) but the 

ballast factor (numerator) does not 

necessarily change. In contrast, BE 

changes much less with varying 

numbers of lamps because the 

numerator and denominator change by 

roughly proportional amounts. 

Therefore, DOE parsed the data into 

groupings based on the number of lamps 

the ballast operates. Within these 

groupings, DOE plotted BE versus BEF 

and computed a linear regression to 

generate an equation for BEF as a 

function of BE. 

Ballast Factor 

For a given ballast type, ballast factor 

tends to increase with increased ballast 

input power. As ballast input power 

increases, so does the ballast output 

power and consequently the light 

output. When a lamp is running at a 

higher lamp current and power 

(representative of a ballast with a high 

BF), lamp impedance decreases and the 

apparent load the lamp places on the 

ballast decreases. Therefore, a high BF 

ballast operating a resistor that 

simulates normal BF loading will 

measure a higher BE than when running 

a load of the appropriate resistance. To 

account for this change in apparent load 

with a resistor load bank, DOE 

identified two options: (1) Modify 

resistor values to account for the change 

in apparent load due to lamp current 

and BF; or (2) conduct all testing with 

one resistor representing normal BF but 

develop separate transfer equations for 

three different ranges of ballast factors 

(called bins).18

For option one, DOE would need to 

determine resistor values for multiple 

ballast factors for each ballast type. By 

appropriately matching resistance to BF, 

the test procedure would more 

accurately model the change in apparent 

load as a function of ballast factor. This 

method would create an additional 

burden on DOE at the outset of the test 

procedure and an even more significant 

burden on manufacturers. For example, 

if in order to obtain measurable 

improvement in testing accuracy 

compared to option 2, DOE were to 

assign a separate resistor value to each 

ballast factor in the low ballast factor 

product class for 4-foot T8 MBP ballasts, 

DOE would need to specify four specific 

resistor values. Specification of multiple 

resistors based on ballast factor would 

require the manufacturer to purchase 

many more resistors than a test 

procedure that used one resistor for all 

ballast factors. To limit the impact on 

manufacturers, DOE could determine 

resistor values for two to three 

commonly used BFs per ballast type and 

establish bins around these ballast 

factors. Keeping the number of BFspecific resistor values to a minimum 

would decrease manufacturer burden 

but still be more burdensome than 

option 2 without offering any 

appreciable improvement in testing 

accuracy compared to option 2. 

Option two specifies that ballasts of 

all BFs are tested using the same resistor 

value. Under this approach, ballasts 

designed with a ballast factor different 

than the ballast factor simulated by the 

resistor load bank would be operating a 

load that is non-representative of the 

effective load placed on the ballast by a 

real lamp. When testing ballasts of all 

ballast factors using one resistor, all else 

held constant, as BF increases, 

measured BE will tend to increase as 

well. Because the measured BE will not 

accurately describe lamp arc power 

divided by ballast input power, DOE 

would need to create a scaling 

technique. DOE can develop transfer 

equations for converting measured BE to 

BEF that correspond to bins of ballast 

factors. Transfer equations could be 

developed for particular ranges of BF so 

that DOE can define different 

relationships between measured BE and 

BEF for different BF bins. DOE proposes 

to use three bins because ballasts 

currently offered in the market are 

generally centered on three different 

ballast factors. DOE proposes this option 

because DOE believes it appropriately 

balances accurate scaling based on 

ballast factor with the reduced burden 

on manufacturers as a result of using 

one resistor for all ballast factors. 

DOE notes that placing ballasts into 

three bins based on BF results in the 

measured efficiency of the ballasts with 

the lowest BF in a particular bin to be 

relatively smaller than the higher end of 

the BF bin. Low BF ballasts tend to 

measure a lower BE than a high BF 

ballast when operating the same resistor 

because of the effects of current on lamp 

impedance discussed previously. This 

could potentially encourage the 

industry to produce ballasts at the upper 

ends of these bins, as the associated 

energy conservation standard would be 

less stringent for the higher BF models. 

DOE invites comment on this issue. 

DOE considered two mitigating 

strategies for reducing the market 

interference resulting from specifying a 

small number of BF bins. One possible 

solution to this problem is to increase 

the number of BF bins to reduce the 

range in BF within a bin. DOE was not 

able to assemble enough data based on 

the ballast factors currently offered in 

the market to increase the number of BF 

bins. The ballast market tends to clump 

around two to three popular ballast 

factors, rendering empirical 

determination of transfer equations for 

intermediate ballast factors infeasible. 

DOE also considered creating a 

continuous function of BE as a function 

of BF to normalize BE values for the 

deviation in measured BE as a result of 

running a ballast on unrepresentative 

resistive load. These normalized BE 

values would then be used as inputs to 

a single transfer equation developed 

from data obtained by testing ballasts 

with the ballast factor that the resistive 

load bank simulates. Similar to efforts to 

increase the number of BF bins, 

however, DOE found that the market 

provided insufficient data for scaling. 

With only two to three BFs in the data 

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set, DOE could not be certain of the 

relationship between BF and measured 

BE. 

Accordingly, based upon the above 

considerations, DOE has tentatively 

decided to proceed with option two by 

developing three transfer equations 

relating to three different ballasts factor 

bins. DOE tested ballasts of high-, 

normal-, and low-ballast factor varieties 

for each ballast type to develop an 

equation for BEF as a function of BE 

specific to the ballast factor type (high, 

normal, or low). DOE plotted BE and 

BEF data for a given BF bin (high-, 

normal-, or low-BF bins) and calculated 

a linear regression to determine an 

equation for BEF as a function of BE for 

the given BF. 

Starting Method 

Starting method also impacts the 

correlation between BE and BEF. 

Instant-start ballasts are in general more 

efficient than rapid-start and 

programmed-start ballasts. Because 

instant-start ballasts do not supply 

electrode heating, there are fewer losses 

in the ballasts’ internal circuitry and 

more of the output power goes to the 

lamp arc. Rapid-start and programmedstart ballasts use part of their output 

power to heat the lamp electrodes. In 

short, starting method has nonlinear 

effects on the light-output-based 

measurement of BEF and the BE-based 

measurement of BEF such that specific 

transfer equations are required for each 

starting method. Therefore, DOE parsed 

the data into groupings based on starting 

method. Within these groupings, DOE 

plotted BE versus BEF and computed a 

linear regression to generate an equation 

for BEF as a function of BE. In the 

fluorescent lamp ballast standards 

rulemaking, DOE plans to consider 

grouping instant-start and rapid-start 

ballasts in the same product class and 

programmed-start ballasts in a separate 

product class based on consumer utility. 

To create BEF values which are 

comparable for product classes with 

instant-start and programmed-start 

ballasts, DOE proposes to use one 

transfer equation for converting BE to 

BEF. This decision was made on the 

basis that ballasts of the same BE should 

have the same BEF. 

Lamp Diameter 

In the fluorescent lamp ballast 

standards rulemaking, DOE has 

tentatively determined that there is no 

distinct consumer utility difference 

between T8 and T12 ballasts. As a 

result, DOE is grouping T8 and T12 

ballasts in the same product class. At 

the 2008 public meeting, NEMA 

commented that BEF measurement 

requires photometric measurements of a 

reference lamp attached to the test 

ballast; thus, BEF values cannot be 

compared across ballasts that operate 

different lamp types. (NEMA, Public 

Meeting Transcript, No. 9 at pp. 124– 

125; NEMA, No. 11 at p. 6) DOE agrees 

that under the existing test procedure, 

the BEF values measured for T8 and T12 

ballasts are not comparable because the 

reference lamps for these ballasts have 

different rated power. Because certain 

T8 and T12 ballasts would be subject to 

the same energy conservation standard 

(in the preliminary analysis of the 

fluorescent ballast standards rulemaking 

these ballasts are in the same product 

class), DOE proposes to amend the test 

procedure such that the reported T12 

ballast BEF would be comparable to the 

reported BEF for a T8 ballast. To 

achieve this, DOE first developed 

transfer equations based on data for T8 

ballasts in a given product class. To 

generate T12 ballast BEF values which 

are comparable to T8 ballast BEF values, 

DOE proposes using the transfer 

equations developed for the relevant T8 

ballasts to generate a BEF for T12 

ballasts. As such, a T12 ballast BE value 

would be used as an input to the 

relevant T8 transfer equation. The T8 

transfer equation would then output a 

T12 ballast BEF value comparable to 

BEF values for T8 ballasts. DOE made 

this decision based on the assumption 

that T8 and T12 ballasts with the same 

BE should have the same BEF when 

reporting compliance with energy 

conservations standards. 

6. Transfer Equations—Testing, 

Analysis, and Results 

In the fluorescent lamp ballast 

standards rulemaking, DOE has 

preliminarily categorized ballasts into 

70 product classes. In today’s test 

procedure, DOE proposes to generate 

separate transfer equations for each 

product class. DOE targeted 

representative product classes and 

certain key product classes for extensive 

testing with the expectation that scaling 

would be required to establish transfer 

equations for the remaining product 

classes. DOE found strong correlation 

between BE and BEF for the product 

classes indicated in Table III.1. 

DOE believes a linear relationship 

should exist between BE and BEF for 

ballasts of the same ballast factor, 

starting method, number of lamps, and 

lamp type. All ballasts under these 

constraints send the same amount of 

output power to a lamp, and therefore, 

ballasts of different efficiency vary in 

input power only. A more efficient 

ballast requires less input power to 

yield the same output power as a less 

efficient ballast. Because both BE and 

BEF are proportional to the same 

expression (the inverse of input power), 

a linear relationship should exist 

between the two metrics. The test data 

indicated a linear relationship between 

BE and BEF, consistent with DOE’s 

expectation. Although DOE tested 

mostly electronic ballasts, which are 

generally more efficient than their 

magnetic counterparts, DOE believes the 

linear relationship between BE and BEF 

should exist across all values of BE and 

BEF. As such, DOE developed linear 

relationships between BE and BEF such 

that the equation passed through the 

origin (a BE of zero should correspond 

to a BEF of zero). DOE developed 

transfer equations in the form BEF = 

slope * BE, establishing a slope for each 

product class for the conversion of BE 

to BEF. 

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19Product classes are identified by numbers in 

Table III.1. 

Based on the test data for 4-foot 32W 

MBP T8 ballasts, DOE established 

scaling ratios for ballast factor type, 

number of lamps operated, and starting 

method. For ballast factor type, DOE 

calculated the ratio of the slopes for 

product classes 2 and 14 compared to 

product class 8 and used these ratios for 

scaling all other normal ballast factor 

product classes to their high and low 

ballast factor counterparts. For starting 

method, DOE employed a similar 

technique to the ballast factor type 

scaling method. DOE calculated the 

ratio of the slopes for product class 8 

and product class 26 to establish a 

relationship between the combined 

instant- and rapid-start ballast product 

classes and the programmed-start 

product classes. Again, DOE based 

scaling for all other combined instantand rapid-start ballast product classes to 

their programmed-start counterparts on 

this ratio between instant- and rapidstart ballast and programmed-start 

ballasts. For number of lamps operated 

by a ballast, DOE fit a power regression 

equation to the slopes for 4-foot MBP T8 

instant- and rapid-start normal BF 

ballasts that operate one, two, or three 

lamps (product classes 7, 8, and 9). DOE 

used the equation to extrapolate the 

slopes for products classes 10, 11, and 

12 (four, five, and six lamps) DOE then 

used the slopes for product classes 7 

through 12 to establish ratios between 

the slopes for ballasts that operate 1, 3, 

4, 5, or 6 lamps and the slope for 

ballasts that operate 2 lamps. Again, 

DOE based scaling for all other 2 lamp, 

normal BF ballasts to their 1, 3, 4, 5, and 

6 lamp counterparts on the number of 

lamps ratios generated with product 

classes 7 through 12. 

DOE focused its testing on 4-foot 32W 

MBP T8 ballasts for the establishment of 

scaling ratios between BF, number of 

lamps, and starting method. DOE tested 

smaller quantities of ballasts from other 

product classes, but found 8-foot T8 SP 

slimline ballasts to have a strong 

correlation between BE and BEF in the 

available dataset. For 4-foot T5 SO, 4- 

foot T5 HO, 8-foot RDC HO, and sign 

ballasts, DOE developed a relationship 

between total rated lamp power and the 

slope of the line relating BE to BEF. 

Total rated lamp power is the sum of the 

rated lamp wattages (as defined in 10 

CFR 430.2) operated by a particular 

ballast. DOE fit a power regression 

equation to the slopes and total rated 

input powers for product classes 19 7, 8, 

9, 49, and 50. Using this relationship, 

DOE extrapolated and interpolated 

slopes for product classes product 


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20 DOE determined the simulated lamp arc 

resistor value at BF = 0.88 for 4-foot 32 W MBP T8 

ballasts because 0.88 was used in the NEMA round 

robin and is the most common BF for this ballast 

type. 

21American National Standards for Electric 

Lamps, Double-Capped Fluorescent Lamps— 

Dimensional and Electrical Characteristics,’’ 

approved August 11, 2005. 

classes 39, 40, 43 through 46, 53, 54, 

and 65 through 70. DOE estimated the 

slopes based on total rated lamp power 

for these product classes because there 

was insufficient correlation in the test 

data to establish a slope. DOE invites 

comment on its scaling technique for 

number of lamps operated by a ballast, 

starting method, ballast factor, and total 

rated lamp power. 

Table III.2 lists the slope of the line 

developed by DOE for converting 

measured BE to BEF. Using the equation 

BEF = slope * BE, measured BE is 

converted to BEF. 

7. Resistor Value Determination 

The resistor-based BE method 

requires a resistive load bank to be used 

in place of a lamp during ballast 

operation. Therefore, DOE determined 20

the resistive value corresponding to 

different lamp types operating at 

conditions described in ANSI C78.81– 

2005.21 In some cases, the resistor value 

was calculated from data published in 

ANSI C78.81–2005. ANSI C78.81–2005 

provides electrical characteristics of 

lamps under either high-frequency or 

low-frequency operation. For T8 and 

T12 lamps, ANSI C78.81–2005 provides 

electrical characteristics for lowfrequency operation, and for T5 lamps, 

the standard provides characteristics for 

high-frequency operation. Since 

electronic ballasts operate in highfrequency, DOE needed to empirically 

determine high-frequency resistances 

for testing electronic ballasts that 

operate T8 and T12 lamps. Since all T5 

ballasts currently offered in the market 

are electronic, DOE did not need to 

empirically determine resistor values for 

low-frequency operation. DOE 

determined one resistor value per lamp 

and did not modify the resistance based 


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on each individual different ballast 

factors as discussed in section III.F.5. 

Table III.3 lists the resistor values 

determined empirically and those 

specified by ANSI C78.81–2005. 

TABLE III.3—SIMULATED LAMP RESISTOR VALUES

Ballast type 

Nominal 

lamp 

wattage 

Lamp diameter and base 

Low-frequency operation 

resistance (ohms) 

High-frequency operation resistance (ohms) 

Electrode 

(R1/2E) 

Lamp Arc 

(Rarc) 

Electrode 

(R1/2E) 

Lamp Arc 

(Rarc) 

Ballasts that operate one, two, three, four, five, or six 

straight-shaped lamps (commonly referred to as 4-foot medium bipin lamps) with medium bipin bases, a nominal 

overall length of 48 inches, a rated wattage of 25 W or 

more, and an input voltage at or between 120 V and 277 V.

32 

34 

T8 MBP .......

T12 MBP .....

5.75 

4.8 

439 

151 

5.75 

4.8 

760 

204 

Ballasts that operate one, two, three, four, five, or six Ushaped lamps (commonly referred to as 2-foot U-shaped 

lamps) with medium bipin bases, a nominal overall length 

between 22 and 25 inches, a rated wattage of 25 W or 

more, and an input voltage at or between 120 V and 277 V.

32 

34 

T8 MBP .......

T12 MBP .....

5.75 

4.8 

439 

151 

5.75 

4.8 

760 

204 

Ballasts that operate one or two rapid-start lamps (commonly 

referred to as 8-foot high output lamps) with recessed double contact bases, a nominal overall length of 96 inches 

and an input voltage at or between 120 V and 277 V.

86 

95 

T8 HO RDC 

T12 HO RDC 

N/A 

1.6 

N/A 

131 

4.75 

1.6 

538 

204 

Ballasts that operate one or two instant-start lamps (commonly referred to as 8-foot slimline lamps) with single pin 

bases, a nominal overall length of 96 inches, a rated wattage of 52 W or more, and an input voltage at or between 

120 V and 277 V.

59 

60 

T8 ................

slimline SP ..

T12 ..............

slimline SP ..

N/A* 

N/A* 

876 

313 

N/A* 

N/A* 

1256 

431 

Ballasts that operate one or two straight-shaped lamps (commonly referred to as 4-foot miniature bipin standard output 

lamps) with miniature bipin bases, a nominal length between 45 and 48 inches, a rated wattage of 26 W or more, 

and an input voltage at or between 120 V and 277 V.

28 T5 Mini-BP .. N/A N/A 20 950 

Ballasts that operate one, two, three, or four straight-shaped 

lamps (commonly referred to as 4-foot miniature bipin high 

output lamps) with miniature bipin bases, a nominal length 

between 45 and 48 inches, a rated wattage of 49 W or 

more, and an input voltage at or between 120 V and 277 V.

54 T5 Mini-BP .. N/A N/A 4 255 

Ballasts that operate one, two, three, or four straight-shaped 

lamps (commonly referred to as 4-foot medium bipin 

lamps) with medium bipin bases, a nominal overall length 

of 48 inches, a rated wattage of 25 W or more, an input 

voltage at or between 120 V and 277 V, a power factor of 

less than 0.90, and that are designed and labeled for use 

in residential applications.

32 

34 

T8 MBP .......

T12 MBP .....

5.75 

4.8 

439 

151 

5.75 

4.8 

760 

204 

Ballasts that operate one, two, three, four, five, or six rapidstart lamps (commonly referred to as 8-foot high output 

lamps) with recessed double contact bases, a nominal 

overall length of 96 inches, an input voltage at or between 

120 V and 277 V, and that operate at ambient temperatures of 20 °F or less and are used in outdoor signs.

86 

110 

T8 HO RDC 

T12 HO RDC 

N/A 

1.6 

N/A 

166 

4.75 

1.6 

538 

275 

MBP, Mini-BP, RDC, and SP represent medium bipin, miniature bipin, recessed double contact, and single pin, respectively. 

* The resistor load bank representing 8-foot slimline single pin (SP) lamps does not have electrode resistors. 

ANSI C78.81–2005 specifies the 

electrode resistance a lamp 

manufacturer must achieve through 

design and manufacturing. Electrode 

resistance is assumed to be the same for 

low-frequency and high-frequency 

operation because a tungsten filament 

(lamp electrode) has high impedance at 

both frequencies. For the lamp arc, the 

ANSI standard provides electrical 

characteristics for either high or low 

frequency, depending on the lamp type. 

By dividing lamp arc wattage by the 

square of lamp current, DOE calculated 

the resistance of the lamp arc resistor. 

Where lamp specification sheets do 

not specify electrical characteristics for 

the desired frequency of operation, DOE 

determined resistor values empirically. 

DOE empirically determined resistor 

values for high-frequency operation of 

32 W F32T8, 60 W F96T12/ES, 95 W 

F96T12HO/ES, and 110 W F96T12HO 

lamps. To determine the resistor values 

empirically, DOE first measured the 

light output of a reference lamp 

operated by a reference ballast at low 

frequency. Next, DOE connected the 

same reference lamp to a reference 

ballast operating at high frequency. By 

adjusting the voltage and current 

provided to the lamp, DOE achieved the 

same light output for high-frequency 

operation as measured in low-frequency 

operation. Then, DOE calculated the 

apparent resistance of the lamp under 

high-frequency operation using 

measured current and voltage. 

DOE notes that the measurement of 

lamp arc power is slightly different than 

actual lamp arc power due to the 

empirical method of determining the 

resistor value. DOE calculated the lamp 

arc resistor using measured lamp 

voltage and current at a predetermined 

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light output. Part of this voltage is 

applied across the lamp electrodes, so 

the calculated lamp arc resistor value 

tends to be slightly larger than reality. 

DOE believes the increase in calculated 

lamp arc resistance due to voltage drop 

in the electrodes to be minimal in 

comparison to the true lamp arc 

resistance. Because DOE cannot 

measure lamp electrode resistance 

independently of the lamp arc, DOE was 

unable to account for this problem. 

Design of the fluorescent lamp prevents 

DOE from making this measurement. In 

addition, DOE does not identify the 

resistance for a discrete electrode 

resistor for ballasts that operate eightfoot slimline SP lamps because DOE 

could not determine this value 

empirically and ANSI C78.81–2005 does 

not list the resistance. In effect, the 

empirical resistor value determination 

method includes the resistance of the 

electrodes in the resistance of the lamp 

arc resistor. Because the SP lamps only 

have one pin, the electrodes and lamp 

arc are all connected in series. When 

DOE measured the resistance for the 

‘‘lamp arc resistor,’’ DOE was unable to 

separate the resistance of the electrodes 

from the lamp arc due to design of a 

fluorescent lamp. While it was 

necessary to use electrode resistors in 

medium bipin, miniature-bipin, and 

recessed double contact lamps to allow 

for an electrode heating circuit, singlepin lamps do not have this functionality 

and are only designed for use with 

instant-start ballasts. Therefore, the 

lamp arc resistor for single-pin lamps 

includes the effective resistance of the 

entire lamp in a single resistor. 

In addition, today’s proposed highfrequency lamp arc resistor values for 

ballasts that operate one, two, three, 

four, five, or six straight-shaped and Ushaped lamps with medium bipin bases, 

a nominal overall length of 48 inches, a 

rated wattage of 25 W or more, and an 

input voltage at or between 120 V and 

277 V are based on a ballast factor of 

0.88. This value resulted from DOE’s 

participation in the NEMA round robin 

testing for the development of the 

resistor-based BE method. DOE selected 

a resistor for four-foot MBP ballasts that 

represented a 0.88 ballast factor, which 

is the most common ballast factor for 

this ballast type. For other ballast types, 

DOE used the electrical characteristics 

in ANSI C78.81–2005 to develop highfrequency lamp arc resistor values. 

These characteristics correspond to a 

ballast factor of 1.0. DOE does not 

believe that the quality of the test 

procedure is affected by the use of a 

different ballast factor for the 4-foot T8 

MBP ballasts. DOE invites comment on 

this issue. 

8. Non-Operational Ballasts When 

Connected to a Resistor 

During the testing process, DOE 

targeted certain product classes 

spanning ranges of ballast factor, 

starting method, lamp type, and number 

of lamps for extensive testing of both 

BEF and BE. See section III.F.6 for 

additional detail on the specific product 

classes chosen for testing. DOE selected 

several ballasts, ranging from one to 

approximately fifteen, within each 

chosen product class and tested three 

samples of each ballast. As part of its 

testing process for developing transfer 

equations between BEF and BE, DOE 

identified seven different ballast models 

that did not operate the resistor load 

bank. Therefore, DOE was therefore 

unable to calculate these ballasts’ BE. 

These ballasts were from different 

product classes and different 

manufacturers. In some cases, all three 

examples of a particular ballast did not 

operate a resistor, while in the other 

cases only one or two ballast examples 

did not operate a resistor. DOE also 

confirmed that the ballasts did operate 

properly when connected to fluorescent 

lamps. DOE does not know specifically 

why some ballasts do not operate 

resistor load banks. It appears these 

ballasts sensed the load was not a real 

fluorescent lamp and turned off. For 

ballasts found to not operate resistors, 

DOE proposes that manufacturers use 

the existing BEF test procedure found in 

appendix Q. In addition, DOE is 

considering an alternative proposal in 

which it would include improvements 

to the light-output-based test procedure 

in the procedure for ballasts that do not 

operate resistors. DOE believes this 

would improve the precision of the BEF 

measurements for ballasts that do not 

operate resistors. The improved lightoutput-based test procedure could be 

outlined as a separate section in 

Appendix Q1 only for use with ballasts 

that do not operate resistors. DOE 

invites comment on why some ballasts 

do not operate when connected to a 

resistor load bank. 

9. Existing Test Procedure Update 

As discussed in III.E.2, DOE proposes 

to update the reference in the existing 

test procedure (appendix Q) from ANSI 

C82.2–1984 to ANSI C82.2–2002, and to 

specify that where ANSI C82.2–2002 

references ANSI C82.1–1997, the 

operator shall use ANSI C82.1–2004 for 

testing low-frequency ballasts and shall 

use ANSI C82.11–2002 for highfrequency ballasts. These changes to the 

existing test procedure to modernize the 

ANSI reference would be effective 30 

days following publication of the test 

procedure final rule. DOE does not 

believe the updated standard will 

impose increased testing burden, nor 

will it alter the measured BEF of 

fluorescent lamp ballasts. Because the 

active mode and standby mode test 

procedures now both reference ANSI 

C82.2–2002, DOE proposes to both 

update the reference and reorganize the 

test procedure outlined in appendix Q 

for clarity. 

10. References to ANSI C82.2–2002 

As stated, in this NOPR DOE is 

proposing amendments to the 

fluorescent lamp ballast test procedure 

that would incorporate references to 

ANSI C82.2–2002 into appendix Q and 

appendix Q1. In examining the ANSI 

standard, DOE found that within ANSI 

C82.2–2002 there are references other 

ANSI standards. In particular, section 2 

of ANSI C82.2–2002 states that ‘‘when 

American National Standards referred to 

in this document [ANSI C82.2–2002] are 

superseded by a revision approved by 

the American National Standards 

Institute, Inc. the revision shall apply.’’ 

Revisions to these normative standards 

could potentially impact compliance 

with energy conservation standards by 

changing the tested value for energy 

efficiency. Therefore, DOE proposes to 

specify the particular versions of the 

ANSI standards that would be used in 

conjunction with ANSI C82.2–2002. 

DOE proposes to use ANSI C78.81– 

2005, ANSI C78.901–2005, ANSI C82.1– 

2004, ANSI C82.11–2002, and ANSI 

C82.13–2002 in support of ANSI C82.2– 

2002. All other normative references 

would be as directly specified in ANSI 

C82.2–2002. These specifications would 

apply to the ANSI C82.2–2002 

references in Appendix Q and to the 

ANSI C82.2–2002 references in 

Appendix Q1. DOE conducted testing in 

development of today’s proposed test 

procedure for Appendix Q1 in 

accordance with the aforementioned 

industry references. 

G. Burden To Conduct the Proposed 

Test Procedure 

EPCA requires that ‘‘[a]ny test 

procedures prescribed or amended 

under this section shall be reasonably 

designed to produce test results which 

measure energy efficiency, energy use 

* * * or estimated annual operating 

cost of a covered product during a 

representative average use cycle or 

period of use * * * and shall not be 

unduly burdensome to conduct.’’ (42 

U.S.C. 6293(b)(3)). Today’s proposed 

test procedure seeks to calculate the 

efficiency of a ballast by computing the 

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ratio of ballast output power (simulated 

lamp arc power) to ballast input power. 

This ratio is then converted to ballast 

efficacy factor, the statutorily required 

efficiency metric. DOE believes its 

proposed method minimizes burden on 

manufacturers while still achieving an 

effective test procedure. 

DOE sought to reduce manufacturer 

burden wherever possible. As described 

in section III.F.2, DOE chose to test each 

ballast type using only one resistor load 

bank instead of using a different load for 

each ballast factor and number of lamps 

associated with a ballast. DOE believes 

this choice reduces burden on the 

manufacturer. In addition, the proposed 

test procedure requires no additional 

measurement instrumentation beyond 

what ballast manufacturers use for the 

existing test procedure and other 

general uses. The required measurement 

of ballast factor is no different than the 

procedure manufacturers already use for 

reporting BF in their literature. The use 

of resistors for measuring ballast input 

power and lamp arc power, however, 

does impose a small incremental burden 

compared to the existing test procedure. 

DOE estimates the initial purchase cost 

of resistors for a two-lamp ballast to be 

about $1000 to $2000 and does not 

believe this additional materials burden 

is unreasonable due to the low cost and 

the fact that the materials cost can be 

amortized over the span of many years 

because the resistors maintain integrity 

over a long lifespan. The test procedure 

imposes a minimal incremental labor 

burden of about 30 to 60 minutes for a 

two-lamp ballast over the existing test 

procedure to measure BE using the 

ballast-resistor setup. For these reasons, 

even for small ballast manufacturers, 

DOE believes the testing burden is not 

unduly burdensome. DOE invites 

comment on this issue. 

H. Impact on Measured Energy 

Efficiency 

In any rulemaking to amend a test 

procedure, DOE must determine ‘‘to 

what extent, if any, the proposed test 

procedure would alter the measured 

energy efficiency * * * of any covered 

product as determined under the 

existing test procedure.’’ (42 U.S.C. 

6293(e)(1)) If DOE determines that the 

amended test procedure would alter the 

measured efficiency of a covered 

product, DOE must amend the 

applicable energy conservation standard 

accordingly. (42 U.S.C. 6293(e)(2)) This 

proposed active mode test procedure 

does impact the reported BEF value. 

Some products will test with higher or 

lower efficiency based on the new test 

procedure because of the transfer 

equation between the measured 

parameters and the reported BEF value. 

DOE is currently amending energy 

conservation standards for fluorescent 

lamp ballasts in the fluorescent lamp 

ballast standards rulemaking. In that 

rulemaking, DOE will consider 

standards based on the measured 

efficiency of the ballast in accordance 

with the test procedure proposed in this 

active mode test procedure rulemaking 

consistent with 42 U.S.C. 6293(e)(2). 

DOE will use test data that it collects in 

the course of both this test procedure 

rulemaking and the fluorescent lamp 

ballast standards rulemaking when 

setting energy conservation standards 

for fluorescent lamp ballasts. 

I. Certification and Enforcement 

Ballast manufacturers are currently 

not required to submit compliance 

statements and certification reports. In 

this rulemaking, DOE proposes to 

require fluorescent lamp ballast 

manufacturers to follow the certification 

and enforcement requirements 

summarized in subpart F of 10 CFR part 

430. 

DOE regulations at 10 CFR 

430.62(a)(4) describe the format and 

content of a certification report for 

consumer products. DOE proposes to 

include fluorescent lamp ballasts in the 

list of products for which certification 

reports are required (along with specific 

energy consumption metrics). The 

revised submission of data section will 

indicate that ballast manufacturers 

should report ballast efficacy factor and 

power factor in certification reports. The 

definition of ‘‘basic model’’ can be found 

at 10 CFR 430.2; the fluorescent lamp 

ballast test procedure can be found in 10 

CFR part 430, subpart B, Appendix Q, 

and the sampling plan can be found at 

10 CFR 430.24(q). Manufacturers would 

be required to follow all other 

provisions of subpart F of 10 CFR part 

430 for certification and enforcement 

applicable to all covered ballasts. 

DOE proposes that certification 

statements and compliance reports be 

submitted in accordance with the 

existing energy conservation standards 

one year after publication of this 

rulemaking (publication approximately 

June 30, 2011). In addition, DOE 

proposes that certification statements 

and compliance reports be submitted in 

accordance with the revised energy 

conservation standards and possible 

expansion of scope of coverage one year 

after these standards become effective 

(effective date of standards 

approximately June 30, 2014). 

IV. Procedural Issues and Regulatory 

Review 

A. Executive Order 12866 

Today’s proposed rule has been 

determined to not be a ‘‘significant 

regulatory action’’ under Executive 

Order 12866, ‘‘Regulatory Planning and 

Review,’’ 58 FR 51735 (Oct. 4, 1993). 

Accordingly, this action was not subject 

to review under that Executive Order by 

the Office of Information and Regulatory 

Affairs (OIRA) of the Office of 

Management and Budget (OMB). 

B. National Environmental Policy Act 

In this proposed rule, DOE proposes 

test procedure amendments that it 

expects will be used to develop and 

implement future energy conservation 

standards for ballasts. DOE has 

determined that this rule falls into a 

class of actions that are categorically 

excluded from review under the 

National Environmental Policy Act of 

1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and DOE’s 

implementing regulations at 10 CFR part 

1021. Specifically, this proposed rule 

would amend the existing test 

procedures without affecting the 

amount, quality or distribution of 

energy usage, and, therefore, would not 

result in any environmental impacts. 

Thus, this rulemaking is covered by 

Categorical Exclusion A5 under 10 CFR 

part 1021, subpart D, which applies to 

any rulemaking that interprets or 

amends an existing rule without 

changing the environmental effect of 

that rule. Accordingly, neither an 

environmental assessment nor an 

environmental impact statement is 

required. 

C. Regulatory Flexibility Act 

The Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 

U.S.C. 601 et seq.) requires preparation 

of an initial regulatory flexibility 

analysis for any rule that by law must 

be proposed for public comment, unless 

the agency certifies that the rule, if 

promulgated, will not have a significant 

economic impact on a substantial 

number of small entities. As required by 

Executive Order 13272, ‘‘Proper 

Consideration of Small Entities in 

Agency Rulemaking,’’ 67 FR 53461 

(August 16, 2002), DOE published 

procedures and policies on February 19, 

2003, to ensure that the potential 

impacts of its rules on small entities are 

properly considered during the DOE 

rulemaking process. 68 FR 7990. DOE 

has made its procedures and policies 

available on the Office of the General 

Counsel’s Web site: http:// 

www.gc.doe.gov. 

The Small Business Administration 

(SBA) has set size thresholds for 

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14310 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 56 / Wednesday, March 24, 2010 / Proposed Rules 

manufacturers of fluorescent lamp 

ballasts that define those entities 

classified as ‘‘small businesses’’ for the 

purposes of the RFA. DOE used the 

SBA’s small business size standards to 

determine whether any small 

manufacturers of fluorescent lamp 

ballasts would be subject to the 

requirements of the rule. 65 FR 30836, 

30850 (May 15, 2000), as amended at 65 

FR 53533, 53545 (September 5, 2000) 

and codified at 13 CFR part 121. The 

size standards are listed by North 

American Industry Classification 

System (NAICS) code and industry 

description and are available at http:// 

www.sba.gov/idc/groups/public/ 

documents/sba_homepage/ 

serv_sstd_tablepdf.pdf. Fluorescent 

lamp ballast manufacturing is classified 

under NAICS 335311, Power, 

Distribution, & Specialty Transformer 

Manufacturing. The SBA sets a 

threshold of 750 employees or less for 

an entity to be considered as a small 

business for this category. 

To better assess the potential impacts 

of the proposed standards for 

fluorescent lamp ballasts on small 

entities, DOE conducted a more focused 

inquiry of the companies that could be 

small manufacturers of fluorescent lamp 

ballasts. During its market survey, DOE 

used all available public information to 

identify potential small manufacturers. 

DOE’s research involved several 

industry trade association membership 

directories, product databases, 

individual company Web sites, and 

marketing research tools (e.g., Dunn and 

Bradstreet reports) to create a list of 

every company that manufactures or 

sells fluorescent lamp ballasts covered 

by this rulemaking. DOE reviewed all 

publicly-available data and contacted 

select companies on its list, as 

necessary, to determine whether they 

met the SBA’s definition of a small 

business manufacturer of covered 

fluorescent lamp ballasts. DOE screened 

out companies that did not offer 

fluorescent lamp ballasts covered by 

this rulemaking, did not meet the 

definition of a ‘‘small business,’’ or are 

foreign owned and operated. Ultimately, 

DOE identified approximately 15 

fluorescent lamp ballast manufacturers 

that produce covered fluorescent lamp 

ballasts and can potentially be 

considered small businesses. 

The proposed rule includes revisions 

to appendix Q and appendix Q1, as well 

as certification reporting requirements. 

The revisions to appendix Q update an 

industry reference and do not change 

the test method or increase testing 

burden. The only difference between the 

two test procedures relates to the 

interference of testing instrumentation. 

Specifically, the input power 

measurement of ANSI C82.2–2002 

reduces the interference of 

instrumentation on the input power 

measurement as compared to ANSI 

C82.2–1984. The vast majority of 

companies and testing facilities, 

however, already employ modern 

instrumentation that does not 

significantly interfere with input power 

measurements. Thus, updating this 

industry reference would not impose 

additional financial burden in terms of 

labor or materials. The proposed test 

procedure in appendix Q1 imposes a 

minimal incremental burden compared 

to the existing test procedure and 

industry practices. For a 2-lamp ballast, 

the new procedure requires a small 

increase in the labor burden of 30 to 60 

minutes and a relatively small increase 

in materials costs ($1000 to $2000 initial 

purchase price). Finally, DOE estimates 

that the proposed certification reporting 

requirements would average 30 hours 

per response. 

To analyze the testing burden impacts 

described above on small business 

manufacturers, DOE identified small 

business manufacturers of fluorescent 

lamp ballasts included in the 

preliminary scope of coverage 

considered in the fluorescent lamp 

ballast standards rulemaking as 

described above. DOE sought to 

examine publically available financial 

data for these companies to compare 

revenue and profit to the anticipated 

testing burden associated with this 

proposed test procedure. DOE 

determined that all the identified small 

business manufacturers were privately 

owned, and as a result, financial data 

was not publically available. Instead, 

DOE estimated testing burden for a 

small business with 0.1 percent market 

share of covered fluorescent lamp 

ballasts and revenue of approximately 

one million dollars. DOE assumed that 

this small manufacturer would sell 

approximately 30 basic models of a 

single ballast type. Based on the 

assumptions stated in the previous 

paragraphs, DOE estimated that the 

annual testing costs for this small 

business would be about $10,000, 

constituting 1 percent of annual 

revenue. Including the 30 hours per 

response for certification reporting, DOE 

believes this to be a small percentage of 

revenue and not a significant impact. 

On the basis of the foregoing, DOE 

tentatively concludes and certifies that 

this proposed rule would not have a 

significant impact on a substantial 

number of small entities. Accordingly, 

DOE has not prepared a regulatory 

flexibility analysis for this rulemaking. 

DOE will provide its certification and 

supporting statement of factual basis to 

the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the 

Small Business Administration for 

review under 5 U.S.C. 605(b). 

D. Paperwork Reduction Act 

This rule contains a collection-ofinformation requirement subject to the 

Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) which 

has been approved by OMB under 

control number 1910–1400. Public 

reporting burden for compliance 

reporting for energy and water 

conservation standards is estimated to 

average 30 hours per response, 

including the time for reviewing 

instructions, searching existing data 

sources, gathering and maintaining the 

data needed, and completing and 

reviewing the collection of information. 

Send comments regarding this burden 

estimate, or any other aspect of this data 

collection, including suggestions for 

reducing the burden, to DOE (see 

ADDRESSES) and by e-mail to 

Christine_J._Kymn@omb.eop.gov. 

Notwithstanding any other provision 

of the law, no person is required to 

respond to, nor shall any person be 

subject to a penalty for failure to comply 

with, a collection of information subject 

to the requirements of the PRA, unless 

that collection of information displays a 

currently valid OMB Control Number. 

E. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 

1995 

Title II of the Unfunded Mandates 

Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA) (Pub. L. 

104–4) requires each Federal agency to 

assess the effects of Federal regulatory 

actions on State, local, and Tribal 

governments and the private sector. For 

proposed regulatory actions likely to 

result in a rule that may cause 

expenditures by State, local, and Tribal 

governments, in the aggregate, or by the 

private sector of $100 million or more 

in any one year (adjusted annually for 

inflation), section 202 of UMRA requires 

a Federal agency to publish estimates of 

the resulting costs, benefits, and other 

effects on the national economy. (2 

U.S.C. 1532(a), (b)) UMRA also requires 

Federal agencies to develop an effective 

process to permit timely input by 

elected officers of State, local, and 

Tribal governments on a proposed 

‘‘significant intergovernmental 

mandate.’’ In addition, UMRA requires 

an agency plan for giving notice and 

opportunity for timely input to small 

governments that may be affected before 

establishing a requirement that might 

significantly or uniquely affect them. On 

March 18, 1997, DOE published a 

statement of policy on its process for 

intergovernmental consultation under 

UMRA. 62 FR 12820. (This policy is 

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also available at http://www.gc.doe.gov). 

Today’s proposed rule contains neither 

an intergovernmental mandate, nor a 

mandate that may result in the 

expenditure of $100 million or more in 

any year, so these requirements do not 

apply. 

F. Treasury and General Government 

Appropriations Act, 1999 

Section 654 of the Treasury and 

General Government Appropriations 

Act, 1999 (Pub. L. 105–277) requires 

Federal agencies to issue a Family 

Policymaking Assessment for any 

proposed rule that may affect family 

well-being. Today’s proposed rule 

would not have any impact on the 

autonomy or integrity of the family as 

an institution. Accordingly, DOE has 

concluded that it is unnecessary to 

prepare a Family Policymaking 

Assessment. 

G. Executive Order 13132 

Executive Order 13132, ‘‘Federalism,’’ 

64 FR 43255 (August 4, 1999) imposes 

certain requirements on agencies 

formulating and implementing policies 

or regulations that preempt State law or 

that have Federalism implications. The 

Executive Order requires agencies to 

examine the constitutional and statutory 

authority supporting any action that 

would limit the policymaking discretion 

of the States and to carefully assess the 

necessity for such actions. The 

Executive Order also requires agencies 

to have an accountable process to 

ensure meaningful and timely input by 

State and local officials in the 

development of regulatory policies that 

have Federalism implications. On 

March 14, 2000, DOE published a 

statement of policy describing the 

intergovernmental consultation process 

it will follow in the development of 

such regulations. 65 FR 13735. DOE has 

examined this proposed rule and has 

determined that it would not have a 

substantial direct effect on the States, on 

the relationship between the national 

government and the States, or on the 

distribution of power and 

responsibilities among the various 

levels of government. EPCA governs and 

prescribes Federal preemption of State 

regulations as to energy conservation for 

the products that are the subject of 

today’s proposed rule. States can 

petition DOE for exemption from such 

preemption to the extent, and based on 

criteria, set forth in EPCA. (42 U.S.C. 

6297(d)) No further action is required by 

Executive Order 13132. 

H. Executive Order 12988 

With respect to the review of existing 

regulations and the promulgation of 

new regulations, section 3(a) of 

Executive Order 12988, ‘‘Civil Justice 

Reform,’’ 61 FR 4729 (Feb. 7, 1996), 

imposes on Federal agencies the general 

duty to adhere to the following 

requirements: (1) Eliminate drafting 

errors and ambiguity; (2) write 

regulations to minimize litigation; (3) 

provide a clear legal standard for 

affected conduct rather than a general 

standard; and (4) promote simplification 

and burden reduction. Section 3(b) of 

Executive Order 12988 specifically 

requires that Executive agencies make 

every reasonable effort to ensure that the 

regulation: (1) Clearly specifies the 

preemptive effect, if any; (2) clearly 

specifies any effect on existing Federal 

law or regulation; (3) provides a clear 

legal standard for affected conduct 

while promoting simplification and 

burden reduction; (4) specifies the 

retroactive effect, if any; (5) adequately 

defines key terms; and (6) addresses 

other important issues affecting clarity 

and general draftsmanship under any 

guidelines issued by the Attorney 

General. Section 3(c) of Executive Order 

12988 requires Executive agencies to 

review regulations in light of applicable 

standards in sections 3(a) and 3(b) to 

determine whether they are met or it is 

unreasonable to meet one or more of 

them. DOE has completed the required 

review and determined that, to the 

extent permitted by law, the proposed 

rule meets the relevant standards of 

Executive Order 12988. 

I. Treasury and General Government 

Appropriations Act, 2001 

Section 515 of the Treasury and 

General Government Appropriations 

Act, 2001 (Pub. L. 106–554; 44 U.S.C. 

3516 note) provides for agencies to 

review most disseminations of 

information to the public under 

guidelines established by each agency 

pursuant to general guidelines issued by 

OMB. OMB’s guidelines were published 

at 67 FR 8452 (Feb. 22, 2002), and 

DOE’s guidelines were published at 67 

FR 62446 (Oct. 7, 2002). DOE has 

reviewed today’s proposed rule under 

the OMB and DOE guidelines and has 

concluded that it is consistent with 

applicable policies in those guidelines. 

J. Executive Order 13211 

Executive Order 13211, ‘‘Actions 

Concerning Regulations That 

Significantly Affect Energy Supply, 

Distribution, or Use,’’ 66 FR 28355 (May 

22, 2001), requires Federal agencies to 

prepare and submit to OMB, a 

Statement of Energy Effects for any 

proposed significant energy action. A 

‘‘significant energy action’’ is defined as 

any action by an agency that 

promulgated or is expected to lead to 

promulgation of a final rule, and that: 

(1) Is a significant regulatory action 

under Executive Order 12866, or any 

successor order; and (2) is likely to have 

a significant adverse effect on the 

supply, distribution, or use of energy; or 

(3) is designated by the Administrator of 

OIRA as a significant energy action. For 

any proposed significant energy action, 

the agency must give a detailed 

statement of any adverse effects on 

energy supply, distribution, or use 

should the proposal be implemented, 

and of reasonable alternatives to the 

action and their expected benefits on 

energy supply, distribution, and use. 

Today’s regulatory action to amend the 

test procedure for measuring the energy 

efficiency of fluorescent lamp ballasts is 

not a significant regulatory action under 

Executive Order 12866. Moreover, it 

would not have a significant adverse 

effect on the supply, distribution, or use 

of energy, nor has it been designated as 

a significant energy action by the 

Administrator of OIRA. Therefore, it is 

not a significant energy action, and, 

accordingly, DOE has not prepared a 

Statement of Energy Effects. 

K. Executive Order 12630 

Pursuant to Executive Order 12630, 

‘‘Governmental Actions and Interference 

with Constitutionally Protected Property 

Rights,’’ 53 FR 8859 (March 15, 1988), 

DOE has determined that this rule 

would not result in any takings that 

might require compensation under the 

Fifth Amendment to the United States 

Constitution. 

L. Section 32 of the Federal Energy 

Administration Act of 1974 

Under section 301 of the Department 

of Energy Organization Act (Pub. L. 95– 

91; 42 U.S.C. 7101), DOE must comply 

with section 32 of the Federal Energy 

Administration Act of 1974, as amended 

by the Federal Energy Administration 

Authorization Act of 1977. (15 U.S.C. 

788; FEAA) Section 32 essentially 

provides in relevant part that, where a 

proposed rule authorizes or requires use 

of commercial standards, the notice of 

proposed rulemaking must inform the 

public of the use and background of 

such standards. In addition, section 

32(c) requires DOE to consult with the 

Attorney General and the Chairman of 

the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) 

concerning the impact of the 

commercial or industry standards on 

competition. The proposed rule 

incorporates testing methods contained 

in the following commercial standards: 

ANSI C82.2–2002, Method of 

Measurement of Fluorescent Lamp 

Ballasts. While today’s proposed test 

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14312 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 56 / Wednesday, March 24, 2010 / Proposed Rules 

procedure is not exclusively based on 

ANSI C82.2–2002, one component of 

the test procedure, namely measurement 

of ballast factor, adopts a measurement 

technique from ANSI C82.2–2002 

without amendment. The Department 

has evaluated these standards and is 

unable to conclude whether they fully 

comply with the requirements of section 

32(b) of the FEAA, (i.e., that they were 

developed in a manner that fully 

provides for public participation, 

comment, and review). DOE will 

consult with the Attorney General and 

the Chairman of the FTC concerning the 

impact of these test procedures on 

competition, prior to prescribing a final 

rule. 

V. Public Participation 

A. Attendance at Public Meeting 

The time, date and location of the 

public meeting are listed in the DATES

and ADDRESSES sections at the beginning 

of this NOPR. To attend the public 

meeting, please notify Ms. Brenda 

Edwards at (202) 586–2945. As 

explained in the ADDRESSES section, 

foreign nationals visiting DOE 

headquarters are subject to advance 

security screening procedures. 

B. Procedure for Submitting Requests To 

Speak 

Any person who has an interest in the 

topics addressed in this notice, or who 

is a representative of a group or class of 

persons that has an interest in these 

issues, may request an opportunity to 

make an oral presentation at the public 

meeting. Such persons may handdeliver requests to speak to the address 

shown in the ADDRESSES section at the 

beginning of this notice between 9 a.m. 

and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, 

except Federal holidays. Requests may 

also be sent by mail or e-mail to: Ms. 

Brenda Edwards, U.S. Department of 

Energy, Building Technologies Program, 

Mailstop EE–2J, 1000 Independence 

Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585– 

0121, or Brenda.Edwards@ee.doe.gov. 

Persons who wish to speak should 

include in their request a computer 

diskette or CD in WordPerfect, Microsoft 

Word, PDF, or text (ASCII) file format 

that briefly describes the nature of their 

interest in this rulemaking and the 

topics they wish to discuss. Such 

persons should also provide a daytime 

telephone number where they can be 

reached. 

DOE requests that those persons who 

are scheduled to speak submit a copy of 

their statements at least one week prior 

to the public meeting. DOE may permit 

any person who cannot supply an 

advance copy of this statement to 

participate, if that person has made 

alternative arrangements with the 

Building Technologies Program in 

advance. When necessary, the request to 

give an oral presentation should ask for 

such alternative arrangements. 

C. Conduct of Public Meeting 

DOE will designate a DOE official to 

preside at the public meeting and may 

also employ a professional facilitator to 

aid discussion. The public meeting will 

be conducted in an informal, conference 

style. The meeting will not be a judicial 

or evidentiary public hearing, but DOE 

will conduct it in accordance with 

section 336 of EPCA (42 U.S.C. 6306). 

There shall not be discussion of 

proprietary information, costs or prices, 

market share, or other commercial 

matters regulated by U.S. anti-trust 

laws. 

DOE reserves the right to schedule the 

order of presentations and to establish 

the procedures governing the conduct of 

the public meeting. A court reporter will 

record the proceedings and prepare a 

transcript. 

At the public meeting, DOE will 

present summaries of comments 

received before the public meeting, 

allow time for presentations by 

participants, and encourage all 

interested parties to share their views on 

issues affecting this rulemaking. Each 

participant may present a prepared 

general statement (within time limits 

determined by DOE) before the 

discussion of specific topics. Other 

participants may comment briefly on 

any general statements. At the end of 

the prepared statements on each specific 

topic, participants may clarify their 

statements briefly and comment on 

statements made by others. Participants 

should be prepared to answer questions 

from DOE and other participants. DOE 

representatives may also ask questions 

about other matters relevant to this 

rulemaking. The official conducting the 

public meeting will accept additional 

comments or questions from those 

attending, as time permits. The 

presiding official will announce any 

further procedural rules or modification 

of procedures needed for the proper 

conduct of the public meeting. 

DOE will make the entire record of 

this proposed rulemaking, including the 

transcript from the public meeting, 

available for inspection at the U.S. 

Department of Energy, 6th Floor, 950 

L’Enfant Plaza, SW., Washington, DC 

20024, (202) 586–2945, between 9 a.m. 

and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, 

except Federal holidays. The official 

transcript will also be posted on the 

Web page at 

http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/ 

appliance_standards/residential/ 

fluorescent_lamp_ballasts.html. 

D. Submission of Comments 

DOE will accept comments, data, and 

information regarding the proposed rule 

no later than the date provided at the 

beginning of this notice. Comments, 

data, and information submitted to 

DOE’s e-mail address for this 

rulemaking should be provided in 

WordPerfect, Microsoft Word, PDF, or 

text (ASCII) file format. Stakeholders 

should avoid the use of special 

characters or any form of encryption, 

and wherever possible, comments 

should include the electronic signature 

of the author. Comments, data, and 

information submitted to DOE via mail 

or hand delivery/courier should include 

one signed paper original. No 

telefacsimiles (faxes) will be accepted. 

According to 10 CFR 1004.11, any 

person submitting information that he 

or she believes to be confidential and 

exempt by law from public disclosure 

should submit two copies: one copy of 

the document including all the 

information believed to be confidential, 

and one copy of the document with the 

information believed to be confidential 

deleted. DOE will make its own 

determination as to the confidential 

status of the information and treat it 

according to its determination. 

Factors of interest to DOE when 

evaluating requests to treat submitted 

information as confidential include: (1) 

A description of the items; (2) whether 

and why such items are customarily 

treated as confidential within the 

industry; (3) whether the information is 

generally known by or available from 

other sources; (4) whether the 

information has previously been made 

available to others without obligation 

concerning its confidentiality; (5) an 

explanation of the competitive injury to 

the submitting person which would 

result from public disclosure; (6) a date 

upon which such information might 

lose its confidential nature due to the 

passage of time; and (7) why disclosure 

of the information would be contrary to 

the public interest. 

E. Issues on Which DOE Seeks Comment 

Although comments are welcome on 

all aspects of this rulemaking, DOE is 

particularly interested in receiving 

comments and views of interested 

parties concerning the following issues: 

1. All Aspects of the Existing Test 

Procedure for Active Mode Energy 

Consumption 

DOE invites comment on all aspects 

of the existing test procedure for 

fluorescent lamp ballasts for active 

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mode energy consumption that appear 

at 10 CFR part 430, subpart B, appendix 

Q (‘‘Uniform Test Method for Measuring 

the Energy Consumption of Fluorescent 

Lamp Ballasts’’). 

2. Appropriate Usage of ANSI Standards 

DOE seeks comment on the 

appropriate use of ANSI C82.2–2002, 

ANSI C82.11 Consolidated-2002, and 

ANSI C82.1–2004. See section III.E.3 for 

further detail. 

3. Method of Measurement for Dimming 

Ballasts 

DOE seeks comment on potential 

methods of measurement to determine 

the efficiency of dimming ballasts if 

DOE decides to include them in the 

scope of energy conservation standards. 

See section III.F.2 for further detail. 

4. Resistor-Based Ballast Efficiency Test 

Method 

DOE seeks comment on the 

effectiveness of the proposed resistorbased BE test method and its expected 

improvement in measurement variation. 

See section III.E.1 for further details. 

5. Alternative Approaches To Amending 

the Test Procedure 

DOE seeks comment from interested 

parties who do not support the 

proposed resistor-based ballast 

efficiency method on the lamp-based BE 

method and the light-output-based and 

RSE test procedures (see sections III.E.2, 

III.E.3, and III.E.4 for further detail), or 

any other procedure they believe is 

appropriate. 

6. Ballasts That Do Not Operate 

Resistors 

DOE seeks comment on why some 

ballasts do not operate when connected 

to a resistor load bank and DOE’s 

proposal to measure BEF directly (as a 

light output measurement) for these 

ballasts. DOE invites comment on other 

approaches to test these ballasts. See 

section III.F.8 for further detail. 

7. Ballast Factor Variation Due to 

Variations in Measured Lamp Power 

DOE recognizes that in order to 

correlate measured BE to BEF using 

DOE’s proposed test procedure, the BF 

of the test ballast must be determined. 

DOE seeks comment on DOE’s approach 

to use light output-based measurement 

to determine ballast factor and the 

resulting variation in ballast factor due 

to lamp manufacturing variations. DOE 

also requests comment on impact of this 

variation in BF on the calculated BEF 

(according to the proposed test 

procedure). See section III.F.3 for 

further detail. 

8. Ballast Factor Binning 

DOE seeks comment on the effect of 

DOE’s approach of using a single 

resistor value for measuring ballasts of 

all ballast factors (for a particular 

ballast) and correlating measured BE to 

correlated BEF using transfer equations 

specific to ballast factor bins. See 

section III.F.5 for further detail. 

9. Transfer Equations 

DOE seeks comment on the transfer 

equations developed to convert BE to 

BEF. See section III.F.5 for further 

detail. 

10. Scaling Transfer Equations 

DOE seeks comment on the transfer 

equation scaling techniques (across 

number of lamps operated by a ballast, 

starting method, ballast factor, and total 

rated lamp power) used for product 

classes in which there was insufficient 

correlation in the test data to establish 

a slope. See section III.F.6 for further 

detail. 

11. Burden on Manufacturers and 

Testing Facilities 

DOE seeks comment on its assessment 

of the anticipated burden imposed by 

the proposed test method. See section 

III.G for further detail. 

VI. Approval of the Office of the 

Secretary 

The Secretary of Energy has approved 

publication of this proposed rule. 

List of Subjects in 10 CFR Part 430 

Administrative practice and 

procedure, Confidential business 

information, Energy conservation, 

Household appliances, Imports, 

Incorporation by reference, 

Intergovernmental relations, Small 

businesses. 

Issued in Washington, DC on February 12, 

2010. 

Cathy Zoi, 

Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and 

Renewable Energy. 

For the reasons stated in the 

preamble, DOE is proposing to amend 

Part 430 of Chapter II of Title 10, Code 

of Federal Regulations as set forth 

below: 

PART 430–ENERGY CONSERVATION 

PROGRAM FOR CONSUMER 

PRODUCTS 

1. The authority citation for Part 430 

continues to read as follows: 

Authority: 42 U.S.C. 6291–6309; 28 U.S.C. 

2461 note. 

2. Section 430.3 is amended by: 

a. Amending paragraphs (c)(5), (c)(7) 

and (c)(11) by adding at the end of the 

paragraphs the words ‘‘and Appendix 

Q1 of subpart B’’. 

b. Redesignating paragraphs (c)(11) as 

(c)(12); (c)(12) as (c)(15); and (c)(13) as 

(c)(16). 

c. Adding new paragraphs (c)(11), 

(c)(13) and (c)(14). 

These revisions and additions read as 

follows: 

§ 430.3 Materials incorporated by 

reference. 

* * * * * 

(c) * * * 

(11) ANSI C82.1–2004, Revision of 

ANSI C82.1–1997 (‘‘ANSI C82.1’’), 

American National Standard for Lamp 

Ballast—Line-Frequency Fluorescent 

Lamp Ballast, approved November 19, 

2004; IBR approved for Appendix Q of 

subpart B and Appendix Q1 of subpart 

B. 

* * * * * 

(13) ANSI C82.11–2002, Revision of 

ANSI C82.11–1993 (‘‘ANSI C82.11’’), 

American National Standard for Lamp 

Ballasts—High-frequency Fluorescent 

Lamp Ballasts, approved January 17, 

2002; IBR approved for Appendix Q of 

subpart B and Appendix Q1 of subpart 

B. 

(14) ANSI C82.13–2002 (‘‘ANSI 

C82.13’’), American National Standard 

for Lamp Ballasts—Definitions for 

Fluorescent Lamps and Ballasts, 

approved July 23, 2002; IBR approved 

for Appendix Q of subpart B and 

Appendix Q1 of subpart B. 

* * * * * 

3. Section 430.23 is amended by 

revising paragraph (q) to read as follows: 

§ 430.23 Test procedures for the 

measurement of energy and water 

consumption. 

* * * * * 

(q) Fluorescent Lamp Ballasts. (1) The 

Estimated Annual Energy Consumption 

(EAEC) for fluorescent lamp ballasts, 

expressed in kilowatt-hours per year, 

shall be the product of: 

(i) The input power in kilowatts as 

determined in accordance with section 

3.1.3.1 of appendix Q to this subpart 

before the compliance date of the 

amended standards for fluorescent lamp 

ballasts or section 7.1.2.2 of appendix 

Q1 to this subpart beginning on the 

compliance date of the amended 

standards for fluorescent lamp ballasts; 

and 

(ii) The representative average use 

cycle of 1,000 hours per year, the 

resulting product then being rounded 

off to the nearest kilowatt-hour per year. 

(2) Ballast Efficacy Factor (BEF) shall 

be as determined in section 4.2 of 

appendix Q of this subpart before the 

compliance date of the amended 

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14314 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 56 / Wednesday, March 24, 2010 / Proposed Rules 

standards for fluorescent lamp ballasts 

or section 8.3 of appendix Q1 to this 

subpart beginning on the compliance 

date of the amended standards for 

fluorescent lamp ballasts. 

(3) The Estimated Annual Operating 

Cost (EAOC) for fluorescent lamp 

ballasts, expressed in dollars per year, 

shall be the product of: 

(i) The representative average unit 

energy cost of electricity in dollars per 

kilowatt-hour as provided by the 

Secretary, 

(ii) The representative average use 

cycle of 1,000 hours per year, and 

(iii) The input power in kilowatts as 

determined in accordance with section 

3.1.3.1 of appendix Q to this subpart 

before the compliance date of the 

amended standards for fluorescent lamp 

ballasts or section 7.1.2.2 of appendix 

Q1 to this subpart beginning on the 

compliance date of the amended 

standards for fluorescent lamp ballasts, 

the resulting product then being 

rounded off to the nearest dollar per 

year. 

(4) Standby power consumption of 

certain fluorescent lamp ballasts shall 

be measured in accordance with section 

3.2 of appendix Q to this subpart. 

* * * * * 

4. Appendix Q to Subpart B of Part 

430 is amended by: 

a. Adding introductory text. 

b. Revising sections 1.15, 1.16, and 

1.17. 

c. Removing section 2.1, redesignating 

section 2.2 as section 2, and revising 

redesignated section 2. 

d. Redesignating sections 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 

3.3.1, 3.3.2, 3.3.3, 3.4, 3.4.1, and 3.4.2 as 

sections 3.1.1, 3.1.2, 3.1.3, 3.1.3.1, 

3.1.3.2, 3.1.3.3, 3.1.4, 3.1.4.1, and 

3.1.4.2, respectively. 

e. Revising redesignated sections 

3.1.1, 3.1.2, 3.1.3.1, 3.1.3.2, 3.1.3.3, 

3.1.4.1, and 3.1.4.2. 

f. Redesignating sections 3.5, 3.5.1, 

3.5.2, 3.5.3, 3.5.3.1, 3.5.3.2, 3.5.3.3, and 

3.5.3.4 as sections 3.2, 3.2.2, 3.2.3, 3.2.4, 

3.2.4.1, 3.2.4.2, 3.2.4.3, and 3.2.4.4, 

respectively. 

g. Adding sections 3.1 and 3.2.1. 

h. Revising section 4. 

These revisions and additions read as 

follows: 

Appendix Q to Subpart B of Part 430— 

Uniform Test Method for Measuring the 

Energy Consumption of Fluorescent 

Lamp Ballasts 

Appendix Q is effective until the 

compliance date of the amended standards 

for fluorescent lamp ballasts. After this date, 

all fluorescent lamp ballasts shall be tested 

using the provisions of Appendix Q1 except 

where Appendix Q1 specifies use Appendix 

Q for testing certain ballasts that do not 

operate resistors. 

* * * * * 

1. Definitions 

* * * * * 

1.15 Power Factor means the power input 

divided by the product of ballast input 

voltage and input current of a fluorescent 

lamp ballast, as measured under test 

conditions specified in ANSI C82.2–2002 

(incorporated by reference; see § 430.3). 

1.16 Power input means the power 

consumption in watts of a ballast an 

fluorescent lamp or lamps, as determined in 

accordance with the test procedures specified 

in ANSI C82.2–2002 (incorporated by 

reference; see § 430.3). 

1.17 Relative light output means the light 

output delivered through the use of a ballast 

divided by the light output of a reference 

ballast, expressed as a percent, as determined 

in accordance with the test procedures 

specified in ANSI C82.2–2002 (incorporated 

by reference; see § 430.3). 

* * * * * 

2. Test Conditions 

The measurement of standby mode power 

need not be performed to determine 

compliance with energy conservation 

standards for fluorescent lamp ballasts at this 

time. The above statement will be removed 

as part of a rulemaking to amend the energy 

conservation standards for fluorescent lamp 

ballasts to account for standby mode energy 

consumption, and the following shall apply 

on the compliance date for such 

requirements. The test conditions for testing 

fluorescent lamp ballasts shall be done in 

accordance with ANSI C82.2–2002 

(incorporated by reference; see § 430.3). Any 

subsequent amendment to this standard by 

the standard setting organization will not 

affect the DOE test procedures unless and 

until amended by DOE. The test conditions 

for measuring active mode energy 

consumption are described in sections 4, 5, 

and 6 of ANSI C82.2–2002. The test 

conditions for measuring standby power are 

described in sections 5, 7, and 8 of ANSI 

C82.2–2002. Fluorescent lamp ballasts that 

are capable of connections to control devices 

shall be tested with all commercially 

available compatible control devices 

connected in all possible configurations. For 

each configuration, a separate measurement 

of standby power shall be made in 

accordance with section 4 of the test 

procedure. 

3. * * * 

3.1 Active Mode Energy Efficiency 

Measurement 

3.1.1 The test method for testing the 

active mode energy efficiency of fluorescent 

lamp ballasts shall be done in accordance 

with ANSI C82.2–2002 (incorporated by 

reference; see § 430.3). Where ANSI C82.2– 

2002 references ANSI C82.1–1997, the 

operator shall use ANSI C82.1 (incorporated 

by reference; see § 430.3) for testing lowfrequency ballasts and ANSI C82.11 

(incorporated by reference; see § 430.3) for 

high-frequency ballasts. 

3.1.2 Instrumentation. The 

instrumentation shall be as specified by 

sections 5, 7, 8, and 15 of ANSI C82.2–2002 

(incorporated by reference; see § 430.3). 

3.1.3 * * * 

3.1.3.1 Input Power. Measure the input 

power (watts) to the ballast in accordance 

with ANSI C82.2–2002 (incorporated by 

reference; see § 430.3), section 4. 

3.1.3.2 Input Voltage. Measure the input 

voltage (volts) (RMS) to the ballast in 

accordance with ANSI C82.2–2002 

(incorporated by reference; see § 430.3), 

section 3.2.1 and section 4. 

3.1.3.3 Input Current. Measure the input 

current (amps) (RMS) to the ballast in 

accordance with ANSI C82.2–2002 

(incorporated by reference; see § 430.3), 

section 3.2.1 and section 4. 

3.1.4 * * * 

3.1.4.1 Measure the light output of the 

reference lamp with the reference ballast in 

accordance with ANSI C82.2–2002 

(incorporated by reference; see § 430.3), 

section 12. 

3.1.4.2 Measure the light output of the 

reference lamp with the test ballast in 

accordance with ANSI C82.2–2002 

(incorporated by reference; see § 430.3), 

section 12. 

3.2. * * * 

3.2.1 The test for measuring standby 

mode energy consumption of fluorescent 

lamp ballasts shall be done in accordance 

with ANSI C82.2–2002 (incorporated by 

reference; see § 430.3). 

* * * * * 

4. Calculations 

4.1 Calculate Relative Light Output 

Photocell output of lamp on test ballast

Photocell output of lamp on ref. ballast

×100 = output relative light 

Where: 

Photocell output of lamp on test ballast is 

determined in accordance with section 

3.1.4.2, expressed in watts, and 

Photocell output of lamp on ref. ballast is 

determined in accordance with section 

3.1.4.1, expressed in watts. 

4.2 Determine the Ballast Efficacy Factor 

(BEF) Using the Following Equations 

(a) Single lamp ballast. 


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Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 56 / Wednesday, March 24, 2010 / Proposed Rules 14315 

BEF = relative light output

input power

(b) Multiple lamp ballast. 

BEF = average relative light output

input power

Where: 

Input power is determined in accordance 

with section 3.1.3.1, 

Relative light output as defined in section 

4.1, and 

Average relative light output is the relative 

light output, as defined in section 4.1, for 

all lamps, divided by the total number of 

lamps. 

4.3 Determine Ballast Power Factor (PF) 

PF Input power = Input voltage input current ×

Where: 

Input power is as defined in section 3.1.3.1, 

Input voltage is determined in accordance 

with section 3.1.3.2, expressed in volts, 

and 

Input current is determined in accordance 

with section 3.1.3.3, expressed in amps. 

5. Appendix Q1 is added to Subpart 

B of Part 430 to read as follows: 

Appendix Q1 to Subpart B of Part 430— 

Uniform Test Method for Measuring the 

Energy Consumption of Fluorescent 

Lamp Ballasts 

Appendix Q1 is effective on the 

compliance date of the amended standards 

for fluorescent lamp ballasts. Prior to this 

date, all fluorescent lamp ballasts shall be 

tested using the provisions of Appendix Q. 

1. If the operator determines that a ballast 

does not operate a resistor load bank, then 

the operator should use the test procedure 

described in Appendix Q to Subpart B of Part 

430. To determine that a ballast does not 

operate a resistor load bank, the input power, 

voltage, or current to the ballast should equal 

zero when tested in accordance with this 

Appendix Q1 to Subpart B of Part 430. 

2. Where ANSI C82.2–2002 (incorporated 

by reference; see § 430.3) references ANSI 

C82.1–1997, the operator shall use ANSI 

C82.1 (incorporated by reference; see § 430.3) 

for testing low-frequency ballasts and shall 

use ANSI C82.11 (incorporated by reference; 

see § 430.3) for high-frequency ballasts. 

3. Definitions 

3.1. Commercial ballast is a fluorescent 

lamp ballast that is not a residential ballast 

as defined in Section 3.8 and meets technical 

standards for non-consumer RF lighting 

devices as specified in subpart C of 47 CFR 

part 18. 

3.2. Electrode heating refers to power 

delivered to the lamp by the ballast for the 

purpose of raising the temperature of the 

lamp electrode or filament. ANSI standards 

generally refer to this process as cathode 

heating. 

3.3. High-frequency ballast is as defined in 

ANSI C82.13 (incorporated by reference; see 

§ 430.3). 

3.4. Instant-start is the starting method 

used instant-start systems as defined in ANSI 

C82.13 (incorporated by reference; see 

§ 430.3). 

3.5. Low-frequency ballast is a fluorescent 

lamp ballast that operates at a supply 

frequency of 50 to 60 Hz and operates the 

lamp at the same frequency as the supply. 

3.6. Programmed-start is the starting 

method used in programmed start systems as 

defined in ANSI C82.13 (incorporated by 

reference; see § 430.3). 

3.7. Rapid-start is the starting method used 

in rapid-start type systems as defined in 

ANSI C82.13 (incorporated by reference; see 

§ 430.3). 

3.8. Residential ballast is a fluorescent 

lamp ballast designed and labeled for use in 

residential applications. Residential ballasts 

must meet the technical standards for 

consumer RF lighting devices as specified in 

subpart C of 47 CFR part 18. 

3.9. Resistor load bank means a network of 

resistors used to model the load placed on a 

fluorescent lamp ballast by a fluorescent 

lamp. 

3.10. RMS is the root mean square of a 

varying quantity. 

4. Instruments 

4.1. All instruments shall be as specified 

by ANSI C82.2–2002 (incorporated by 

reference; see § 430.3). 

4.2. Power Analyzer. In addition to the 

specifications in ANSI C82.2–2002 

(incorporated by reference; see § 430.3), the 

power analyzer shall have a maximum 100 

pF capacitance to ground and frequency 

response between 40 Hz and 1 MHz. 

4.3. Current Probe. In addition to the 

specifications in ANSI C82.2–2002 

(incorporated by reference; see § 430.3), the 

current probe shall be galvanically isolated 

and have frequency response between 40 Hz 

and 20 MHz. 

5. Test Setup 

5.1. The ballast shall be connected to a 

main power source and to the resistor load 

bank according to the manufacturer’s wiring 

instructions. Where the wiring diagram 

indicates connecting the ballast lead to a 

lamp, the lead should be connected to a 

resistor load bank. 

5.1.1. Figures 1 and 2 illustrate the resistor 

load bank used to model one fluorescent 

lamp. The four resistors labeled as R1/2E

represent the electrodes, and Rarc represents 

the lamp arc. 

5.1.2. Wire lengths between the ballast and 

resistor load bank shall be the length 

provided by the ballast manufacturer. 

5.2. A ballast shall be tested using one 

resistor load bank to simulate one lamp. A 

ballast shall be connected to the number of 

resistor load banks equal to the maximum 

number of lamps a ballast is designed to 

operate. 

5.3. A ballast designed to operate a lamp 

at high-frequency (as defined in section 3.3) 

shall use a resistor with resistance that 

simulates high-frequency operation. A ballast 

designed to operate a lamp a low-frequency 

(as defined in section 3.5) shall use a resistor 

with resistance that simulates low-frequency 

operation. 

5.4. A ballast shall be tested with a resistor 

load bank with the resistances indicated in 

Table A. 

5.5. Power Analyzer 

5.5.1. The power analyzer shall have n+1 

channels where n is the number of lamps a 

ballast operates. 

5.5.2. Output Voltage. Leads from the 

power analyzer should attach to each resistor 

load bank according to Figure 1 for rapidand programmed-start ballasts and Figure 2 

for instant-start ballasts. 

5.5.3. Output Current. A current probe 

shall be positioned on each resistor load bank 

according to Figure 1 for rapid- and 

programmed-start ballasts and Figure 2 for 

instant-start ballasts. 

TABLE A—SIMULATED LAMP RESISTOR VALUES

Ballast type 

Nominal 

lamp wattage 

Lamp diameter and base 

Low-frequency operation 

resistance (Ohms) 

High-frequency operation resistance 

(Ohms) 

Electrode 

(R1/2E) 

Lamp arc 

(Rarc) Electrode 

(R1/2E) 

Lamp arc 

(Rarc) 

Ballasts that operate one, two, three, four, five, or six 

straight-shaped lamps (commonly referred to as 4-foot medium bipin lamps) with medium bipin bases, a nominal 

overall length of 48 inches, a rated wattage of 25W or 

more, and an input voltage at or between 120V and 277V.

32 

34 

T8 MBP .......

T12 MBP .....

5.75 

4.8 

439 

151 

5.75 

4.8 

760 

204 


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14316 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 56 / Wednesday, March 24, 2010 / Proposed Rules 

TABLE A—SIMULATED LAMP RESISTOR VALUES—Continued 

Ballast type 

Nominal 

lamp wattage 

Lamp diameter and base 

Low-frequency operation 

resistance (Ohms) 

High-frequency operation resistance 

(Ohms) 

Electrode 

(R1/2E) 

Lamp arc 

(Rarc) Electrode 

(R1/2E) 

Lamp arc 

(Rarc) 

Ballasts that operate one, two, three, four, five, or six Ushaped lamps (commonly referred to as 2-foot U-shaped 

lamps) with medium bipin bases, a nominal overall length 

between 22 and 25 inches, a rated wattage of 25W or 

more, and an input voltage at or between 120V and 277V.

32 

34 

T8 MBP .......

T12 MBP .....

5.75 

4.8 

439 

151 

5.75 

4.8 

760 

204 

Ballasts that operate one or two rapid-start lamps (commonly 

referred to as 8-foot high output lamps) with recessed double contact bases, a nominal overall length of 96 inches 

and an input voltage at or between 120V and 277V.

86 

95 

T8 HO RDC 

T12 HO RDC 

N/A 

1.6 

N/A 

131 

4.75 

1.6 

538 

204 

Ballasts that operate one or two instant-start lamps (commonly referred to as 8-foot slimline lamps) with single pin 

bases, a nominal overall length of 96 inches, a rated wattage of 52W or more, and an input voltage at or between 

120V and 277V.

59 

60 

T8 slimline 

SP.

T12 slimline 

SP.

N/A* 

N/A* 

876 

313 

N/A* 

N/A* 

1256 

431 

Ballasts that operate one or two straight-shaped lamps (commonly referred to as 4-foot miniature bipin standard output 

lamps) with miniature bipin bases, a nominal length between 45 and 48 inches, a rated wattage of 26W or more, 

and an input voltage at or between 120V and 277V.

28 T5 Mini-BP .. N/A N/A 20 950 

Ballasts that operate one, two, three, or four straight-shaped 

lamps (commonly referred to as 4-foot miniature bipin high 

output lamps) with miniature bipin bases, a nominal length 

between 45 and 48 inches, a rated wattage of 49W or 

more, and an input voltage at or between 120V and 277V.

54 T5 Mini-BP .. N/A N/A 4 255 

Ballasts that operate one, two, three, or four straight-shaped 

lamps (commonly referred to as 4-foot medium bipin 

lamps) with medium bipin bases, a nominal overall length 

of 48 inches, a rated wattage of 25W or more, an input 

voltage at or between 120V and 277V, a power factor of 

less than 0.90, and that are designed and labeled for use 

in residential applications.

32 

34 

T8 MBP .......

T12 MBP .....

5.75 

4.8 

439 

151 

5.75 

4.8 

760 

204 

Ballasts that operate one, two, three, four, five, or six rapidstart lamps (commonly referred to as 8-foot high output 

lamps) with recessed double contact bases, a nominal 

overall length of 96 inches, an input voltage at or between 

120V and 277V, and that operate at ambient temperatures 

of 20 °F or less and are used in outdoor signs.

86 

110 

T8 HO RDC 

T12 HO RDC 

N/A 

1.6 

N/A 

166 

4.75 

1.6 

538 

275 

MBP, Mini-BP, RDC, and SP represent medium bipin, miniature bipin, recessed double contact, and single pin, respectively. 

* The resistor load bank representing 8-foot slimline single pin (SP) lamps does not have electrode resistors. 

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Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 56 / Wednesday, March 24, 2010 / Proposed Rules 14317 

6. Test Conditions 

6.1. The test conditions for testing 

fluorescent lamp ballasts shall be done in 

accordance with ANSI C82.2–2002 

(incorporated by reference; see § 430.3). DOE 

further specifies that the following revisions 

of the normative references indicated in 

ANSI C82.2–2002) should be used in place of 

the references directly specified in ANSI 

C82.2–2002: ANSI C78.81 (incorporated by 

reference; see § 430.3), ANSI C78.901 

(incorporated by reference; see § 430.3), ANSI 

C82.1 (incorporated by reference; see 

§ 430.3), ANSI C82.3 (incorporated by 

reference; see § 430.3), ANSI C82.11 

(incorporated by reference; see § 430.3), and 

ANSI C82.13 (incorporated by reference; see 

§ 430.3). All other normative references shall 

be as specified in ANSI C82.2–2002. 

6.2. Temperature Stabilization. Ballasts 

shall be thermally conditioned for at least 4 

hours at room temperature (25 ± 2 °C), with 

normal room or lab ventilation. 

6.3. Input Voltage. The directions in ANSI 

C82.2–2002 (incorporated by reference; see 

§ 430.3) section 4.1 should be ignored with 

the following directions for input voltage 

used instead. For commercial ballasts 

capable of operating at multiple voltages, the 

ballast shall be tested 277V ± 0.1%. For 

ballasts designed and labeled for residential 

applications and capable or operating at 

multiple voltages, the ballast shall be tested 

at 120V ± 0.1%. 

6.4. Duty Cycle. The duty cycle shall be no 

more than 50%. For every operational 

minute, the resistor load bank shall be rested 

at zero power for at least one minute. 

7. Test Method 

7.1. Ballast Efficiency 

7.1.1. The ballast shall be connected to the 

appropriate resistor load bank and to 

measurement instrumentation as indicated 

by the Test Setup in section 5. 

7.1.2. The ballast shall be operated for one 

minute followed by an instantaneous data 


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14318 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 56 / Wednesday, March 24, 2010 / Proposed Rules 

capture of the parameters described in 

sections 7.1.2.1 through 7.1.2.4. 

7.1.2.1. Output Power. The power analyzer 

shall calculate output power by capturing 

voltage across each lamp arc resistor using 

the setup described in 5.5.2 and current to 

the lamp according to the setup described in 

5.5.3 and summing the power for each lamp. 

7.1.2.2. Input Power. Measure the input 

power (watts) to the ballast in accordance 

with ANSI C82.2–2002 (incorporated by 

reference; see § 430.3), section 7. 

7.1.2.3. Input Voltage. Measure the input 

voltage (volts) (RMS) to the ballast in 

accordance with ANSI C82.2–2002 

(incorporated by reference; see § 430.3), 

section 3.2.1 and section 4. 

7.1.2.4. Input Current. Measure the input 

current (amps) (RMS) to the ballast in 

accordance with ANSI C82.2–2002 

(incorporated by reference; see § 430.3), 

section 3.2.1 and section 4. 

7.2. Ballast Factor 

7.2.1. ANSI C82.2–2002 (incorporated by 

reference; see § 430.3) shall be further 

specified for the purpose of measuring ballast 

factor by the following: 

7.2.1.1. The reference lamp shall be 

operated at the specified input voltage to the 

reference circuit. 

7.2.1.2. Electrode heating shall be used in 

the reference circuit for all ballasts that 

operate bipin (MBP, mini-BP) or recessed 

double contact (RDC) lamps as indicated in 

Table A. Electrode heating shall not be used 

in the reference circuit for single pin lamps. 

7.2.1.3. Light output measurements shall 

be used for all ballasts, including instant-start 

ballasts. Power measurements shall not be 

used. 

7.2.2. Measure the light output of the 

reference lamp with the reference ballast in 

accordance with ANSI C82.2–2002 

(incorporated by reference; see § 430.3), 

section 12, using section 7.2.1 to further 

specify ANSI C82.2–2002. The reference 

lamp shall have the nominal wattage 

corresponding to the test ballast as indicated 

in Table A. 

7.2.3. Measure the light output of the 

reference lamp with the test ballast in 

accordance with ANSI C82.2–2002 

(incorporated by reference; see § 430.3), 

section 12, using section 7.2.1 to further 

specify ANSI C82.2–2002 The reference lamp 

shall have the nominal wattage 

corresponding to the test ballast as indicated 

in Table A. 

8. Calculations 

8.1. Calculate Ballast Factor (BF) 

Ballast Factor Photocell output of lamp on test ballast 

Ph = otocell output of lamp on reference ballast

×100

Where: 

Photocell output of lamp on test ballast is 

determined in accordance with section 

7.2.2, expressed in watts, and 

Photocell output of lamp on reference ballast 

is determined in accordance with section 

7.2.3, expressed in watts. 

8.2. Calculate Ballast Efficiency (BE) 

8.3. Calculate Ballast Efficacy Factor (BEF). 

Multiply BE by the Appropriate Conversion 

Factor in Table B. BEF = Conversion Factor 

× BE 

TABLE B—CONVERSION FACTOR, BE TO BEF 

Ballast and lamp type Starting method* Ballast factor**

Number of lamps 

One Two Three Four Five Six 

Four-Foot MBP, and Two-Foot U– 

Shaped.

IS and RS (not PS) ...... High ..............................

Normal ..........................

Low ...............................

3.233 

3.378 

3.430 

1.624 

1.697 

1.723 

1.081 

1.129 

1.147 

0.812 

0.849 

0.862 

0.650 

0.679 

0.690 

0.542 

0.566 

0.575 

PS ................................. High ..............................

Normal ..........................

Low ...............................

3.204 

3.348 

3.400 

1.610 

1.682 

1.708 

1.071 

1.119 

1.137 

0.808 

0.844 

0.857 

0.644 

0.673 

0.684 

0.537 

0.561 

0.570 

Four-Foot T5, MiniBP SO ...................... All ................................. High ..............................

Normal ..........................

Low ...............................

2.910 

3.041 

3.088 

1.584 

1.655 

1.680 

..........

..........

..........

..........

..........

..........

..........

..........

..........

..........

..........

..........

Four-Foot T5, MiniBP HO ...................... All ................................. All ................................. 1.703 0.927 0.649 0.504 .......... ..........

Eight-Foot SP Slimline ........................... All ................................. High ..............................

Normal ..........................

Low ...............................

1.653 

1.727 

1.754 

0.841 

0.878 

0.892 

..........

..........

..........

..........

..........

..........

..........

..........

..........

..........

..........

..........

Eight-Foot RDC HO ............................... IS and RS (not PS) ...... All ................................. 1.128 0.614 .......... .......... .......... ..........

PS ................................. All ................................. 1.138 0.619 .......... .......... .......... ..........

Residential Ballast, Four-Foot MBP, and 

Two-Foot U–Shaped.

IS and RS (not PS) ...... All ................................. 3.357 1.686 1.122 0.853 .......... ..........

PS ................................. All ................................. 3.328 1.671 1.113 0.846 .......... ..........

Sign Ballast ............................................ All ................................. All ................................. 0.888 0.483 0.338 0.263 0.216 0.184 

*

IS = Instant-start; RS = Rapid-start; PS = Programmed-start 

**High ballast factor: BF ≥ 1.10; Normal ballast factor: 0.78 > BF >1.10; Low ballast factor: BF ≤ 0.78. 

8.4. Calculate Power Factor (PF) 


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Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 56 / Wednesday, March 24, 2010 / Proposed Rules 14319 

Power Factor Input Power

Input Voltage Input Current = ×

Where: 

Input power is determined in accordance 

with section 7.1.2.2, 

Input voltage is determined in accordance 

with section 7.1.2.2, and 

Input current is determined in accordance 

with section 7.1.2.3. 

6. Section 430.62 is amended by 

revising paragraph (a)(1), and adding 

new paragraphs (a)(4)(xxv) and (a)(6) to 

read as follows: 

§ 430.62 Submission of data. 

(a)(1) Except as provided in paragraph 

(a)(2) and (a)(6) of this section, each 

manufacturer or private labeler before 

distributing in commerce any basic 

model of a covered product subject to 

the applicable energy conservation 

standard or water conservation standard 

(in the case of faucets, showerheads, 

water closets, and urinals) set forth in 

subpart C of this part shall certify by 

means of a compliance statement and a 

certification report that each basic 

model(s) meets the applicable energy 

conservation standard or water 

conservation standard (in the case of 

faucets, showerheads, water closets, and 

urinals) as prescribed in section 325 of 

the Act. The compliance statement, 

signed by the company official 

submitting the statement, and the 

certification report(s) shall be sent by 

certified mail to: Department of Energy, 

Office of Energy Efficiency and 

Renewable Energy, Office of Codes and 

Standards, Forrestal Building, 1000 

Independence Avenue, SW., 

Washington, DC 20585–0121. 

* * * * * 

(4) * * * 

(xxv) Fluorescent Lamp Ballasts, the 

ballast efficacy factor (BEF) and the 

ballast power factor (PF). 

* * * * * 

(6) Each manufacturer or private 

labeler of a basic model of a covered 

fluorescent lamp ballast shall file a 

compliance statement and a certification 

report to DOE using the test procedure 

described in Appendix Q to Subpart B 

of Part 430 within 1 year of publication 

of the fluorescent lamp ballast test 

procedure and energy conservation 

standard final rulemaking. Furthermore, 

each manufacturer or private labeler of 

a basic model of a covered fluorescent 

lamp ballast shall file a compliance 

statement and a certification report to 

DOE using the test procedure described 

in Appendix Q1 to Subpart B of Part 430 

before within 4 years of publication of 

the fluorescent lamp ballast test 

procedure and energy conservation 

standards final rulemaking. 

* * * * * 

[FR Doc. 2010–6374 Filed 3–23–10; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6450–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 

10 CFR Part 430 

[Docket No. EERE–2007–BT–STD–0016] 

RIN 1904–AB50 

Energy Conservation Standards for 

Fluorescent Lamp Ballasts: Public 

Meeting and Availability of the 

Preliminary Technical Support 

Document 

AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and 

Renewable Energy, Department of 

Energy. 

ACTION: Notice of public meeting and 

availability of preliminary technical 

support document. 

SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of 

Energy (DOE) will hold a public meeting 

to discuss and receive comments on: the 

product classes that DOE plans to 

analyze for purposes of establishing 

energy conservation standards for 

fluorescent lamp ballasts; the analytical 

framework, models, and tools that DOE 

is using to evaluate standards for these 

products; the results of preliminary 

analyses DOE performed for these 

products; and potential energy 

conservation standard levels derived 

from these analyses that DOE could 

consider for these products. DOE 

encourages written comments on these 

subjects. To inform interested parties 

and facilitate this process, DOE has 

prepared an agenda, a preliminary 

technical support document (TSD), and 

briefing materials, which are available at 

http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/ 

appliance_standards/residential/ 

fluorescent_lamp_ballasts.html. 

DATES: DOE will hold a public meeting 

on Monday, April 26, 2010, beginning at 

9 a.m. in Washington, DC. The agenda 

for the public meeting will first cover 

the concurrent test procedure 

rulemaking for fluorescent lamp ballasts 

(see proposal in today’s Federal 

Register), and then this energy 

conservation standards rulemaking for 

the same products. Any person 

requesting to speak at the public 

meeting should submit such a request, 

along with an electronic copy of the 

statement to be given at the public 

meeting, before 4 p.m., Monday, April 

12, 2010. Written comments are 

welcome, especially following the 

public meeting, and should be 

submitted by May 10, 2010. 

ADDRESSES: The public meeting will be 

held at the U.S. Department of Energy, 

Forrestal Building, Room 8E–089, 1000 

Independence Avenue, SW., 

Washington, DC 20585–0121. Please 

note that foreign nationals participating 

in the public meeting are subject to 

advance security screening procedures. 

If a foreign national wishes to 

participate in the public meeting, please 

inform DOE of this fact as soon as 

possible by contacting Ms. Brenda 

Edwards at (202) 586–2945 so that the 

necessary procedures can be completed. 

Interested persons may submit 

comments, identified by docket number 

EERE–2007–BT–STD–0016, by any of 

the following methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: http:// 

www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

instructions for submitting comments. 

• E-mail: 

ballasts.rulemaking@ee.doe.gov. Include 

EERE–2007–BT–STD–0016 and/or RIN 

1904–AB50 in the subject line of the 

message. 

• Postal Mail: Ms. Brenda Edwards, 

U.S. Department of Energy, Building 

Technologies Program, Mailstop EE–2J, 

Public Meeting for Fluorescent Lamp 

Ballasts, EERE–2007–BT–STD–0016, 

1000 Independence Avenue, SW., 

Washington, DC 20585–0121. 

Telephone (202) 586–2945. Please 

submit one signed paper original. 

• Hand Delivery/Courier: Ms. Brenda 

Edwards, U.S. Department of Energy, 

Building Technologies Program, Sixth 

Floor, 950 L’Enfant Plaza, SW., 

Washington, DC 20024. Telephone (202) 

586–2945. Please submit one signed 

paper original. 

Instructions: All submissions received 

must include the agency name and 

docket number. 

Docket: For access to the docket to 

read background documents or a copy of 

the transcript of the public meeting or 

comments received, go to the U.S. 

Department of Energy, Sixth Floor, 950 

L’Enfant Plaza, SW., Washington, DC 

20024, (202) 586–2945, between 9 a.m. 

and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, 

except Federal holidays. Please call Ms. 

Brenda Edwards at (202) 586–2945 for 

additional information regarding 

visiting the Resource Room. 


mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with PROPOSALS2EP24MR10.011</MATH>