What is a JA8 compliant light bulb

JA8 compliant light bulbs refer to “High Efficacy” lamps classified and certified according to the requirements in Title 24 Reference Joint Appendix JA8, Qualification Requirements for High Efficacy Light Sources. Title 24 is a set of requirements published within the California Energy Code (CEC) which dictates the minimum energy efficiency standards for residential and nonresidential buildings. JA8 provides the qualification requirements for high efficacy light sources installed to comply with Section 150.0(k): Residential Lighting.

Title 24 Reference Joint Appendix JA8

Previously, this appendix was only applicable to luminaires. The 2016 Joint Appendix JA8 was updated to make it technology neutral with regard to light sources. All permanently installed luminaires must qualify as high efficacy under JA8. All luminaires that contain a socket must use a JA8 light source. Light sources must be certified together with a driver or ballast. If the light source is inseparable from the luminaire the entire luminaire must meet the requirements in JA8.

JA8 covers performance criteria including, but not limited to, efficacy, dimming performance, lumen maintenance, rated life, color temperature, color rendering, flicker (light modulation), start time, audible noise and power factor. The compliance tests are performed tested at a testing laboratory participating in the ISO/IEC 17025, by the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP) or other laboratory accreditation body operating in accordance with ISO/IEC 17011 and produced under an ongoing inspection program carried out by a Type A inspection body in accordance with ISO/IEC 17020.

JA8 light sources must contain a marking on the product itself, identifying it as a JA8 compliant product. Light sources meeting the requirements of this Appendix shall be marked with “JA8-20162019”. Light sources that have passed the Elevated Temperature Life Test specified in the ENERGY STAR Product Specification for Lamps Version 2.1, or that have passed the rated life test specified in the ENERGY STAR Product Specification for Luminaires Version 2.1, shall instead be marked with “JA8-20162019-E”. This marking indicates that they comply with JA8 requirements and may additionally be installed in elevated temperature applications such as enclosed fixtures.

Performance requirements for JA8

Initial Efficacy: ≥ 45 lumens/Watt
For federally regulated light sources, efficacy shall be determined by the test procedures specified in 10 CFR 429 Subpart B and 10 CFR 430.23(gg). For non-federally-regulated light sources, efficacy at full light output shall be determined by the following test procedures, as applicable to the type of light source:

  • For incandescent and incandescent reflector lamps: 10CFR 430.23(r).
  • For medium base compact fluorescent lamps: 10CFR 430.23(w).
  • For general service fluorescent lamps: 10CFR 430.23(r).
  • For fluorescent lamps that are not Medium base compact fluorescent lamps and general service fluorescent lamps: IES LM-9.
  • For LED light sources, IES LM-79.
  • For high intensity discharge lamps, IES LM-51.
  • For induction lamps, IES LM-66.

Power Factor at Full Rated Power: ≥ 0.90
Power factor shall be measured at full light output in accordance with ANSI C82.77, Section 6 and 7. For lamps, the reported value shall be the average measured values of the tested units rounded to be the nearest tenth. For all other sources, the reported value shall be the minimum power factor of the tested units rounded to the nearest tenth.

Start time: ≤ 0.5 sec

Correlated Color Temperature (CCT): ≤4000 Kelvin

Color Rendering Index (CRI):
≥ 90 for all products other than T20 lamps, ≥ 82 for T20 lamps

Color Rendering R9 (red):
≥ 50 for all products other than T20 lamps

Lumen maintenance:
≥ 86.7% after 6,000 hours, or 93.1% after 3,000 hours

Rated life: ≥ 15,000 hours

Survival rate: ≥ 90%
For tests using a sample group of ten units, 90 percent of tested units shall be operational for the duration of the test. For tests using a sample size less than ten, all tested units shall be operational for the duration of the test.

Minimum dimming level: ≤ 10%

Dimming control compatibility:
Forward Phase cut control, reverse phase cut, powerline carrier, digital, 0-10 VDC, other. At least one type must be listed

Flicker:
<30% for frequencies of 200 Hz or below, at 100% light output

Audible Noise: ≤ 24 dBA

Dimming behavior

The light source shall meet the following dimming, reduced flicker operation, and audible noise requirements when measured in accordance with the test method of Section JA8.3.7: (a) The light source shall be dimmable down to 10 percent light output where 100 percent full light output is defined as operating the light source at the maximum setting provided by the control. (b) LED-based light sources designed to be connected with or dimmed by forward phase cut dimmers shall meet the requirements of NEMA standard SSL 7A. (c) Light source in combination with specified control shall provide “reduced flicker operation” when tested at full light output as specified in JA10, where reduced flicker operation is defined as having percent amplitude modulation (percent flicker) less than 30 percent at frequencies less than 200Hz. (d) Light source shall not emit audible noise above 24dBA measured at 1 meter from the light source when tested at full light output. (e) Light sources shall also be tested and shown to comply with (c) and (d) while at 20% light output.