Ballasts for Fluorescent Lamps

Following implementation of the Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards (GEMS) Legislation in 2012, specific product requirements are now specified in legislative instruments. Ballasts for fluorescent lamps are covered in the GEMS (Ballasts for Fluorescent Lamps) Determination in Australia. Product requirements are set out either directly in the determination or the determination refers to the applicable clause in the product standard.

In New Zealand, the detailed requirements for products included in energy-efficiency regulations are outlined in the relevant Australian/New Zealand current product standards.

Standards are available for purchase from SAI Global or www.standards.co.nz.

Find out how to make an application for MEPS

Ballasts for fluorescent lamps manufactured in or imported into Australia or New Zealand must comply with Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) requirements which are set out in AS/NZS 4783.2. The test methods are set out in AS/NZS 4783.1. Both standards can be purchased from SAI Global or Standards New Zealand.

MEPS DOES apply to the following types of ballasts:

• ferromagnetic and electronic ballasts used with fluorescent lamps with a rated power from 10W to 70W;
• for use on 50 Hz supplies of 230/240/250V (or a range that includes these);
• ballasts supplied as separate components or as part of a luminaire.

Ballasts within the scope of MEPS must also be marked with their energy efficiency by way of their Energy Efficiency Index (EEI), the details of which are also specified in AS/NZS 4783.2. This Standard also requires that ballasts within the scope of MEPS be designed to comply with the relevant performance requirements of IEC 60921 for ferromagnetic ballasts and IEC 60929 for electronic ballasts (also published by Standards Australia and New Zealand as AS/NZS 60921 and AS/NZS 60929).

MEPS DOES NOT apply to the following types of ballasts:

• primarily for use on DC supplies or batteries;
• primarily for the production of light (radiation) outside the visible spectrum;
• to exit signs within the scope of AS/NZS 2293;
• to hazardous area lighting equipment within the scope of AS/NZS 2380, AS/NZS 60079 and AS/NZS 61241.

The Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) requirements are set out as maximum allowable total circuit power when tested in accordance with AS/NZS 4783.1. These are set out in the tables below when tested to AS/NZS4783.1 

Maximum allowable total circuit power is shown in Tables 1-3 of AS/NZS 4783.2 and below.

TABLE 1: BALLASTS FOR FLUORESCENT LAMPS – EEI CLASSIFICATION FOR RATED VOLTAGE > 250V

NOTES:

• Refer to AS/NZS 61231, International Lamp Coding System (ILCOS).
• Applies only to mains frequency ferromagnetic ballasts with two-wire connection and with an external starter.
• Nominal lamp power values shown may have different rating values. Refer to the relevant lamp data sheet.
• For A1 EEI classification, refer to Clause 5.3.2 of AS/NZS 4783.2.

TABLE 2: BALLASTS FOR FLUORESCENT LAMPS – EEI CLASSIFICATION FOR RATED VOLTAGE >240V AND <250V

Lamp Type and Arrangement	Nominal Lamp Power Watts	ILCOS Code	Maximum Corrected Total Input Power, Watts Energy Efficiency Index (EEI) Classification
			A1	A2	A3	B1	B2	C	D
Linear	15	FD-15-E-G13-26/450	<18.0	<16.0	<18.0	<21.0	<23.5	<25.0	>25.0
	18	FD-18-E-G13-26/600	<21.0	<19.0	<21.0	<24.0	<26.5	<28.0	>28.0
	30	FD-30-E-G13-26/895	<33.0	<31.0	<33.0	<36.0	<38.5	<40.0	>40.0
	36	FD-36-E-G13-26/1200	<38.0	<36.0	<38.0	<41.0	<43.5	<45.0	>45.0
	38	FD-38-E-G13-26/1047	<40.0	<38.0	<40.0	<43.0	<45.5	<47.0	>47.0
	58	FD-58-E-G13-26/1500	<59.0	<55.0	<59.0	<64.0	<67.5	<70.0	>70.0
	70	FD-70-E-G13-26-1800	<72.0	<68.0	<72.0	<77.0	<80.5	<83.0	>83.0

NOTES:

• Refer to AS/NZS 61231, International Lamp Coding System (ILCOS).
• Applies only to mains frequency ferromagnetic ballasts with two-wire connection and with an external starter.
• Nominal lamp power values shown may have different rating values. Refer to the relevant lamp data sheet.
• For A1 EEI classification, refer to Clause 5.3.2 of AS/NZS 4783.2.

TABLE 3: BALLASTS FOR FLUORESCENT LAMPS – EEI CLASSIFICATION

Lamp Type and Arrangement	Nominal Lamp Power Watts	ILCOS Code	Maximum Corrected Total Input Power, Watts Energy Efficiency Index (EEI) Classification
			A1	A2	A3	B1	B2	C	D
Linear	15	FD-15-E-G13-26/450	<18.0	<16.0	<18.0	<21.0	<23.0	<25.0	>25.0
	18	FD-18-E-G13-26/600	<21.0	<19.0	<21.0	<24.0	<26.0	<28.0	>28.0
	30	FD-30-E-G13-26/895	<33.0	<31.0	<33.0	<36.0	<38.0	<40.0	>40.0
	36	FD-36-E-G13-26/1200	<38.0	<36.0	<38.0	<41.0	<43.0	<45.0	>45.0
	38	FD-38-E-G13-26/1047	<40.0	<38.0	<40.0	<43.0	<45.0	<47.0	>47.0
	58	FD-58-E-G13-26/1500	<59.0	<55.0	<59.0	<64.0	<67.0	<70.0	>70.0
	70	FD-70-E-G13-26-1800	<72.0	<68.0	<72.0	<77.0	<80.0	<83.0	>83.0
Compact 2 Tube	18	FSD-18-E-2G11	<21.0	<19.0	<21.0	<24.0	<26.0	<28.0	>28.0
	24	FSD-24-E-2G11	<27.0	<25.0	<27.0	<30.0	<32.0	<34.0	>34.0
	36	FSD-36-E-2G11	<38.0	<36.0	<38.0	<41.0	<43.0	<45.0	>45.0
	40	FSDH-40-L/P-2G11	<46.0	<44.0	<46.0	–	–	–	–
	55	FSDH-55-L/P-2G11	<46.0	<44.0	<46.0	–	–	–	–
Compact 4 Tube Flat	18	FSS-18-E-2G10	<21.0	<19.0	<21.0	<24.0	<26.0	<28.0	>28.0
	24	FSS-24-E-2G10	<27.0	<25.0	<27.0	<30.0	<32.0	<34.0	>34.0
	36	FSS-36-E-2G10	<38.0	<36.0	<38.0	<41.0	<43.0	<45.0	>45.0
Compact 4 Tube (not flat)	10	FSQ-10-E-G24q = 1 FSQ-10-I-G24d = 1	<13.0	<11.0	<13.0	<14.0	<16.0	<18.0	>18.0
	13	FSQ-10-E-G24q = 1 FSQ-10-I-G24d = 1	<16.0	<14.0	<16.0	<17.0	<19.0	<21.0	>21.0
	18	FSQ-18-E-G24q = 2 FSQ-18-I-G24d = 2	<21.0	<19.0	<21.0	<24.0	<26.0	<28.0	>28.0
	26	FSQ-26-E-G24q = 3 FSQ-26-I-G24d = 3	<29.0	<27.0	<29.0	<32.0	<34.0	<36.0	>36.0
Compact 6 Tube	18	FSM-18-I-GX24d = 2 FSM-18-E-G24q = 2	<21.0	<19.0	<21.0	<24.0	<26.0	<28.0	>28.0
	26	FSM-26-I-GX24d = 3 FSM-13-E-G24q = 1	<29.0	<27.0	<29.0	<32.0	<34.0	<36.0	>36.0
	32	FSSMH-32-L/P-GX24q=4	<39.0	<36.0	<39.0	–	–	–	–
	42	FSMH-42-L/P-GX24q = 4	<49.0	<46.0	<49.0	–	–	–	–
Compact 2D (double D)	10	FSS-10-E-GR10q FSS-10-L/P/H-GR10q	<13.0	<11.0	<13.0	<14.0	<16.0	<18.0	>18.0
	26	FSS-16-I-GR8 FSS-16-E-GR10q FSS-16-L/P/H-GR10q	<19.0	<17.0	<19.0	<21.0	<23.0	<25.0	>25.0
	21	FSS-21-E-GR10q FSS-21-L/P/H-GR10q	<24.0	<22.0	<24.0	<27.0	<29.0	<31.0	>31.0
	28	FSS-28-I-GR8 FSS-28-E-GR10q FSS-28-L/P/H-GR10q	<31.0	<29.0	<31.0	<34.0	<36.0	<38.0	>38.0
	38	FSS-38-E-GR10q FSS-38-L/P/H-GR10q	<40.0	<38.0	<40.0	<43.0	<45.0	<47.0	>47.0
	55	FSS-55-E-GRY10q = 3 FSS-55-L/P/H-GRY10q = 3	<63.0	<59.0	<63.0	–	–	–	–

NOTES:

• Refer to AS/NZS 61231, International Lamp Coding System (ILCOS).
• Applies only to mains frequency ferromagnetic ballasts with two-wire connection and with an external starter.
• Nominal lamp power values shown may have different rating values. Refer to the relevant lamp data sheet.
• For A1 EEI classification, refer to Clause 5.3.2 of AS/NZS 4783.2.