Prize-winning SSL fixtures

The Next Generation Luminaires (NGL) Design Competition recently wrapped with some 33 entries recognized with some kind of award. Entries covered such areas as various kinds of accent lighting, recessed downlighting, various kinds of decorative lighting, general illumination, industrial lighting, as well as street and area lighting. A total of 328 entries, up from 265 in 2009, competed for recognition.

Philips Color Kinetics took a Best-in-Class award with its eW Burst Powercore exterior-rated LED luminaire designed for highlighting architectural elements.

Manufacturers submitting products for judging had to submit documentation to prove the lights performed as claimed. This included, among other things, LM-79 photometric reports, documentation of the LED drive current, estimated LED life, a photo or schematic of the temperature measurement point, and in-situ temperature measurement in UL 1598 environment for seven hours.

Luminaire manufacturers apparently considered these requirements quite strenuous. Just 138 out of the 328 submitted made it to the judging phase. The rest were rejected either because they weren't deemed ready for market or due to lack of documentation.

The point of the competition is to find solid-state lighting products that are truly specifiable.

The entire array of winning entries and categories can be found here:  http://www.ngldc.org/pdfs/NGL10_Catalog_Final_WEB.pdf