This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
Applications are reviewed in two stages: initial application review and comprehensive application review. Refer to the tables below for information about review timeframes. The DLC reserves the right to extend any application review timeframes due to holidays and application volume spikes. These extensions will be communicated via the DLC website and the application portal.
Please review the FAQs page for additional policy clarifications and contact applications@designlights.org with any questions about submitting an application to the DLC.
NOTE: Closed/canceled/rejected applications may not be reopened. Instead, a new application must be created. To avoid having to create a new application, please either provide missing information or documentation within 10 business days of being notified of issues, or provide an estimated timeframe for submitting the missing information or documentation within 10 business days of being notified of issues.
Initial Application Review
After you submit your application, a DLC reviewer will perform an initial review to determine if the application and supporting documentation are complete. You will then receive an email with instructions to pay the appropriate application fees or to provide additional information to the DLC reviewer. See the table below for review timeframes. If additional information or documents is required and provided, the review timeframe to evaluate the new information or documentation is currently 5 business days. If uploading new documentation, be sure to resubmit the application. Additional documentation may not be reviewed until the application is resubmitted.
Comprehensive Application Review
After your payment is received, your DLC reviewer will initiate a comprehensive review of your application to determine whether your product(s) meet the Technical Requirements. After the comprehensive review period, your reviewer will let you know which of the following conditions applies to your application:
- Condition 1: Your application is missing information, required information is insufficiently documented, or there is an error on an independent lab test. Your DLC reviewer will identify the specific areas in the application that need attention and allow you to fix problems and errors and resubmit. Applications that have not received response within 10 business days will be closed. After additional information or documents is provided, the review timeframe to evaluate the new information or documentation is currently 5 business days. If uploading new documentation, be sure to resubmit the application. Additional documentation may not be reviewed until the application is resubmitted.
- Condition 2: Performance information shows the product does not meet the requirements. An application showing product performance does not meet the requirements may not be resubmitted; it must be submitted as a new application with updated application materials and the appropriate application fee.
- Condition 3: The application has been completed properly and the product meets all of the DLC requirements. You will receive notification of qualification when the product is listed on the QPL. This application will then appear as complete in your account.
Standard Review Timeframes
| Application Type | Initial Review | Comprehensive Review |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 (non-DC or ESAC)* | 9 business days | 7 business days |
| Level 2 (non-DC or ESAC)* | 9 business days | 10 business days |
| Private Label | 12 business days*** | |
| Product Updates** | 9 business days | 10 business days |
If additional information or documentation is required and provided, the review timeframe to evaluate the new information or documentation is currently 5 business days.
*Initial review for DC products may take up to 12 business days. Initial review for externally supplied actively cooled (ESAC) products may take up to 14 business days. Comprehensive review for these types of products is the same as noted above.
**Delisting requests will be reviewed and completed in the same timeframe as the initial review for product update applications.
***While the private label application review flow has changed, the overall timing has not been updated at this time. For private label applications, the comprehensive review will be completed within 6 days of submission and after invoicing the steps to publish the products to the QPL will occur within another 6 days.
Expedited Review Timeframes
The DLC is offering a limited time option to get horticultural applications reviewed faster through an expedite fee. Learn more about the expedite process here.
| Application Type | Initial Review | Comprehensive Review |
|---|---|---|
| Expedited Level 1 (non-DC or ESAC)* | 4 business days | 3 business days |
| Expedited Level 2 (non-DC or ESAC)* | 4 business days | 5 business days |
| Expedited Private Label | 6 business days** | |
| Expedited Product Updates | 4 business days | 5 business days |
*Expedited initial review for DC products may take up to 6 business days. Expedited initial review for externally supplied actively cooled (ESAC) products may take up to 7 business days. Comprehensive review for these types of products is the same as noted above.
**While the private label application review flow has changed, the overall timing has not been updated at this time. For expedited private label applications, the comprehensive review will be completed within 3 days of submission and after invoicing the steps to publish the products to the QPL will occur within another 3 days.
Considerations:
- For most applications, the majority of the review time is due to lack of clarity in product configuration, performance, or specification sheets, and/or incomplete and inaccurate information provided by the submitter. Providing accurate and complete materials is critical for meeting review timeframes. If additional information or documentation is required and provided, the expedited review timeframe to evaluate the new information or documentation is currently 2 business days.
- Expedited applications are held to the same requirements as non-expedited applications.
Tips for Faster Review
- Please ensure that your Excel application form is fully complete and accurate before uploading it to the Application Portal. You can find example application forms at the bottom of each application page. (Hort Level 1 and 2, Hort Private Label). Use the text in the headers of each column as a guide. If you are unsure if a given column is relevant to your application, it is best to fill it out rather than leave blank.
- Do not include products as members of a product family that you are aware do not meet the Technical Requirements. Always double check your reported and test data to ensure submitted products will meet the requirements.
- Respond promptly if your DLC reviewer reaches out with a question or request for additional information. If you need time to gather the additional requested information, please provide an estimated timeline for when you can expect to provide it.
- When submitting an application, please refrain from asking for a status update within the first few business days after submittal. Initial reviews currently may take up 9 business days. Sending requests for status updates may slow down our reviewers while they take the time to respond.
© 2024 DesignLights Consortium. The DesignLights Consortium is a project of Efficiency Forward, Inc., a non-profit 501(c)3 organization. Privacy Policy Terms of Use