Technical Requirements for LED Lighting: SSL V6.0 and LUNA V2.0

Part I introduces the purpose, scope, and structure of the SSL V6.0 and LUNA V2.0 Technical Requirements. Here you’ll find the context for why these updates exist and how they align with DLC’s mission to advance energy efficiency, lighting quality, and environmental stewardship.

This section defines key terminology and abbreviations used throughout the document—so if you’re new to DLC standards or need a refresher, start here. It also outlines the high-level goals of SSL V6.0 and LUNA V2.0: boosting performance and controllability while addressing light pollution through dark-sky-friendly practices.

Finally, you’ll find eligibility guidance—which products qualify, how “Specialty” or “Hazardous Environment” designations are treated, and how Primary Use Designations (PUDs) are structured. If you’re trying to confirm whether your product type is covered, this is the section to read first.

Part II lays out the core performance and reporting requirements for all DLC-listed products. If you need to understand the baseline expectations that define a compliant luminaire, lamp, or retrofit kit, you’ll find them here.

This section explains how the DLC evaluates efficacy, quality of light, and controllability, along with supporting criteria such as power quality, safety, warranty, and sustainability. You’ll also find details on required documentation—like product images, spec sheets, and control compatibility reporting.

In short, Part II defines the foundation of DLC qualification. It’s where to go for the measurable thresholds and testing expectations that ensure every listed product performs efficiently, reliably, and responsibly.

Part III describes what sets DLC Premium products apart. If your goal is to qualify for the higher-performance tier, you should review the DLC Standard requirements in Part II and the DLC Premium requirements detailed here.

This section outlines the enhanced efficacy, controllability, lifetime, and quality benchmarks that Premium products must meet. It also explains the rationale behind this tier: to recognize products that deliver the best combination of efficiency, longevity, and system integration potential.

Manufacturers pursuing Premium listing will find this part invaluable—it clarifies exactly what sets Premium apart from Standard and helps you plan design or testing improvements needed to meet that bar.

Part IV introduces the DLC’s LUNA program, focused on mitigating light pollution and supporting environmentally sensitive outdoor lighting. If you design or specify outdoor products and want to align with dark-sky principles, this is your section.

Here you’ll find requirements for spectral quality, light distribution, and controllability that ensure outdoor luminaires minimize uplight and blue-rich spectra that drive sky glow. This section also explains Turtle Lighting considerations and how LUNA qualifications work alongside the standard SSL criteria.

If your goal is to deliver outdoor lighting that’s energy-efficient and environmentally responsible, Part IV shows exactly what’s required to earn the LUNA label.

Part V gathers specialized guidance for products that don’t fit the standard mold. If your design involves field-adjustable, color-tunable, amber, solar-powered, DC/PoE, modular, or retrofit systems, you’ll find tailored requirements here.

Each section details how testing, reporting, and eligibility differ for these technologies. For example, amber and turtle-safe products include additional spectral criteria to balance ecological sensitivity with performance.

If your product type has unique operational modes or configurations, Part V is where you’ll find the instructions to ensure accurate qualification.

Part VI shifts focus from what products must achieve to how compliance is demonstrated. Here you’ll find the testing protocols, report formats, and acceptable pathways for demonstrating sufficient performance.

This section explains minimum testing requirements, options for long or complex products, and alternative methods for linear or dual-component luminaires. It also clarifies how to report results for alternate LEDs or drivers and outlines expectations for LM-79, LM-80, and TM-21 data.

If you’re preparing a submission package or coordinating with a test lab, Part VI is your essential reference for proper methodology and documentation.

Part VII provides the reference material that supports the main requirements. Here you’ll find the Primary Use Designation (PUD) definitions—covering indoor, outdoor, retrofit, solar, and lamp categories—along with additional clarifications used throughout the document.

Use this section as your quick reference for category definitions and product classification details. If you’re trying to determine which PUD applies to your product or verifying a technical term’s meaning, Part VII is where to look.

The final section, Part VIII, keeps the Technical Requirements current. It compiles policy clarifications, interpretive notes, and references to evolving standards such as ANSI, IES, CIE, and IEC publications.

If you want to understand how the DLC incorporates new control protocols, testing standards, or field data into its framework, this is the section to review. It helps manufacturers, specifiers, and program administrators stay aligned with the most recent interpretations and policy decisions.

Think of Part VIII as the bridge between the current requirements and the lighting industry’s ongoing evolution—it ensures the SSL V6.0 and LUNA V2.0 framework remains responsive and forward-looking.