The DLC offices will be closed from December 25th, 2024 through January 1st, 2025.  We do not anticipate any delays in application processing from this closure.  Please email info@designlights.org with any questions.

Qualify a Product

SSL and LUNA Level 1 (Formerly Single Product) Applications

Eligibility for Level 1 (formerly Single Product) Applications

To submit a Level 1 (formerly Single Product) Application, your product or product family must fall into one of the two following categories:

  • A single product with one model number submitted for qualification
  • A family of models where the ONLY differences among the products are one or more of the following:
    • CCT
    • Dimming capabilities if the drivers used to achieve different dimming capabilities are the same aside from the dimming capability. (In this instance “the same” means a driver from the same manufacturer in the same product line. For example, Acme driver ABC-123-Fixed vs. Acme driver ABC-123-DIM.)
    • Voltage variations if the drivers used to achieve different voltage ranges are the same aside from the voltage capability or if a stepdown transformer is used. (In this instance “the same” means a driver from the same manufacturer in the same product line. For example, Acme driver ABC-123-120V vs. Acme driver ABC-123-480V. If a stepdown transformer is used, the same driver must be used with the stepdown transformer as is present in the model without the stepdown transformer.)
    • Variations that do not affect the performance, i.e. housing color.
    • To be eligible to submit as a Level 1 application, this small group must be able to be covered by the efficacy testing for the lowest-CCT product in the group only. If there are multiple efficacy requirements for products in the group, for example, due to light output bins or application of allowances, that require multiple tests, the group must be submitted as a Level 2 (formerly Family Grouping) application or broken into smaller Level 1 applications.
    • Level 1 applications will not cross-apply data from relatable products. Relatability and cross-applicability determinations are only allowed through family grouping applications.

If your product(s) have variations beyond what is listed above, please review the requirements for Level 2 (formerly Family Grouping) applications.

Model Number Guidance

Submitters must list full and complete model numbers that clearly demonstrate all qualified product options offered.

  • “Full and complete model numbers” means model numbers that include all performance-affecting and non-performance affecting variations offered, and which do not omit any option that is available to customers in the market. In general, options that do not affect the performance of the product can be submitted as a single model number with multiple options bracketed in the model number. For example, a product that has multiple exterior paint color, mounting, plug, or other options, that do not affect performance, may include all options in brackets (e.g. “[WH, BLK, SLV, GRY]” or “[All Options]”) within a single model number. Any options that are not present on the submitted specification sheet or supplemental documentation will not be considered qualified and a new specification sheet, supplemental documentation, and/or test reports may be required for options added to the luminaire after qualification. Low and high voltage options can be submitted as a single model number (e.g. “ABC 10LM [120V-277V, 347V-480V] WH”) with the worst-case performance reported. Multiple driver variations can be included in single product applications, as noted above, and listed in a single model number as long as they perform nominally the same. If the drivers perform nominally differently – that is, they are not presented to customers as having the same performance other than voltage input and result in different ordering codes – then the unique drivers will need to be listed in separate model numbers. Options that affect the lumen output, presence or lack of dimming capabilities, FALO, FALD, color tunable, or DC/POE cannot be bracketed and submitted as a single model number.
  • DLC reviewers may check web listings and other marketing materials and reserve the right to request additional information to demonstrate the full and complete model number. A lack of clarity in model numbers will result in delayed application processing; misrepresentation of model numbers in the application process discovered outside the application process will generally be considered a violation of the DLC program and trademark rules.
  • Each model number can only represent the fixture under a single brand. If the fixture can be sold under multiple brands, model numbers will need to be listed separately for each brand.

Please contact applications@designlights.org with any questions about submitting an application to the DLC.

Brand Name Guidance

To enhance the functionality of the QPLs, the DLC requires a Brand Name to be noted on all product applications. Using consistent nomenclature for your brand names optimizes the searchability of your products on the QPLs and reduces the number of brands a user must select from in the filter list to find your products.

  • If N/A or a blank is entered in the Brand Name field in the application form, it will be replaced with the manufacturer name associated with the products.
  • When entering the brand name, please be conscious of spelling errors, extraneous characters, and extra spaces, and consolidate brand names where applicable. This ultimately allows users of the QPL to search for products more efficiently.

Below is an example of how different variations of the same brand name creates multiple options, leading to increased confusion for users.

There is no cost to update your existing brand name nomenclature on the QPLs. Simply complete and submit a Product Update Application to make these changes for listed products. For more information, please review the instructions under Updating Nomenclature/Brand Name on the Product Update Applications page.

Level 1 (formerly Single Product) Application Instructions

Determine if your product is eligible to be qualified by the DLC and meets the Technical Requirements.

  • Please check the SSL Product Eligibility page to determine if the DLC accepts applications for your product type.
  • Review the Technical Requirements to determine whether your product meets DLC minimum performance requirements.
  • If you are submitting for LUNA qualification, review the LUNA Technical Requirements to determine whether your products are eligible and meet the minimum performance requirements.
  • Review Testing Lab Requirements and any product category-specific testing and reporting requirements to ensure your product has been properly tested.

Complete the SSL OEM App Excel Form.
Download and complete the SSL OEM App Excel Form (.xlsx) at the bottom of this page. If you are submitting any of your products under LUNA, be sure to fill out the LUNA specific fields starting in column AY.

[For LUNA products only] Use the LUNA Pre-submission Tool in your MyDLC dashboard to generate the required luminous intensity and SPD images.

The LUNA Pre-submission Tool allows you to upload an .IES or .SPDX document to validate, generate, preview and download DLC-formatted luminous intensity distribution images and spectral power distribution (SPD) in .png format, which are required in the application submission process for LUNA products.

Create or log into your MyDLC account.
If you have not done so already, create a MyDLC account with the DLC. Once logged in, select the manufacturer you will be submitting on behalf of. Enter the Application Portal by clicking on the blue Application Portal button. Note that this button is only accessible for manufacturers and users authorized to submit applications.

Start a new application and upload the SSL OEM App Excel Form.
Select the program and application type you wish to submit, name the application for your reference, and select the manufacturer you are submitting on behalf of. If you have not done so already, download and complete the SSL OEM App Excel Form (.xlsx) at the bottom of this page. Upload this completed form under the “Upload Completed Application Excel Form” section. If there are errors within your uploaded form, a red error message will display the reason why the form was not accepted.

Complete the online application questionnaire.
Complete the application questionnaire by entering all required information and uploading all required supporting documentation files.

Your answers will be auto-saved, and you may exit and return to the questionnaire at any time.

Note that all supporting documentation must include the specific, relevant model or part number. Documents and files related to the luminaire, (e.g., LM-79, ISTMT) must include the unique model number of the luminaire that is included on the application. Documentation related to the LED package/model/array (e.g., the LM-80 report) must include the part number of the specific LED package/module/array that is named in the application. Please communicate with any independent laboratory the exact luminaire model number that it should include in its test reports. Required supporting documentation includes:

  • Manufacturer product specification sheet
  • LED package/module/array specification sheet (i.e. the specification sheet for the element that was tested for LM-80)
  • IES LM-79-08 report(s) containing sections 9, 10, and 12
  • Supplemental power quality test report or LM-79 with worst case power factor and total harmonic distortion (THD) measurements (If not included in primary LM-79)
  • IES photometric file (.ies)
  • Legal warranty document explaining warranty terms and conditions
  • Proof of safety certification from an appropriate safety certification body relevant in the US or Canada (.pdf file format required)
  • Product installation instructions (only required for retrofit kits and linear replacement lamps)
  • Lumen maintenance information
  • Test Report Authorization form (only required if the submitting organization’s name is not represented within your test reports)

Complete the Terms of Use agreement and submit the application.
Application reviews will not begin until the application is submitted. Once you have clicked “Submit,” you will be presented with the Terms of Use agreement that includes the Logo Guidelines Compliance Statement, Surveillance Testing Compliance Statement, and Safety Certification Compliance Statement. Full text of the agreement is available here. Sign the agreement to submit your application.

For those applicants who do not have the appropriate level of authority to agree to the Terms of Use, it is recommended that the signing authority create a DLC account under your company’s organization and digitally sign off once the application is complete.

Application Forms

The application forms below should be used on all applications submitted through the Application Portal.