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As defined in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), “incandescent reflector lamp” (commonly referred to as a reflector lamp) means any lamp in which light is produced by a filament heated to incandescence by an electric current, which: contains an inner reflective coating on the outer bulb to direct the light; is not colored; is not designed for rough or vibration service applications; is not an R20 short lamp; has an R, PAR, ER, BR, BPAR, or similar bulb shapes with an E26 medium screw base; has a rated voltage or voltage range that lies at least partially in the range of 115 and 130 volts; has a diameter that exceeds 2.25 inches; and has a rated wattage that is 40 watts or higher. 10 CFR 430.2 Manufacturers have been required to comply with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) energy conservation standards for incandescent reflector lamps (IRLs) since 1992.
For the latest information on the planned timing of future DOE regulatory milestones, see the current Office of Management and Budget Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions. All planned dates are preliminary and subject to change.
Standards
Request for Information - Federal Register, 85FR25326 (May 1, 2020).
- Frequently Asked Questions
Final Rule - Federal Register, 80 FR 4041 (January 26, 2015)
The IRL energy conservation standard rulemaking docket EERE–2011–BT–STD–0006 and EERE-2019-BT-STD-0030 contains all notices, public comments, public meeting transcripts, and supporting documents pertaining to this rulemaking. Many IRLs are considered GSLs, please see the General Service Lamps page for the latest on standards.
Public Meeting Information
There is no public meeting scheduled at this time.
Submitting Public Comments
The comment period is closed.
Test procedure
Final Rule - Federal Register, 87FR53618 (August 31, 2022)
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking - Federal Register, 86FR29888 (June 3, 2021)
The IRL test procedure docket EERE-2017-BT-TP-0011 contains all notices, public comments, public meeting transcripts, and supporting documents pertaining to this rulemaking. Many IRLs are considered GSLs, please see the General Service Lamps page for the latest on test procedures.
Public Meeting Information
There is no public meeting scheduled at this time.
Submitting Public Comments
The comment period is closed.
IRLs manufactured and distributed in commerce, as defined by 42 U.S.C. 6291(16), must meet the energy conservation standards specified in the Code of Federal Regulations at 10 CFR 430.32(n) and10 CFR 430.32(dd).
DOE excludes R20 short lamps from coverage under the EPCA energy conservation standards.
To determine that IRLs that are currently manufactured or distributed into commerce are in compliance with DOE standards, manufacturers must follow the test procedure methods specified at 10 CFR 430.23(r). The methods to conduct the test procedure are further specified in 10 CFR 430, Subpart B, Appendix R.
Compliance
DOE has established regulations on certification, compliance, and enforcement in the CFR at 10 CFR Part 429. These regulations cover statistical sampling plans, certified ratings, certification reports, record retention, and enforcement. More information on these regulations is available here.
Waivers
For information on current test procedure waivers, see DOE’s Waivers webpage.
For information about obtaining test procedure waivers, see 10 CFR 430.27.
Exceptions
DOE's Office of Hearings and Appeals has not authorized exception relief for IRLs.
For information about obtaining exception relief, see 10 CFR part 1003.
Guidance and Frequently Asked Questions
For information on further guidance and answers to frequently asked questions on all covered products, see DOE’s Further Guidance database.
State Exemptions to Federal Pre-emption
DOE has not exempted any state from this energy conservation standard. States may petition DOE to exempt a state regulation from preemption by the federal energy conservation standard. States may also petition DOE to withdraw such exemptions. For details, see 10 CFR part 430, subpart D.
Small Business Exemptions
Any manufacturer of a covered product with annual gross revenues that do not exceed $8,000,000 from all its operations and meets certain other conditions may apply for an exemption to the energy conservation standard. For details, see 10 CFR part 430, subpart E.
ENERGY STAR®
DOE supports the testing and verification of ENERGY STAR products in close collaboration with the Environmental Protection Agency.
Find tips and guidance for making your home, workplace, or vehicle more energy efficient visit EnergySavers.gov.
For more information related to this product, please email:
ApplianceStandardsQuestions@ee.doe.gov