PD IEC TS 61231:1999 pdf download – International Lamp Coding System (ILCOS).
The lamp industry strives continuously to meet customers’ needs. Its innovative power has led to a tremendous variety of different light sources. To enable customers and experts to find their way within the diversity of products, a general system for the coding of lamps has been developed.
The code does not replace specific markings used by individual manufacturers on their lamps or in their catalogues, hut it is promoted for cross-referencing purposes and, in due course, to replace national and regional lamp coding systems which already exist.
NOTE The code doea not give all the technical characteriatica necearv to apecify a lamp fully. For thia the relevant lamp atandard andior the manufacturers literature have to be conaulted.
1 Scope and object
This technical specification gives the rules for the international lamp coding system and covers all lamp categories, excluding vehicle lamps. Coding for the main lamp types is specified and, for the others, will follow by amendments to this technical specification as appropriate.
The object of the international lamp coding system is:
— to improve communication about the different types of lamps;
— to help in discussions concerning interchangeability and compatibility of products:
— to create a closer relationship between International Standards and manufacturers’ literature (for
example the code could be given in future in the relevant parts of a standard):
— to enable correct replacements of lamps:
— to be used as a complementary marking on the luminaire;
— to replace national and regional coding systems.
2 Normative references
The following normative documents contain provisions which, through reference in this text, constitute provisions of this technical specification. For dated references, subsequent amendments to, or revisions of, any of these publications do not apply. However, parties to agreements based on this technical specification are encouraged to investigate the possibility of applying the most recent editions of the normative documents indicated below. For undated references, the latest edition of the normative document referred to applies. Members of IEC and ISO maintain registers of currently valid International Standards. I EC 60357, Tungsten halogen lamps non-vchicle).
IEC 60432-1, Safety specifications for incandescent lamps — Part 1: Tungsten filament lamps for domestic and similar general lighting purposes.
IEC 60432-2, Safety specifications for incandescent lamps — Part 2: i’ungsten halogen lamps for domestic and similar general lighting purposes.
IEC 60887, Glass bulb designation system for lamps. IEC 61167. Metal halide lamps.
CIK publication 29.2, Guide on interior lighting.
3 Principles
The international lamp coding system has been developed on the basis of the following principles.
— It should be manufacturer-independent concerning its content and its wording.
— A relationship between the coding system and International Standards should be established.
— It should be internationally acceptable. It is recognized that other systems with national and regional importance exist and that the change to an international code should be seen as a long-term process.
The length of the code should be as short as possible and as long as necessary. Therefore, it should be possible to use the code in different lengths depending on the different purposes.
— In view of the technical diversity of the different lamp categories, it would not be practical to define the code for all types in the same way; the code depends therefore in its composition on the technical needs of the different lamp categories.
—The code should not replace manufacturer-specific marking on the lamp or in the catalogues, butshould be used for cross-references in lamp and luminaire literature.
—The allocation of codes is based on interchangeability and compatibility.
An additional usage of the code on the lamp package should be envisaged for the future.4 Basic structure
The complete lamp code ILCOS consists of a letter section and a figure section.4.1 Letter section
The first letter of the letter section designates the lamp category as follows:I Tungsten filament lamps
H Tungsten halogen lamps (non-vehicle)F Fluorescent lamps
s High-pressure sodium lampsL Low-pressure sodium lamps High-pressure mercury lampsM Metal halide lamps
x Special lamps
NOTE Vehicle lamps, including their coding, are covered by national and/or regional legislation.
The next letters within the letter section give further details as outlined in the description of the differentlamp categories. The letter section is separated from the rest by a hyphen.
