Magnitude constant voltage, constant current and magnetic LED drivers include electrical safety classifications that, depending on the type of driver, are either UL and/or Intertek listed. While most contractors and installers understand UL designations, some lesser-known classifications are important to know when buying or selling LED drivers.
What Is the Difference between a Listed Driver and a Recognized Driver?
Magnitude offers both listed and recognized LED drivers, but what does this mean? A UL RECOGNIZED LED driver is generally integrated as a component of a fixture and thus must go through more rigorous testing to meet industry specifications. A UL-LISTED driver is typically installed as a stand-alone device and has already been tested to meet UL standards. Listed LED drivers often include a junction box that protects the wiring from physical damage and prevents contact with live wires. With recognized LED drivers, the wiring is mostly contained inside the enclosure. When you purchase a driver with either one of these labels, you can feel confident that the product offers superior quality and safety standards.
Magnitude E-Series UL Listed and Recognized LED drivers and SoliDrive UL Listed and Recognized Drivers.
What Is a Class 2 LED Driver?
NEC Class 2 circuits are considered to be safe from a fire ignition standpoint and provide acceptable protection against electric shock. All of Magnitude 20-watt through 60-watt 12-volt DC drivers and our 20-watt through 96-watt 24-volt DC drivers are UL Class 2 rated. Class types determine the output safety and whether protection is needed when installing the driver, and these drivers comply with standard UL1310, meaning they are safe to touch.
What Is a Class P LED Driver?
Class P is also important, especially in the OEM and replacement driver markets. The Intertek/UL Class P program established guidelines to simplify the certification process for luminaire manufacturers. If a driver is rated Class P, you can replace an existing driver in a fixture without voiding the warranty or going through another safety inspection. For example, if an OEM receives UL approval for their fixture with a Class P driver, that driver can be switched out at any time for another Class P driver without going back to UL for approval.
Why Is A Plenum Rating Important?
Plenum ratings are unusual to find on LED drivers, but we include it on our SoliDrive Series. Plenum-rated products are usually required in large high-rise buildings and are for areas we don’t see such as above the ceiling or below the flooring. These areas can be used for air circulation but can become a fire hazard due to the high oxygen content and lack of fire barriers. A fire can spread quickly when non-compliant drivers and cables are in these spaces, not to mention noxious fumes that can easily circulate throughout the building. To achieve a plenum rating, UL 2043 tests for heat and visible smoke release from electrical components and an open flame ignition source. The components are then evaluated to determine whether they meet the requirements for fire-resistant and low smoke-producing characteristics.
Know the Label, Know the Brand
Whether you purchase drivers from Magnitude or another brand, it’s important to make sure you know what’s on the label. Unfortunately, there are some manufacturers who cut corners on UL testing and ratings which can lead to a shortened life span at best and compromised safety at worst. We take the time do the testing on these other important certifications so we can feel good about every driver we sell. We’ll cover other important certifications such as NEMA 3R and Ingress Protection (IP) in a future blog.
