Deleted from list of A-rated compact fluorescent lamps: Three compact fluorescent lamps fail Danish Electricity Saving Trust quality control testing

A-rated CFLs must fulfil a wide range of energy and quality requirements in order to be able to use the Trust's Energy Saving Label. One of the requirements is that a lamp can be switched on and off as many times as the lifetime in hours stated by the producer. This means, for example, that if the lifetime of a lamp is stated as 8,000 hours, then the lamp should be capable of being switched on 8,000 times.

The three A-rated CFLs which failed the Trust's random quality control testing were:

• Prolight 3U 6 watt E14, tube/universal shape, "Dansk Supermarked"
• Majestic 9 watt E27, tube/universal shape, "Elektro Cirkel"
• "GN Belysning Micro Spiral", 11 watt E27, mini-spiral, "Sydjydsk Import A/S"

Energy Saving Label gives consumers confidence
The Trust carries out ongoing quality control testing of products with the Energy Saving Label so that consumers can feel confident when buying CFLs featured on the list of A-rated lamps.

"It is extremely important that consumers can be confident that A-rated CFLs with the Energy Saving Label fulfil the Trust's requirements. This is why, when we discover in random quality control testing that lamps do not do what they claim to do, we also come down hard by immediately deleting those that fail from the list of A-rated lamps," says Poul Erik Pedersen, lighting expert at the Trust.

Can have their money back
The Trust has presented the results of the random quality control testing to the three importers of the lamps which failed the tests. All three now promise that consumers can have their money back or exchange the lamp(s) they bought by contacting the importers.

"We're very sorry that the above-mentioned Prolight product did not manage to pass the ignition test. We have not experienced a high defect rate on this product. However, as always, if anyone has experienced any problems with Prolight products they can contact the store from which they were purchased and have their money back, or exchange the lamp(s)," says Klaus Mejlholm of Dansk Supermarked when commenting on the Trust's test.

Poul Erik Pedersen of the Trust is satisfied with the importers' reaction: "We appreciate that importers are offering consumers their money back," he says.

About the testing
The testing of lamps on the Trust's list of A-rated CFLs was carried out by DELTA in Hørsholm, which is fully accredited to test lighting products. Testing was performed using 20 examples of each individual lamp, which is the standard prescribed for this type of test.

For further information please contact
Poul Erik Pedersen, lighting expert at the Danish Electricity Saving Trust.
Tel.: (+45) 41 18 84 30, e-mail: pepe@elsparefonden.dk