EU Energy Label & ErP for LED Strip Lights | DENO

EU energy efficiency classes for lighting (ErP 2019/2015)

Regulation (EU) 2019/2015 replaced the old A++ to E scale with a rescaled A to G energy label for every light source placed on the EU market, including flexible LED strip lights, LED tape and linear COB modules. The class is derived from total mains efficacy, which divides the useful luminous flux of the light source by the on-mode power consumption including any control gear that is sold with it.

Because a flexible LED strip is normally supplied without its driver, the efficacy declared on the label is the light source efficacy of the tape itself. A 24V high-efficacy 2835 strip in the 140-160 lm/W band typically lands in class C or D, mid-range 120-140 lm/W products land in class E, and decorative low-density or high-CRI 95+ tape often falls to class F or G because phosphor conversion losses reduce lm/W. DENO declares measured lm/W for every model at 25 degrees Celsius ambient with LM-79 integrating-sphere data so the class on the label can be reproduced by a notified body.

• Class A: over 210 lm/W total mains efficacy
• Class B: 185 to 210 lm/W
• Class C: 160 to 185 lm/W
• Class D: 135 to 160 lm/W
• Class E: 110 to 135 lm/W
• Class F: 85 to 110 lm/W
• Class G: below 85 lm/W

EPREL registration workflow for LED strip lights

Every light source model sold in the EU must be registered in the European Product Registry for Energy Labelling (EPREL) before the first unit is placed on the market. The importer or the EU-established brand owner is the responsible supplier, so an OEM buyer importing DENO tape under its own brand registers the model, while DENO supplies the technical dossier needed to complete it.

The workflow has five steps: verify the supplier organisation in the EU Single Market portal, compile the technical documentation (LM-79 photometric report, LM-80 or equivalent lumen maintenance data, driver compatibility, declared efficacy and power), generate the rescaled energy label artwork, register the model and receive the EPREL registration number, then affix the label and the QR code that resolves to the public product page.

• Verify the supplier organisation and EU establishment
• Compile the technical file: LM-79, LM-80, DoC, safety and EMC reports
• Generate the A-to-G label with declared lm/W and on-mode power
• Register the model in EPREL and store the registration number
• Affix the label plus QR code on packaging and datasheets

Anatomy of the EU energy label and what it must declare

The rescaled label carries the supplier name or trademark, the model identifier, the A-to-G class arrow, the energy consumption in kWh per 1000 hours rounded to the nearest integer, and the QR code that links to the public EPREL record. For LED strip lights sold on reels, the declared energy consumption is stated per metre or for the full reel, and the packaging must make clear which unit is used.

DENO's integrated label generator lets an engineer enter length, watts per metre, lumens per metre and reel length, then previews a regulation-grade label and exports a compliance summary PDF that can be attached to a technical file or a tender submission.

CE marking, RoHS 2 and RoHS 3 obligations

CE marking of LED strip lighting is a self-declaration supported by evidence. The applicable directives are typically the Low Voltage Directive 2014/35/EU for 50V and above, the EMC Directive 2014/30/EU, RoHS 2 (2011/65/EU) as amended by RoHS 3 (2015/863) and, where a radio or wireless controller is bundled, the Radio Equipment Directive 2014/53/EU. Ecodesign Regulation (EU) 2019/2020 additionally sets minimum efficacy, standby power and flicker limits.

RoHS 3 restricts ten substances: lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, PBB, PBDE and the four phthalates DEHP, BBP, DBP and DIBP. DENO controls these at incoming inspection on copper foil, solder paste, LED packages, silicone potting and PVC/silicone jacketing, and issues an EU Declaration of Conformity with test reports for every shipped model.

• Identify applicable directives for the exact SKU and voltage
• Run the conformity assessment and photometric/EMC testing
• Verify RoHS substance limits across all bill-of-material items
• Compile the technical file and keep it for ten years
• Sign the EU Declaration of Conformity
• Affix the CE marking on product, packaging and documentation

Flicker, stroboscopic effect and Ecodesign performance limits

Ecodesign 2019/2020 caps the short-term flicker metric Pst LM at 1.0 and the stroboscopic visibility measure SVM at 0.4 for light sources operated at full load. Flicker on an LED strip is almost always a driver and dimming-topology issue rather than a tape issue: constant-voltage tape driven by a well-filtered DC supply reaches Pst LM well under 1.0, while poorly filtered PWM dimming at low frequency fails SVM. DENO recommends PWM above 3 kHz, or constant-current linear dimming, for camera-critical retail, studio and healthcare installations.