Intertek, a leading provider of quality and safety services to a wide range of industries around the world, today announced the launch of the Class P program for LED lighting drivers.

“Helping manufacturers verify product quality and safety while partnering with them to be agile and innovative in a rapidly changing marketplace is core to Intertek”

The Class P program is a system for LED lighting drivers that defines evaluation and testing guidelines for standardized LED driver constructions and ratings. The goal of Intertek’s Class P program is to simplify the process of product testing and certification for its clients and help them launch products that meet safety requirements for the North American marketplace. Intertek is the first Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) to offer Class P Listed status LED drivers.

Previously the options for manufacturers were standard recognized LED drivers or the Type TL driver, which would require an additional investigation by a NRTL for any changes in drivers by the manufacturer. Although the Type TL program offered reduced testing for using alternate Type TL drivers, manufacturers were still subjected to an investigation, which could delay new luminaires getting to the market.

With the launch of Intertek’s Class P program, manufacturers can now source and incorporate multiple different drivers of the same Class P rating into lighting products without retesting each time a new driver is utilized. This change is being embraced by major luminaire manufacturers as a way to reduce their product development costs and improve their speed to market. Intertek is pleased to offer lighting manufacturers the widest range and most flexible options for certifying their LED drivers and LED luminaires.

“Helping manufacturers verify product quality and safety while partnering with them to be agile and innovative in a rapidly changing marketplace is core to Intertek,” said Carl Bloomfield, Intertek Global Business Line Leader for Lighting. “The Class P program was developed by listening and being responsive to manufacturers, industry associations, and regulators. We will continue to further invest in services that will help our clients meet their business objectives.”

Intertek offers a range of quality, safety, performance, regulatory compliance, labeling, and advisory services for LED modules, arrays, lamps, luminaires, and lighting controls. Intertek services help to ensure the safety and performance of lighting products. Lighting products can receive Intertek’s ETL Mark, which demonstrates compliance to all requisite North American safety standards, as well as the CE Mark or equivalent marks for other global markets. Intertek’s depth of services and expertise in global lighting regulations and technologies provides guidance to developers and manufacturers across the consumer and residential, commercial and industrial, transportation, and infrastructure markets.

For more information about Intertek’s services for the Lighting market and products, please visit www.intertek.com/lighting/.