UL 1598 - Standard for Luminaires

UL 1598 is the primary safety standard for luminaires (lighting fixtures) used in residential, commercial, and industrial applications. It establishes requirements for the design, construction, and performance of complete lighting fixtures to reduce the risk of electrical shock, fire, and mechanical hazards under normal and abnormal operating conditions. UL 1598 covers aspects such as wiring methods, grounding, spacing of live parts, enclosure strength, temperature limits, protection against overheating, and suitability for specific installation environments (e.g., indoor, outdoor, damp, or wet locations). Compliance with UL 1598 demonstrates that a finished luminaire meets recognized safety requirements for installation and use in North America.

Testing lighting products to UL 1598 provides several important benefits for manufacturers, specifiers, and end users by demonstrating that a complete luminaire meets recognized safety requirements. Key benefits include:

• Regulatory and Code Acceptance – UL 1598 compliance supports acceptance by OSHA-recognized NRTLs, electrical inspectors, and Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs) across the U.S. and Canada.
• Market Access – Certification to UL 1598 enables lighting products to be legally sold, specified, and installed in North American markets and accepted by major retailers and distributors.
• Safety Assurance – The standard evaluates electrical, mechanical, thermal, and fire risks, helping ensure safe operation under normal and abnormal conditions.
• Reduced Liability Risk – Independent third-party testing helps manufacturers demonstrate due diligence and reduce product liability exposure.
• Design Validation – UL 1598 testing can identify construction or performance issues early, improving product reliability and quality before market release.
• Customer and Specifier Confidence – Compliance provides assurance to engineers, contractors, and end users that the luminaire meets recognized safety standards.
• Compatibility with LED Standards – UL 1598 works alongside LED component standards (such as UL 8750), supporting modern solid-state lighting designs.

Together, these benefits make UL 1598 a foundational standard for ensuring lighting products are safe, compliant, and ready for the North American market.

The January 31, 2024 revision of UL 1598 (Fifth Edition, originally published March 26, 2021) updates the standard with technical clarifications, new and revised requirements, and editorial corrections affecting several clauses throughout the document. Key changes include updated requirements for:

• grounding of secondary circuits (e.g., in Sections 6.7.1.6 and 6.20.1)
• clarifications to specific provisions (such as 5.7.1.3 and 6.20.5)
• marking and labeling refinements for small luminaires and polymeric recessed luminaires

It also provides revised methods for alternate marking on luminaires that are physically too small to accommodate all required markings, as well as updates to indoor wet location environmental ratings. Additionally, numerous editorial updates and corrections were made to various clauses, tables, and annexes to improve clarity and consistency across the standard. These changes enhance technical rigor and help align requirements for safer and more uniform application of UL 1598 in certifying lighting fixtures.

Intertek supports manufacturers through the entire UL 1598 certification process, from design and component evaluation to final product testing and ongoing compliance, helping meet UL 1598 safety requirements, satisfy regulators, and access both North American and international markets. Intertek's solutions for UL 1598 are designed to help lighting manufacturers test, certify, and gain regulatory approval for their luminaires efficiently and confidently.