General Service Lamps Frequently Asked Questions

January 1, 2020. Any product that meets the clarified definition of a general service lamp must comply with the regulations before it is sold or offered for sale in California.

No, sell-through is not allowed for non-compliant products. Any general service lamp sold or offered for sale in California on or after January 1, 2020, must comply with the regulations.

General service lamp requirements have been enforced in California for traditional A-shaped lamps (light bulbs) manufactured on or after January 1, 2018, and sold or offered for sale in California. Additional lamp types subject to the general service lamp requirements when sold or offered for sale on or after January 1, 2020, include:

• Reflector Lamps
• Rough service lamps
• Shatter-resistant lamps
• 3-way incandescent lamps
• Vibration service lamps
• Candle-shape lamps such as B, CA, and F
• G-shape lamps
• T-shape lamps

A total of 26 specific lamp types are excluded from the definition of general service lamp. Refer to the definition of general service lamp in section 2 of this FAQ.

Yes, general service lamps include, but are not limited to, general service incandescent lamps, compact fluorescent lamps, general service light-emitting diode lamps, and general service organic light-emitting diode lamps.

For more information, you may visit the following links:

1. Regulatory Advisory for general service lamps for additional clarification on the rulemaking.
2. Docket # 19-AAER-04 for all information pertaining to the rulemaking. 
3. The California Code of Regulations (CCR), Title 20 for the complete regulations. 

See CCR, Title 20, section 1602(k)(2).

“General service lamp” means a lamp that has an ANSI base; is able to operate at a voltage of 12 volts or 24 volts, at or between 100 to 130 volts, at or between 220 to 240 volts, or of 277 volts for integrated lamps, or is able to operate at any voltage for nonintegrated lamps; has an initial lumen output of greater than or equal to 310 lumens (or 232 lumens for modified spectrum general service incandescent lamps) and less than or equal to 3,300 lumens; is not a light fixture; is not an LED downlight retrofit kit; and is used in general lighting applications. General service lamps include, but are not limited to, general service incandescent lamps, compact fluorescent lamps, general service light-emitting diode lamps, and general service organic light-emitting diode lamps. General service lamps do not include:

(1) Appliance lamps 

(2) Black light lamps 

(3) Bug lamps 

(4) Colored lamps 

(5) G shape lamps with a diameter of 5 inches or more as defined in ANSI C79.1- 2002 

(6) General service fluorescent lamps 

(7) High intensity discharge lamps 

(8) Infrared lamps 

(9) J, JC, JCD, JCS, JCV, JCX, JD, JS, and JT shape lamps that do not have Edison screw bases 

(10) Lamps that have a wedge base or prefocus base 

(11) Left-hand thread lamps 

(12) Marine lamps 

(13) Marine signal service lamps 

(14) Mine service lamps 

(15) MR shape lamps that have a first number symbol equal to 16 (diameter equal to 2 inches) as defined in ANSI C79.1-2002, operate at 12 volts, and have a lumen output greater than or equal to 800 

(16) Other fluorescent lamps 

(17) Plant light lamps 

(18) R20 short lamps 

(19) Reflector lamps that have a first number symbol less than 16 (diameter less than 2 inches) as defined in ANSI C79.1-2002 and that do not have E26/E24, E26d, E26/50x39, E26/53x39, E29/28, E29/53x39, E39, E39d, EP39, or EX39 bases 

(20) S shape or G shape lamps that have a first number symbol less than or equal to 12.5 (diameter less than or equal to 1.5625 inches) as defined in ANSI C79.1- 2002 

(21) Sign service lamps 

(22) Silver bowl lamps 

(23) Showcase lamps 

(24) Specialty MR lamps 

(25) T shape lamps that have a first number symbol less than or equal to 8 (diameter less than or equal to 1 inch) as defined in ANSI C79.1-2002, nominal overall length less than 12 inches and that are not compact fluorescent lamps 

(26) Traffic signal lamps

The required test method is dependent on the light source of the general service lamp. The following federal test methods are required, per CCR, Title 20, section 1604(k):

• General service incandescent lamps and incandescent reflector lamps must use 10 C.F.R. 430.23(r) (Appendix R to subpart B of part 430).
• Compact fluorescent lamps must use 10 C.F.R. 430.23(y) (Appendix W to Subpart B of part 430).
• Integrated LED lamps must use 10 C.F.R. 430.23(ee) (Appendix BB to Subpart B of part 430).
• General service lamps that are other than the lamp types described above must use 10 C.F.R. 430.23(gg) (Appendix DD to Subpart B of part 430).

Yes, the energy performance standards requiring a minimum efficacy of 45 lumens per watt that were adopted by the CEC on December 3, 2008 (effective January 1, 2018), are still in effect.

General service lamps sold on or after January 1, 2020, shall have a minimum lamp efficacy of 45 lumens per watt. This regulatory text is located in CCR, Title 20, section 1605.3(k)(1)(B). (Note: The performance standards for products sold before January 1, 2020, are located in CCR, Title 20, section 1605.3(k)(1)(A).)

CCR, Title 20, section 1607(b) states that the following must be “permanently, legibly, and conspicuously displayed on an accessible place on each unit” of the regulated appliance:

1. Manufacturer’s name or brand name or trademark
2. Model number
3. Date of manufacture, including year and month or smaller increment

(Note: For lamps, CCR, Title 20, section 1607(c)(2) allows the markings to be placed on either the lamp or its packaging.) 

No, general service lamps are not required to certify to MAEDbS. This specific exception can be found in CCR, Title 20, section 1606(a). The model must still comply with the testing, marking, and energy performance requirements before it can be sold or offered for sale in California. Testing data for models of GSLs must be available, upon demand, if requested by the CEC.