This Design Guide introduces most of the light sources employed in general and accent lighting luminaires.  This updated edition includes more comprehensive technical & performance data on Solid State Lighting (SSL). Additional updates and enhancements for high and low pressure discharge lamp sources have been incorporated into this document, exemplifying their increasing diversity and technological advances while bringing into perspective important comparisons with SSL. For specific application of any light source one should consult the latest IES Lighting Handbook, 10th Edition, other applicable IES publications and manufacturer’s lamp, ballast, driver and luminaire catalogs or web sites.

While definitive lists with absolute values for all lamp types and manufacturers go far beyond the scope of this guide, we have categorized them into expansive groups based on similar technologies. Table 1 provides perspective on the key performance parameters of commonly used lamps as well as light emitting diodes (LEDs).