However, what I have found is that decorative Christmas lighting that uses 120 volt lamps undergoes less breakage of lamps and filaments and less wear and tear on the cords if it is left up year round. The last installation I did was a commercial application where I uses communication bridle rings to support the light strings.

NEC does not account for the matter that handling stresses also put wear and tear on this kind of lighting equipment.

The rooftop electrical receptacles are connected to a lighting controller such that we can completely turn them off, run them continuously, or run off of the lighting controller.

Will this requirement for listing prevent products not listed under UL standard 588 from being manufactured, sold and used?

Also, it appears as though people who leave their (temporary) Christmas lights up all year, are in violation of article 590.

Thanks,

Hello, Mike:

I appreciate your reports. The issue of decorative lights reminded me of a running issue I had with LAVA LAMPS an Engineer and others wanted to have in their areas on a large Industrial site of about 5500 or more people. I banned the LAVA Lamps for general use on the site.

I just retired (40 years) as HP's Sr. Safety & Forensics Engineer with an extensive background in electrical safety and product safety design. I would be interested in your thoughts because it parallels decorative lighting. My arguments then (in part) are as follows:

The product in this case is a non-seasonal electrical decoration generally referred to as a LAVA Lamp. All products, including the LAVA Lamp, must be UL Listed for the use and application intended by the manufacturer.

As part of the use and installation under UL (IYNA) Guidelines for decorative furnishings, these products are intended to be installed in accordance with the National Electrical Code (ANSI/NFPA 70).

The requirements for mandated examination of equipment under the National Electrical Code (NEC), Parts 90.7, 110.1 - 110.3 are clear. (See the attached sections below) The code refers to use and installation meeting the requirements of a third party agency such as being Listed or Recognized. (e. g.; Underwriter Laboratories)

The LAVA LAMP you have is a LISTED product under UL 962 (Household and Commercial Furnishing)

Consider the following points: (With respect to the UL 962 Listing; E65440). There are more than 800 UL standards today to cover many thousands of products. The process has many parts, but essentially the manufacturer must specify the intended use and application so that a suitable standard can be selected under the eventual listing. UL Standards apply tests and criterion suitable for that listing. The more stressful the application or use the more rigid the testing requirements (e.g. impact, breakage, wire size, overcurrent protection, markings, over-temperature features, etc).

UL 962 is designed for "Household and Commercial Furnishing." If the Listing had only been "Household," your LAVA Lamp would have been marked as RESIDENTIAL USE ONLY. This is not required here because it also has a limited listing for "Commercial Furnishing."

Under the Commercial Furnishing segment the scope of this this listing is limited to commercial product and informational displays. This is why retail stores and Hotels may display this product type in lobbies or storefronts under UL 962.

The commercial furnishing does not cover the LAVA Lamp except under the display category. The "Non-Seasonal electrical decorations segment therefore falls under the listing for "Household Furnishings" and would not cover use and applications suitable for the commercial or the industrial environment.

Neither UL or the NEC considers equipment not covered under the submittal process for use as valid. In other words, there is no legal standing by UL in support if a product causes harm outside its intended environment or application.

With respect to the LAVA Lamp the HP Boise use is outside the acceptable household or display environments.

Conclusion: The Lava Lamp use in the Boise Site Industrial R & D Environment is outside the Scope of UL 962. By definition, it fails to meet NEC requirements, particularly Article 110.3

Other Factors:

The codes form but one part (the minimum part) of decisions to limit personal products on the site. The responsibility to protect business continuity, property and employee safety require that we exceed minimums where justified by history, engineering, vulnerabilities and exposures. Few regulations were violated prior to about 1990, yet the Boise site averaged over a fire every year before we gained enough control of products, combustible loads, ignition sources, etc., achieving a major turn around. Some examples using the LAVA Lamp situation follow:

The FP/BP data missing from the LAVA Lamp MSDS should not have required a request to acquire. This should have been part of the data sheet.

Flash point < 200F/93C; Boiling point > 392F/200C; Does not sustain combustion below 932F/500C. Since a match produces 600-800C, a candle 600-1400C, an electric spark 1,316C we can see that the contents of the LAVA Lamp will provide fuel for even a small local fire. The material behind the glass enclosure will release early under enough pressure and breakage cannot be ruled out.

The LAVA Lamp has no over-temperature cut-out and depends upon stabilizing fluid and bulb size along with a limited running time.

The LAVA Lamp has no timer and must be manually shut off and is vulnerable to human error. The recommended typical maximum running time is 10 hours although this is not confirmed with this manufacturer.

Bulb size determines heat at the base. This is user dependent and hard to validate (if this usage should increase.

The temperature recorded at the base was 62C (144F) which is our maximum for operator-touchable surfaces (startled-person reaction) while normal operating. Burn injury for a one second contact is 75C/167F. (Assumes stabilized readings were taken)

The two-wire cord (polarized) and base electrical was not evaluated.

It is for these reasons that your request, regretfully is denied. Please remove the LAVA Lamp from the site.

End of my formal reply.

I would enjoy any thoughts you or your readers may have on this topic.

Best regards, Mike

Ernie Harper