IEC 61231:2010/AMD1:2013

IEC 61231 ®
Edition 1.0 2013-06
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
AMENDMENT 1
AMENDEMENT 1
International lamp coding system (ILCOS)

Système international de codification des lampes (ILCOS)

IEC 61231:2010/A1:2013
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form
or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without permission in writing from
either IEC or IEC's member National Committee in the country of the requester.
If you have any questions about IEC copyright or have an enquiry about obtaining additional rights to this publication,
please contact the address below or your local IEC member National Committee for further information.

Droits de reproduction réservés. Sauf indication contraire, aucune partie de cette publication ne peut être reproduite ni
utilisée sous quelque forme que ce soit et par aucun procédé, électronique ou mécanique, y compris la photocopie et les
microfilms, sans l'accord écrit de la CEI ou du Comité national de la CEI du pays du demandeur.
Si vous avez des questions sur le copyright de la CEI ou si vous désirez obtenir des droits supplémentaires sur cette
publication, utilisez les coordonnées ci-après ou contactez le Comité national de la CEI de votre pays de résidence.

IEC Central Office Tel.: +41 22 919 02 11
3, rue de Varembé Fax: +41 22 919 03 00
CH-1211 Geneva 20 info@iec.ch
Switzerland www.iec.ch
About the IEC
The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is the leading global organization that prepares and publishes
International Standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies.

About IEC publications
The technical content of IEC publications is kept under constant review by the IEC. Please make sure that you have the
latest edition, a corrigenda or an amendment might have been published.

Useful links:
IEC publications search - www.iec.ch/searchpub Electropedia - www.electropedia.org
The advanced search enables you to find IEC publications The world's leading online dictionary of electronic and
by a variety of criteria (reference number, text, technical electrical terms containing more than 30 000 terms and
committee,…). definitions in English and French, with equivalent terms in
It also gives information on projects, replaced and additional languages. Also known as the International
withdrawn publications. Electrotechnical Vocabulary (IEV) on-line.

IEC Just Published - webstore.iec.ch/justpublished Customer Service Centre - webstore.iec.ch/csc
Stay up to date on all new IEC publications. Just Published If you wish to give us your feedback on this publication
details all new publications released. Available on-line and or need further assistance, please contact the
also once a month by email. Customer Service Centre: csc@iec.ch.

A propos de la CEI
La Commission Electrotechnique Internationale (CEI) est la première organisation mondiale qui élabore et publie des
Normes internationales pour tout ce qui a trait à l'électricité, à l'électronique et aux technologies apparentées.

A propos des publications CEI
Le contenu technique des publications de la CEI est constamment revu. Veuillez vous assurer que vous possédez
l’édition la plus récente, un corrigendum ou amendement peut avoir été publié.

Liens utiles:
Recherche de publications CEI - www.iec.ch/searchpub Electropedia - www.electropedia.org
La recherche avancée vous permet de trouver des Le premier dictionnaire en ligne au monde de termes
publications CEI en utilisant différents critères (numéro de électroniques et électriques. Il contient plus de 30 000
référence, texte, comité d’études,…). termes et définitions en anglais et en français, ainsi que
Elle donne aussi des informations sur les projets et les les termes équivalents dans les langues additionnelles.
publications remplacées ou retirées. Egalement appelé Vocabulaire Electrotechnique
International (VEI) en ligne.
Just Published CEI - webstore.iec.ch/justpublished
Service Clients - webstore.iec.ch/csc
Restez informé sur les nouvelles publications de la CEI.
Just Published détaille les nouvelles publications parues. Si vous désirez nous donner des commentaires sur
Disponible en ligne et aussi une fois par mois par email. cette publication ou si vous avez des questions
contactez-nous: csc@iec.ch.
IEC 61231 ®
Edition 1.0 2013-06
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
AMENDMENT 1
AMENDEMENT 1
International lamp coding system (ILCOS)

Système international de codification des lampes (ILCOS)

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
PRICE CODE
INTERNATIONALE
CODE PRIX M
ICS 29.140 ISBN 978-2-83220-895-3

– 2 – 61231 Amend.1 © IEC:2013
FOREWORD
This amendment has been prepared by subcommittee 34A: Lamps, of IEC technical
committee 34: Lamps and related equipment.
The text of this amendment is based on the following documents:
FDIS Report on voting
34A/1663/FDIS 34A/1680/RVD
Full information on the voting for the approval of this amendment can be found in the report
on voting indicated in the above table.
The committee has decided that the contents of this amendment and the base publication will
remain unchanged until the stability date indicated on the IEC web site under
"http://webstore.iec.ch" in the data related to the specific publication. At this date, the
publication will be
• reconfirmed,
• withdrawn,
• replaced by a revised edition, or
• amended.
_____________
61231 Amend.1 © IEC:2013 – 3 –
INTRODUCTION TO THE AMENDMENT
This proposal serves:
a) the implementation of the low frequency square wave operation in ILCOS (International
Lamp Coding System):
ILCOS L – wattage – lamp voltage range/starting device/current wave form and frequency –
lamp cap – dimensions
b) the implementation of lamps for use in high-pressure mercury equipment under 5.7.1.2. In
order to distinguish this, other lamps are listed as normal lamps under 5.7.1.1.
c) further editorial changes as being presented with PRESCO(RTK)198 and agreed by
PRESCO.
CONTENTS
Replace entries 5.1 and 5.8 by the following new entries:
5.1 Incandescent lamps – tungsten filament lamps
5.8 LED modules and lamps
2 Normative references
Replace the last reference by the following new reference:
IEC/TR 62732, Three-digit code for designation of colour rendering and correlated colour
temperature
4.1 Letter section
Replace the entries for I, S, L, Q and D by the following new entries:
I Incandescent lamps – tungsten filament lamps
S High-pressure sodium vapour lamps
L Low-pressure sodium vapour lamps
Q High-pressure mercury vapour lamps
D LED modules and lamps
4.2 Figure section
Replace the last sentence by the following new sentence:
The sequence and the specific content of the blocks is determined for each lamp category
and described in 5.1 to 5.9.
– 4 – 61231 Amend.1 © IEC:2013
5.1 Tungsten filament lamps
Replace the title of 5.1 by the following new title:
5.1 Incandescent lamps – tungsten filament lamps

5.1.1 ILCOS L for tungsten filament lamps
Replace the title of 5.1.1 with the following new title:
5.1.1 ILCOS L for incandescent lamps – tungsten filament lamps
Replace, in the flow diagram, the existing first line:
Tungsten filament lamps
with the following new line:
Incandescent lamps – tungsten filament lamps
as follows:
Incandescent lamps – tungsten filament lamps

Non-reflector lamps  Reflector lamps

IA IB IN
Large lamps Compact bulb lamps Other non-reflector lamps
(bulb diameter usually (bulb diameter usually (lamps outside the scope
of IEC 60432-1)
> 45 mm) ≤ 45 mm)
Pear-shaped, mushroom or Candle, round bulb or lamps
lamps with other shapes with other shapes intended
intended for use in the same for use in the same luminaire
luminaire
Replace, in the list of bulb shapes, the second item:
– B candle (bulged)
with the following new item:
– B bulged (candle)
Replace, the introductory sentence "An example with a modifier is" and its list item, by the
following new introductory sentence and list:
Some examples with modifiers are:

61231 Amend.1 © IEC:2013 – 5 –
– BA bulged (candle) with angular tip
– BF bulged (candle) with flutes twisted.

Replace in the list of examples, the item:
IBBA/C Clear candle lamps with angular tip
by the following new item:
IBBA/C Bulged clear (candle) lamps with angular tip

5.1.2 ILCOS LE for tungsten filament lamps
Replace the title of 5.1.2 by the following new title:
5.1.2 ILCOS LE for incandescent lamps – tungsten filament lamps

5.1.3 ILCOS D for tungsten filament lamps
Replace the title of 5.1.3 with the following new title:
5.1.3 ILCOS D for incandescent lamps – tungsten filament lamps
Replace, in the list of examples, the item:
IBB/W-40---35 White candle lamp, 40 W, nominal diameter 35 mm, rest not specified
by the following new item:
IBB/W-40---35 White bulged (candle) lamp, 40 W, nominal diameter 35 mm, rest not specified

5.2.1 ILCOS L for tungsten halogen lamps
Replace the existing 4th paragraph:
The bulb shape can be indicated after the third or fourth letter as described for tungsten
filament lamps.
by the following new text:
The bulb shape can be indicated after the third or fourth letter as described for incandescent
lamps – tungsten filament lamps.
Replace the existing 5th paragraph:

– 6 – 61231 Amend.1 © IEC:2013
If it is necessary to indicate the bulb finish, special colours or other technical details, this can
be done after one or two slashes as described for tungsten filament lamps (see 5.1.1).
by the following new text:
If it is necessary to indicate the bulb finish, special colours or other technical details, this can
be done after one or two slashes as described for incandescent lamps – tungsten filament
lamps (see 5.1.1).
Replace the list of examples with the following new list:
HSGST Single-ended general purpose halogen lamp, self-shielded, tubular shaped
HDG Double-ended general purpose halogen lamp
HRG Dichroic reflector general purpose halogen lamp
HMGS Metal reflector general purpose halogen lamp, self-shielded

5.3.1 ILCOS L for fluorescent lamps
Replace the existing 4th paragraph:
For FB lamps the shape can be indicated as described for tungsten filament lamps (see
5.1.1). A last letter can be added to indicate:
by the following new text:
For FB lamps the shape can be indicated as described for incandescent lamps – tungsten
filament lamps (see 5.1.1). A last letter can be added to indicate:
Replace the existing 5th paragraph:
Colours or other bulb finishes can be indicated after a slash, as described for tungsten
filament lamps (see 5.1.1).
by the following new text:
Colours or other bulb finishes can be indicated after a slash, as described for incandescent
lamps – tungsten filament lamps (see 5.1.1).
Replace the existing introductory sentence of the 6th paragraph:
Further technical details can be given after a second slash as follows:
by the following new introductory sentence:
Further technical details can be given after a double slash as follows:
5.3.3 ILCOS D for fluorescent lamps
Replace the dashed item "- Wattage …R = 20-39" :
a
by the following new dashed item:

61231 Amend.1 © IEC:2013 – 7 –
– Wattage: The block specifying wattage can be extended by a slash to give information
concerning the colour rendering index and colour temperature as described in IEC/TR
62732.
Replace the existing second example:
FD-36/30/1B-E-G13 Same lamp as …………group 1B (R =80-89)
a
abbreviated: FD-36/30/1B
by the following new example:
FD-36/830-E-G13 Same lamp as above, but with indication of colour properties,
colour temperature 3 000 K, colour rendering (Ra) = 80-89
abbreviated: FD-36/830
5.4.1 ILCOS L for high-pressure sodium lamps
Replace the title of 5.4.1 by the following new title:
5.4.1 ILCOS L for high-pressure sodium vapour lamps

5.4.2 ILCOS LE for high-pressure sodium lamps
Replace the title and the text of 5.4.2 by the following:
5.4.2 ILCOS LE for high-pressure sodium vapour lamps
Not applicable for high-pressure sodium vapour lamps.

5.4.3 ILCOS D for high-pressure sodium lamps
Replace the title of 5.4.3 by the following new title:
5.4.3 ILCOS D for high-pressure sodium vapour lamps
Replace the list of examples by the following new list:
Examples
ST-150-H/E-E40-53/211 High-pressure sodium vapour lamp, tubular clear, 150 W,
voltage range 70 V-180 V, external starting device, cap E40,
maximum diameter 53 mm, maximum overall length 211 mm
abbreviated: ST-150 (usually with external starting device, and with the dimensions
as given)
SEM-150-H/E-E40-91/227 High-pressure sodium vapour lamp, elliptical diffuse coated
bulb, colour improved, 150 W, voltage range 70 V-180 V,
external starting device, cap E40, maximum diameter 91 mm,
maximum overall length 227 mm
abbreviated: SEM-150
– 8 – 61231 Amend.1 © IEC:2013
SEQ-210-H-E40-91/227 High-pressure sodium vapour lamp, elliptical diffuse coated
bulb, for use in high-pressure mercury equipment, 210 W,
voltage range 70 V-180 V, cap E40, maximum diameter
91 mm, maximum overall length 227 mm
abbreviated: SEQ-210
5.5.1 ILCOS L for low-pressure sodium lamps
Replace the title of 5.5.1 by the following new title:
5.5.1 ILCOS L for low-pressure sodium vapour lamps

5.5.2 ILCOS LE for low-pressure sodium lamps
Replace the title and text of 5.5.2 by the following:
5.5.2 ILCOS LE for low-pressure sodium vapour lamps
Not applicable for low-pressure sodium vapour lamps.

5.5.3 ILCOS D for low-pressure sodium lamps
Replace the title of 5.5.3 by the following new title:
5.5.3 ILCOS D for low-pressure sodium vapour lamps
Replace the list of examples by the following new list:
LS-90-BY22d-68/528 Low-pressure sodium vapour lamp, U-shaped arc tube, 90 W,
cap BY22d, maximum bulb diameter 68 mm, maximum overall
length 528 mm
abbreviated: LS-90
LSE-E131-BY22d-68/1120 Low-pressure sodium vapour lamp, E-type, designation E131,
cap BY22d, maximum bulb diameter 68 mm, maximum overall
length 1 120 mm
abbreviated: LSE-E131
5.6.1 ILCOS L for high-pressure mercury lamps
Replace the title of 5.6.1 by the following new title:
5.6.1 ILCOS L for high-pressure mercury vapour lamps

61231 Amend.1 © IEC:2013 – 9 –
5.6.2 ILCOS LE for high-pressure mercury lamps
Replace the title and text of 5.6.2 by the following:
5.6.2 ILCOS LE for high-pressure mercury vapour lamps
Not applicable for high-pressure mercury vapour lamps.

5.6.3 ILCOS D for high-pressure mercury lamps
Replace the title of 5.6.3 by the following new title.
5.6.3 ILCOS D for high-pressure mercury vapour lamps
Replace the existing dashed item:
– Lamp voltage range: The lamp voltage range is indicated as described for high-pressure
sodium lamps (see 5.4.3).
by the following new dashed item:
– Lamp voltage range: The lamp voltage range is indicated as described for high-pressure
sodium vapour lamps (see 5.4.3).
Replace the existing list of examples by the following new list:
Examples
QE-125-H-E27-76/178 High-pressure mercury vapour lamp, elliptical bulb, diffuse
coated, 125 W, voltage range 70 V-180 V, cap E27, maximum
bulb diameter 76 mm, maximum overall length 178 mm
abbreviated: QE-125
QE-700-E-E40-152/357 High-pressure mercury vapour lamp, elliptical diffuse coated
bulb, 700 W, voltage range >180 V, cap E40, maximum bulb
diameter 152 mm, maximum overall length 357 mm
abbreviated: QE-700-E
5.7.1 ILCOS L for metal halide lamps
Replace the existing text of 5.7.1 by the following new text:
5.7.1.1 Normal version
The first letters will be
MT Single-ended tubular clear lamps
ME Single-ended lamps with elliptical or BT bulb, diffuse coating
MC Single-ended lamps with elliptical or BT bulb, clear
MD Double-ended lamps with clear outer bulb
MN Double-ended lamps without outer bulb

– 10 – 61231 Amend.1 © IEC:2013
MR Reflector lamps
5.7.1.2 Lamps for use in high-pressure mercury vapour lamp equipment
The first three letters will be: M_Q
MEQ Lamps with elliptical or BT bulb, diffuse coating, for high-pressure mercury vapour
lamp equipment
5.7.1.3 Further extension
A third or fourth letter can be used to indicate self-shielded lamps, i.e. lamps designed to be
suitable for use in open luminaires:
..S Self-shielded lamps
Further technical details can be given after a slash:
/UB UV reduction
/F Frosted bulb finish (tubular lamps, double-ended lamps)

5.7.3 ILCOS D for metal halide lamps
Replace the second dashed item by the following:
– Lamp voltage range: The lamp voltage range is indicated as described for high-pressure
sodium vapour lamps (see 5.4.3). After a slash the starting devices can be stated:
/E Lamps with external starting device
/I Lamps with internal starting device
A further slash can be inserted after which information on the wave form and frequency of the
operating current can be introduced:
/S (or nothing) sine wave 50 Hz or 60 Hz
/L low frequency square wave 70 Hz to 400 Hz
/H any wave form greater than 400 Hz
If more than one operating mode is possible, the letters shall be combined. Example:
/SL The metal halide lamp can be operated at 50/60 Hz sine wave and at low frequency.

5.8 LED modules
Replace the title of 5.8 by the following new title:
5.8 LED modules and lamps
5.8.1 ILCOS L for LED modules
Replace the title of 5.8.1 by the following new title:
5.8.1 ILCOS L for LED mo
...