Author: Sam Orzel

News
Design Excellence Illuminated: DMF Lighting Honored by the LIT Awards

Design Excellence Illuminated: DMF Lighting Honored by the LIT Awards

January 13, 2026

Design Excellence Illuminated: DMF Lighting Honored by the LIT Awards

X Series and M Series Decorative Pendants with Shades Awarded for Creativity & Innovation

The LIT Design Awards™ have recognized DMF Lighting’s accomplished product design team for their exceptional creativity and innovation for the X Series and M Series Decorative Pendants with Shades. This prestigious program celebrates the vital role of design within the lighting industry — honoring solutions that unite functional excellence with refined aesthetics, respond thoughtfully to market demands, and promote environmental responsibility.

 

Earning an Honorable Mention, the Decorative Pendants with Shades design team was recognized for delivering thoughtfully designed, high‑performance solutions that align with market needs and sustainability goals.

 

Architectural Pendants with Shades: A Fusion of Performance and Design

 

The X Series and M Series Decorative Pendants with Shades represent a striking addition to the company’s 3-inch and 4-inch aperture cylinder collections. These performance-driven decorative pendants are available in Narrow, Medium, and Wide shade distributions, each engineered to deliver the same high-output illumination as the company’s renowned cylinders — reaching up to 3000 lumens. Every space benefits from both exceptional performance and refined aesthetics.

 

A hallmark of these pendants is their concealed hardware, which allows the high-quality die-cast aluminum shades to integrate seamlessly into the pendant body. The result is a sleek, symmetrical profile that elevates any architectural setting. The innovative shadowless uplight option further distinguishes these fixtures, enabling both direct and indirect lighting from a single cylinder and creating a harmonious interplay of light within the environment.

 

Design versatility is at the forefront, with three distinctive shade designs, multiple lengths, and a spectrum of lumen outputs to suit diverse project needs. The pendants offer a comprehensive range of color temperatures —Including 2700K, 3000K, 3500K, 4000K, Warm Dim (3000K–1800K), and Tunable White (4000K–1800K and 6500K–2700K) — with dimming capabilities down to an impressive 0.1%.

 

Precision in illumination is further achieved through a variety of beam spread options:

  • For the 3-inch Pendant: Narrow Spot (20°), Spot (30°), Flood (40°), and Wide Flood (50°)
  • For the 4-inch Pendant: Narrow Spot (20°), Spot (25°), Flood (40°), Wide Flood (60°), and General (90°+)

Installation flexibility is assured with field-cuttable Cord or Stem mounting, available in standard lengths of 24- or 48-inches, and customizable up to 156 inches (Cord) or 96 inches (Stem), accommodating a wide range of architectural applications.

Discover more about this distinguished honor on the LIT Awards website.

 

Links:

X Series 3-inch Decorative Pendant with Shades

M Series 4-inch Decorative Pendant with Shades

LIT Awards

News
ILHA Partnership

DMF Partners with International Luxury Hotel Association

November 18, 2025

ILHA Partnership

DMF Partners with International Luxury Hotel Association

DMF is thrilled to announce our partnership with the International Luxury Hotel Association (ILHA), an organization serving as a dynamic networking platform dedicated to fostering meaningful connections to stay ahead in the ever-evolving world of luxury hospitality.

 

“In luxury hospitality, every detail defines the experience. That’s why we’re thrilled to partner with DMF Lighting, the trusted choice in lighting of world-class designers and hoteliers,” said Barak Hirschowitz, president, International Luxury Hotel Association. “Lighting transforms the way a space is felt, turning design into experience. From boutique resorts to branded residences, DMF’s solutions elevate ambiance and expectations.”

 

The ILHA brings together hospitality experts and leaders in the industry. It’s the world’s largest association for luxury hospitality owners, operators, developers and investors that accelerate growth and innovation by providing critical information and a global networking stage.

 

“As an International Luxury Hotel Association partner, they’ll help our community rethink how lighting shapes luxury. Whether you’re renovating a flagship or designing from the ground up — this is a partner you want to know,” Hirschowitz noted.

 

With a vibrant network spanning over 700,000 members across 90 countries, the International ILHA stands as a truly global force in luxury hospitality. Each year, ILHA proudly hosts the renowned INSPIRE USA and INSPIRE EUROPE conferences, premier gatherings that unite industry leaders, innovators and visionaries to shape the future of luxury hospitality worldwide.


“We’re excited to work together to deliver innovative lighting solutions that will continue to elevate the luxury hospitality experience,” said Samantha Orzel, senior director of Commercial Growth, DMF Lighting.

 

Insights News Products
Reframing Sustainability CEU

Taking a broader view of sustainability in lighting

November 17, 2025

Reframing Sustainability CEU

Taking a broader view of sustainability in lighting

A New Perspective on Sustainability

Traditionally, lighting sustainability focuses on energy efficiency metrics like lumens per watt, controls, and daylighting strategies. While important, they are only part of the story. A broader view of sustainability includes reliability, modularity, serviceability, and material transparency. These concepts directly impact real-world design outcomes and contribute to long-lasting lighting systems.

 

Rethinking Sustainability: What truly makes lighting sustainable?

Efficiency is just the starting point, not the end goal. Consider what happens after installation: serviceability, replacement parts, and matching output over time. These factors are crucial for long-term sustainability but are often overlooked. We need to look beyond consumption and consider how long a fixture lasts, how easily it can be maintained, and whether it supports the evolving needs of the space.

The Reality of Today’s Specification Process.

Lighting must support evolving demands over time, not just day-one aesthetics. Architects and designers face increasing complexity, balancing visual outcomes, meeting codes, integrating systems, navigating supply chain realities, and delivering long-term value within compressed timelines. Often one of the last systems specified, lighting is highly visible when issues arise.

Sustainability is not isolated; decisions about lighting are influenced by budget, performance expectations, aesthetics, and future service needs. These constraints shape possibilities. It’s time to redefine sustainability, considering the total experience over time, not just consumption.

A New Lens on Lighting Sustainability: The Five Pillars of Reframed Sustainability

Let’s redefine sustainability to encompass how lighting is designed, built, maintained, and evolved over time. This broader definition supports occupant health, safety, environmental responsibility, and long-term value.

 

Instead of focusing solely on energy performance, we introduce five key concepts that affect the full lifecycle of a lighting system: modularity, reliability and longevity, serviceability, backward compatibility, and material transparency. These elements contribute to better outcomes for both the space and its occupants.

Modularity as a Sustainable Strategy, Enabling Longevity

Modularity is a practical and impactful way to enhance sustainability in lighting design. Instead of replacing entire fixtures when changes or failures occur, modular systems allow individual components (like the LED module, optic, or trim) to be swapped out. This approach reduces waste, lowers costs, and minimizes disruptions to the finished space.

 

Modular systems also support design flexibility. A single light housing can accommodate multiple configurations, adapting to different outputs, finishes, or beam angles, even years after installation. By keeping more of the original infrastructure in place, modular systems facilitate maintenance, upgrades, and retrofits without compromising the architectural design.

Modularity in Action Example                                                     

Imagine a downlight in a finished ceiling, part of a wall wash layout in a residential or hospitality space. Years after installation, one of the lights fails. With a modular system, there’s no need to cut into the ceiling or rewire anything. The trim is removed cleanly, and the module is swapped from below. This approach saves money, minimizes disruption, and preserves the original design.

 

Serviceability = Sustainability

A sustainable lighting system should be maintainable, allowing components like the light module or driver to be accessed and replaced from below the ceiling without disruption. This approach minimizes waste, labor, and downtime, while maintaining design consistency.

Reliability & Longevity

Reliability isn’t just about warranty; it’s about trust in performance. Long-term sustainability depends on how well a product performs over time, not just its day-one efficiency. While many high-quality fixtures are rated for 50,000 hours of operational life, real-world performance varies based on usage conditions. For example, a fixture running 24/7 in a commercial space may only carry a 5-year warranty, whereas the same fixture in a part-time, temperature-controlled residential setting could last much longer.

 

When evaluating lighting systems, look beyond the spec sheet. Consider the quality of the driver, thermal design, and the manufacturer’s confidence in the product’s actual field life, not just its lab performance. The same scrutiny should apply to lighting system integration and controls compatibility.

Transparency Matters: What’s in the Fixture?

Lighting sustainability also depends on what the fixture is made of and how much you know about it. Materials like casting, adhesives, wiring, and coatings affect performance, longevity, and occupant health. For instance, some cast parts include lead to improve mold performance, certain paints and adhesives may off-gas under heat, and flame retardants in plastics are often not disclosed.  

 

Many lighting products today are assembled through outsourced, OEM channels, making it hard to trace what’s inside. Transparency impacts long-term safety, serviceability, and compliance with health and environmental standards.

Transparency Matters: What’s in the Fixture?

Lighting sustainability also depends on what the fixture is made of and how much you know about it. Materials like casting, adhesives, wiring, and coatings affect performance, longevity, and occupant health. For instance, some cast parts include lead to improve mold performance, certain paints and adhesives may off-gas under heat, and flame retardants in plastics are often not disclosed. 

 

Many lighting products today are assembled through outsourced, OEM channels, making it hard to trace what’s inside. Transparency impacts long-term safety, serviceability, and compliance with health and environmental standards.

Built for What’s Next: Designing Backward Compatibility

Backward compatibility ensures that today’s lighting decisions remain effective in the future. When product lines evolve or technology changes, new components should integrate seamlessly with existing installations, matching performance, beam, and output.

 

Without backward compatibility, even minor changes can lead to visual inconsistency or system mismatch, often necessitating broader replacements that impact budget, controls, and code compliance. Designing with this in mind allows systems to evolve without starting over, enabling easier upgrades, better long-term support, and reduced risk to design integrity over time.

Codes Are Evolving

The concepts of modularity, serviceability, and transparency are evolving from best practices to actual standards and code frameworks.

 

In Europe, the Ecodesign Directive will require serviceability by 2026, ensuring fixtures are accessible and repairable with standard tools. In the U.S., WELL and LEED are advocating for greater transparency, durability, and lifecycle thinking, while the IgCC is incorporating service and reuse considerations.

 

The trend is clear: sustainability now encompasses not just efficiency, but also the longevity, maintainability, and overall impact of fixtures.

Sustainable Systems Support People and Places

Sustainability goes beyond materials and efficiency targets; it’s about the long-term functionality and feel of a space. When lighting systems are designed for longevity, easy maintenance, and adaptability, they enhance the user experience by being consistent, seamless, and less disruptive. This is where sustainability intersects with design integrity.

Reliable systems protect visual intent, serviceable systems minimize invasive repairs, and modular systems support change without compromise.

Key Takeaways

In summary, the five concepts create the foundation for a more complete and durable view of lighting sustainability.

 

Five Concepts of Lighting Sustainability

  • Modularity: Supports reuse, upgrades, and flexibility
  • Serviceability: Protects both the ceiling and the design
  • Reliability & Longevity: Reduces failure, callbacks, and long-term cost
  • Transparency: Ensures safer materials and smarter sourcing
  • Backward Compatibility: Allows seamless integration over time

Together, these concepts create a system built to last. Early integration of these concepts in the design process reduces risk, supports evolving needs, and delivers greater value for clients and end users.

 

If you are interested in learning more, DMF offers a Reframing Sustainability CEU training course. Please email training@dmflighting.com for more information.

Products Technical
Wall Washing

 Benefits, Techniques and Solutions of Wall Washing

September 10, 2025

Wall Washing

Benefits, Techniques, and Solutions of Wall Washing

From creating evenly illuminated spaces and high levels of visual comfort, to crafting visual interest and architectural intrigue, lighting designers face many challenges when approaching a project.

 

Wall washing is a commonly used lighting technique in a designer’s toolkit that provides a versatile solution to many common design challenges.

 

The Benefits of Wall Washing Include:

 

 

Here are Some Wall Washing Uses + Techniques.

Indirect Lighting

Uniformly lighting walls can add an additional layer of indirect lighting and increase the perceived brightness of a room, defining architectural space, and helping to orient the inhabitants in the room.

Grazing Textured Walls

A steeper angle of wall washing can help to accentuate feature walls or walls with natural texture, such as stucco or brick.

 Featured Artwork & Wall Murals

Wall washing can provide even illumination for mural walls or walls where placement of artwork may continually change.

 

Corridors

Corridors can benefit immensely from wall washing. The high degree of perceived brightness that comes from illuminated vertical surfaces creates the perception of a more open space.

 

DMF Product Solutions

 

Wall Wash/Sloped Ceiling Trim

 

Our next generation of wall wash and sloped ceiling trims offer a versatile, modular solution, compatible across the entire range of M Series fixed downlights. High performance optics provide increased lumen output and a flatter field, allowing for up to a 1:2 or even 1:3 setback/spacing ratio, meaning you can achieve even wall washing with fewer fixtures than before.

 

Our optics have increased thermal performance, expanding compatibility to all lumen packages in the M Series Commercial and Residential lines. These trims are interchangeable with our full range of M Series downlights and standard trims, so your designs can remain nimble and adaptable to changes, even after housings have been roughed in.

 

For information on appropriate wall washing fixture spacing and placements, as well as layout examples, please refer to our Wall Wash Application Guide.

News
DMF Design Awards 2025 Winner Clay Holden Architects featured on America ByDesign: Architecture

Clay Holden discusses the design of the Los Angeles AIA headquarters and community center.

August 29, 2025

DMF Design Awards 2025 Winner Clay Holden Architects featured on America ByDesign: Architecture

Clay Holden discusses the design of the Los Angeles AIA headquarters and community center

America ByDesign: Architecture, a livestreamed television series program on Saturday evenings on CBS, promotes American architectural innovation, ingenuity and design excellence.

 

Clay Holden of Clayton Holden Architects, who is a DMF Design Awards 2025 winner, was asked to discuss the design of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) headquarters and community center in Los Angeles (AIA|LA + ACLA Center for Communities).

 

The AIA|LA + ACLA Center for Communities serves as a hub fostering collaboration between professionals and the broader community on design solutions for a more sustainable and equitable future. Located within a historic 1927 neoclassical bank building, the project seamlessly integrates modern functionality while preserving the building’s original character.

 

Now in its third season, all America ByDesign: Architecture episodes are available for Livestreaming every Saturday at 9:00 p.m. EDT on CBS News (New York Livestream), the network’s free live-streaming platform, as well as other viewing platforms, including the @ByDesignTV YouTube Channel. Watch the episode featuring AIA|LA + ACLA Center for Communities here.

 

Clay Holden Architects, in collaboration with HLB Lighting Design, was awarded Second Place in DMF Design Awards 2025, which recognizes outstanding lighting design projects and the talented designers that creatively incorporate DMF products.

 

The prestigious competition highlights the most innovative and visually compelling projects from designers, architects and custom installers from across the United States, all showcasing the creative use of DMF Lighting products. To learn more, visit www.dmflighting.com/designawards.

Products Technical
Marine-Grade Lighting

Best Practices When Choosing Lighting Fixtures for Marine and Coastal Environments

August 21, 2025

Marine-Grade Lighting

Best Practices When Choosing Lighting Fixtures for Marine and Coastal Environments

Marine and coastal environments are harsh on buildings due to airborne salt, wind, and humidity. Salt water becomes aerosolized when ocean waves break, causing premature decay in metal materials. To ensure durability and normal service life for lighting fixtures in these environments, it is recommended to specify marine-grade trims and fixtures.

 

Lighting fixtures in coastal regions should comply with the American Architectural Manufacturers Association’s (AAMA), AAMA 2605 standard for wear and corrosion resistance. AAMA 2605 sets some of the highest standards for protective metal coatings, which are most suitable for marine environments.

 

Specifically, Section 7.8.2, Salt Spray Resistance, is crucial for marine-grade finishes. Test samples are scored to expose aluminum and subjected to a 4,000-hour, 5% salt solution spray test, as defined by ASTM B 117.

 

When evaluating lighting fixtures, choose products with verifiable marine-grade claims based on these tests.

 

Where are Marine-Grade Finishes Required?

While the highest levels of salt spray are closest to shore, accelerated corrosion can occur up to five to 10 miles inland. For installations within 10 miles of the coast, marine grade, IP-rated fixtures should be used for proper protection and longevity. 

 

In regions with extreme weather and environmental conditions, corrosion may occur even further inland than 10 miles. The strongest example would be isthmuses, surrounded by ocean, like the southernmost parts of Florida. Since there isn’t a comprehensive source of corrosion data by geographic region, it’s best to consult local building professionals and examine levels of corrosion in older buildings to identify high-corrosion areas.

Metal Corrosion & Marine-Grade Lighting Finishes

Lighting fixtures use metals like aluminum and steel for housings, trims, and major components. Aluminum is popular for trims and bodies but faces challenges in marine environments. When exposed to air and water, raw aluminum alloys form a protective oxide layer, which is sufficient in most interior or mild climates, but salt and moisture cause galvanic corrosion. This occurs when a more negatively charged metal transfers electrons to a positively charged one via an electrolyte. Marine conditions create this electrolytic solution, making aluminum alloys with elements like copper problematic. Manufacturers must protect metal parts from galvanic corrosion to ensure fixture longevity.

 

For long-lasting light fixtures, marine-grade finished aluminum is an excellent choice. Two main processes achieve marine-grade finishes: epoxy-based powder coating and marine anodizing (hard anodizing). Alternatively, brass or stainless steel, which are naturally corrosion-resistant, can be used, though these are mostly used for landscape lighting.

Epoxy-Based Powder Coating

Powder coating provides a durable, corrosion-resistant finish for aluminum fixtures. This process uses electrostatically charged paint particles that are magnetically attracted to the substrate, ensuring even application. The coated substrate is then cured in an oven, creating a robust finish.

 

Epoxy-based powder coating offers even higher abrasion and corrosion resistance. Epoxies, made of a resin and a hardener, form a rigid, cross-linked structure when mixed, providing excellent durability and flexibility. This makes them suitable for areas with extreme thermal changes as they prevent cracks in the finish due to underlying metal expansion or contraction.

 

The process starts with extensive surface preparation, including mechanical cleaning and chemical treatments for optimal adhesion. An epoxy primer is applied, followed by a super-durable polyester powder coat finish. Once cured, this results in a UV-resistant, corrosion-resistant, and flexible finish that withstands extreme and corrosive conditions.

Anodized Aluminum

Anodizing submerges metal in an acid-electrolyte solution and applies an electrical current through the substrate, creating a controlled oxide later that is relatively durable and corrosion-resistant. Standard anodizing forms a 12-micron thick layer, suitable for indoor or non-marine exterior applications, but can wear quickly and is susceptible to scratching and corrosion.

 

Hard anodizing creates a thicker 25-micron layer using a stronger acid bath and higher electric current density, resulting in greater abrasion resistance and durability. It’s suitable for marine-grade applications and industrial uses requiring high wear resistance.

 

However, both processes involve harsh chemicals, higher costs, skilled labor, and variability in color consistency. Anodized aluminum may also be susceptible to UV damage and color fading, and its metallic appearance may not be ideal for architectural-grade lighting trims.

Non-Aluminum Marine-Grade Fixtures

Some manufacturers use metals other than aluminum for marine-grade durability, with brass being the most common. Brass, an alloy of copper and zinc, forms a protective patina when oxidized, preventing corrosion but changing the fixture’s appearance over time. Raw brass initially has a high shine and yellowish color, but in marine environments, it typically develops a light green patina. This change may be desirable for some installations but bothersome for others due to its unpredictability.

IP65+ Rated Marine-Grade Fixtures

Marine-grade lighting fixtures should be IP rated to protect internal components from humidity, moisture, and salt. They should achieve at least an IP65 rating, meaning they are fully dust-tight and protected against water jets. For more details, refer to DMF’s IP Ratings Technical Bulletin.

DMF’s Marine-Grade Products

DMF Lighting has select products that can be configured with marine-grade trims or finishes, all of which comply with AAMA 2605-05, Section 7.8.2 and achieve a minimum rating of IP65.

  • M Series IP/Marine Grade Trim
    • M Series recessed downlighting family features a wide range of specification options. The newest IP/Marine Grade trim offers superior durability for corrosive, marine environments. Available for the round downlight in both black and white colors, the marine-grade finish utilizes a super durable epoxy-based power coat finish and additionally achieves an IP66 and IK10 rating with its fully sealed and impact resistant front lens. Look for the “IP” part code under the trim selection for the standard round downlight.
  • X & M Series Marine Grade Cylinders
    • X & M Series Cylinders offer a massive array of options for exterior lighting applications, from pendant, surface mount and wall mount cylinders. Utilizing the same light engine modules from their counterpart downlight families, these marine-grade cylinders are finished in the same manner as the Marine Grade/IP trim and achieve an IP65 rating, appropriate for use in fully exposed, uncovered exterior applications. For full information on DMF Lighting’s Marine Grade cylinders, see the X Series & M Series Cylinders Marine Grade specification sheets.

For more information, please review the Marine-Grade Technical Bulletin.

News
Maintenance Professionals Honor M Series Commercial Downlights

M Series Downlights Recognized for Innovation and Excellence in FMD/FCD Reader’s Choice Awards

July 10, 2025

Maintenance Professionals Honor M Series Commercial Downlights

M Series Downlights Recognized for Innovation and Excellence in FMD/FCD Reader’s Choice Awards

Awarding outstanding and innovative products that contribute “to the efficient and profitable operations, maintenance and cleaning of institutional and commercial buildings,” readers of Facility Maintenance Decisions and Facility Cleaning Decisions magazines have honored the M Series Commercial Downlighting Collection with an honorable mention Reader’s Choice Award.

 

Leading the lighting space for simplifying maintenance, the 4-inch downlighting family features a modular design with field-interchangeable modules, optics and trims, allow easy serviceability, as well as design changes, as they can be easily swapped on site from below the ceiling.

 

The versatile series meets most site requirements with lumen packages ranging from 750 to 3500 lumens, while providing continuity in aesthetics and performance throughout varying ceiling heights across an entire property.

 

Drivers are uniquely integrated into the modules versus the housing, so modules, equipped with quick connects, can be easily swapped out below the ceiling, making serviceability quick and easy, saving on maintenance costs.

Products Technical
Wildlife-Friendly Lighting

A Guide to Responsible Outdoor Lighting Practices

June 19, 2025

Wildlife-Friendly Lighting

A Guide to Responsible Outdoor Lighting Practices

Artificial light at night (ALAN) refers to the use of electric light sources in outdoor spaces. As cities and infrastructure grow, ALAN is used for various applications, from lighting roadways and parking lots for safety to illuminating architecture. While safety is crucial, ALAN has created problems for wildlife that have lived under natural light at night (moonlight and starlight).

 

ALAN disrupts sleep cycles, displaces wildlife from their habitats, disrupts migration patterns and breeding rituals, and alters hormone production. To combat these effects, wildlife-friendly lighting standards advocate for specific fixtures, design principles, and lighting control methods to minimize disruption to wildlife and their natural environment.

 

Wildlife Lighting Standards Recommendations

There are several organizations that establish and promote wildlife-friendly lighting standards and one of the most prominent is the International DarkSky Association (IDA), an independent organization offering certification and educational resources. 

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) are key government agencies that provide guidelines and resources for wildlife lighting. They are the most referenced for sea turtle-friendly lighting and bird-friendly lighting, and they have developed the Wildlife Lighting Certification Program to ensure lighting practices are safe for wildlife.

International DarkSky Association

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) are key government agencies that provide guidelines and resources for wildlife lighting. They are the most referenced for sea turtle-friendly lighting and bird-friendly lighting, and they have developed the Wildlife Lighting Certification Program to ensure lighting practices are safe for wildlife.

Aside from the five principles, IDA has a few other core functions, including the DarkSky certification program and DarkSky Approved program, as well as education and outreach. The IDA also works as a resource to aid in crafting ordinances and legislation for municipalities to help combat the growing problem of light pollution. 

IDA’s Five Lighting Principles for Responsible Outdoor Lighting 

A guide to assist lighting professionals when designing exterior lighting, these simple principles are intuitive and relatively easy to implement and can have an enormous impact when applied correctly to reduce light pollution and maintain dark skies and healthy habitats for wildlife. 

 

Many guidelines, like “Low Level” and “Targeted,” are subjective. Testing and mockups in the field can help determine what is “Low Level” in the context of the project site. For example, a 4-watt luminaire may be appropriately bright in a city park but too bright in a rural residence.

DarkSky Approved Program

The DarkSky Approved program provides third-party approval for products, lighting designs and projects, ensuring that they meet necessary requirements that abide by Five Lighting Principles for Responsible Outdoor Lighting.

When searching for outdoor luminaires, the DarkSky Approved seal can help guide the fixture selection for projects that need to meet any DarkSky requirements. DarkSky approved fixtures can be found with the DarkSky Approved Seal on manufacturers cut sheets or through the DarkSky Database. Full program requirements can also be found in the DarkSky Approved Luminaires Guidelines. 

Turtle-Safe Lighting 

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) manages fish and wildlife resources for their safety and the good of the community. One large part of the FWC’s programs is establishing turtle-safe lighting practices. 

 

Turtle nesting seasons typically run from May through October in Florida. As hatchlings leave their eggs, they must make the trip back to the ocean across the beach where they were laid. Their natural means of navigation is following the naturally blue moonlight, which is brightest on the water horizon. Traditional ALAN can disturb this process, so turtle safe lighting ordinances have been implemented to protect this journey and save turtle lives. The most important aspect of turtle safe lighting is the use of no blue wavelength light (shorter than 560nm). 

 

The FWC’s Wildlife Lighting Certification Program helps identify lighting fixtures which meet requirements for turtle-safe lighting. Additionally, the DarkSky Approved program also has their own specific DarkSky Sea Turtle Sensitive Approved program, which has nearly identical standards.

Bird-Friendly Lighting Standards

Bird populations worldwide are highly susceptible to the negative impacts of artificial light at night (ALAN). Eighty percent of North American birds migrate overnight, relying on magnetoreception to detect Earth’s magnetic poles. Studies show that high levels of blue spectrum light can impair this sense, disorienting birds and causing them to fly in non-migratory directions.  

 

In urban areas, blue spectrum light traps birds in “bubbles” of artificial light, leading to collisions, exhaustion, and mass-mortality events, especially on foggy or low cloud ceiling nights when birds fly lower than normal. 

 

The standards and strategies set by DarkSky and the FWC sea turtle program are similar to bird-friendly lighting recommendations. Turning off unnecessary lighting is the most effective solution, especially during spring (April-May) and fall (August-October) migration seasons and on cloudy or foggy nights. Additionally, if birds become trapped in bright light, turning lights off for 15 to 20 minutes can help them escape. Automatic timers can create breaks if monitoring is not feasible. To reduce light pollution from interiors, close blinds, shades, or curtains at night, or use window tinting. 

Bird-Friendly Lighting Ordinances

Bird-friendly lighting ordinances are often grouped with bird-friendly building ordinances. Architects and designers can use construction materials, glazing, and lighting to create safer environments for birds.  

 

In the U.S., these ordinances are mostly managed by local municipalities. Notably, Maui County recently enacted stringent requirements for bird and wildlife-safe lighting, including outdoor fixtures emitting no more than 2% of light from the blue spectrum (400nm-500nm), no uplight, and full fixture shielding. For more information on other ordinances, refer to The Yale Bird-Friendly Building Initiative’s national database. 

DMF’s Wildlife-Friendly Lighting Solutions

DMF offers a variety of fixtures that are both DarkSky approved and turtle-sensitive for recessed downlighting and cylinder applications. Approved fixtures are limited to certain configurations. 

  • DarkSky Approved 
    • Luminaires cannot include decorative trims and must be 3000K CCT or lower. 
    • M Series Residential (4-inch aperture) and X Series recessed downlights both offer configurations. 
    • M Series and X Series Cylinders have configurations. Cylinders must be downlight (direct only), without any uplight. 
    • Look for the DarkSky Approved seal on DMF specification sheets for approved fixtures.
  • Dark Sky Approved Turtle Sensitive 
    • DMF turtle-friendly lighting fixtures come in 300 lumen output, specialty CRI and Turtle & Wildlife Friendly (TF) spectrum.
    • M Series Residential and X Series Recessed downlights are both available in turtle sensitive configurations.
    • M Series and X Series Cylinders are also available in TF configurations, in downlight configurations only.  

Note that DMF Turtle and Wildlife Friendly fixtures are not currently listed as FWC Certified but are designed within the required specifications and are certified DarkSky Approved Sea Turtle Sensitive.

 

To review the Wildlife Lighting Technical Bulletin, which includes references, click here. 

News
X Series Downlights Clinch Top Honors in MVP Awards

X Series Downlights Win Top Honors in MVP Awards

May 19, 2025

X Series Downlights Clinch Top Honors in MVP Awards

Top honors in the MVP Awards go to the X Series Downlights

Chosen by a panel of residential construction professionals for “ground-breaking innovation and practical excellence to environmental benefits and jaw-dropping beauty,” PROBUILDER’s annual Most Valuable Product (MVP) Awards recognize the “best of the best to help its readers design, build, remodel and sell homes” in 16 different categories.

 

Winning the top GOLD honor in the Lighting category, the 2-inch X Series modular downlights feature field-changeable trims, light engine modules, and optics for exceptional versatility, while providing the ultimate in performance, installation, serviceability and sustainability.

 

The downlight or adjustable (360-degree rotation and 35-degree tilt) modules are paired with the universal housing, offering a small footprint (quiet ceiling) without sacrificing light output (750 to 1500 lumens) — comparable performance to 3- and 4-inch downlights in ceilings up to 10 feet, but providing a more architectural look.

 

Drivers are integrated into the light engine modules versus the housing for easy serviceability. Housings also have been designed with a unique trap door, providing post-install access below the ceiling.

It’s the first truly serviceable 2-inch downlight with an integrated driver and below-ceiling access. Together these features allow for painless serviceability, unheard of in a 2-inch fixture!

 

“From more than 200 entries, these products exhibit great design and style, convenience, efficiency, and true innovation in their respective categories.”             –PROBUILDER editor

Technical
IP Ratings
April 16, 2025

IP Ratings

What is an IP Rating and why have IP Ratings?

An Ingress Protection Rating, or IP Rating, grades the resistance of an enclosure against the intrusion of dust and water and the ease in which individuals can access potential hazardous parts within the enclosure. Used widely in the industry, it provides a standardized method to evaluate/test a device’s resistance to environmental conditions and the suitable environment for the device, or lighting fixture.

 

The numerical rating consists of two numbers, the first digit [zero (0) to six (6)] refers to the protection against solid objects and the second numeral rates the protection against water [zero (0) to nine (9)]. In both cases, zero (0) represents no protection.

 

In some instances, the numeral position may contain the letter X, indicating no data/testing to specify ingress protection. IP Ratings may also contain a third supplemental digit, which indicates additional protection or testing conditions. This is more commonly seen in industrial equipment and enclosures, not typically in luminaire IP Ratings.

 

When evaluating IP Ratings for lighting fixtures, the ratings help to evaluate the appropriate environmental conditions that the luminaire can withstand since environments can vary greatly. Think of interior spaces such as bathrooms, covered porches, or fully exposed exteriors , all these spaces have different levels of exposure to contaminants and water.

 

The most common IP Ratings for exterior luminaires include IP65, which indicates a fully dust-tight lighting fixture that is also protected against water jets, and IP68, also indicating a fully dust-tight product but can also be fully submerged in water, such as in a pool or pond.

 

IP Ratings give the user and specifier the confidence that the product will not prematurely fail because of intrusion from dust or water and help determine if a fixture is safe for use in that environment.

 

DMF Lighting offers several fixtures with IP Ratings that can be used in exterior applications with frequent exposure to water and harsh elements. Those fixtures include:   

  • M Series Commercial Downlights – The M Series Commercial Vandal Trim features a gasketed seal and IK10 (impact-rated) lens that offers IP66 level protection when installed in an appropriate ceiling. Available in both round and square standard trims, look for the “VP” option at the end of the trim product code.

VP = Vandal Proof/IP66  

  • M Series Cylinders & X Series Cylinders – These cylinders are highly configurable with up to 14+ million possible combinations. Each have options for IP65-Rated Pendant, Wall Mount, and Surface Mounted versions. When building your configuration, look for the water droplet next to the options that will fulfill an IP65 Rated option:

 

Numeral Definitions

For a deeper dive into IP Ratings, including the rigorous testing procedures and the differences between IP Ratings versus UL Listings, check out our Technical Bulletin.