News

What Will Your Job Look Like in 2034?

Discover the future of the electrical distribution industry in 2034.

May 30, 2024

What Will Your Job Look Like in 2034?

DMF’s Nate Hagemeier featured in The Electrical Distribution Handbook, Volume XIII

May 30, 2024

An annual tradition for the past 13 years, the Electrical Distribution Handbook has featured articles and advice from professionals across the electrical industry. “Growth in the industry, both personally as well as professionally, happens when people turn to their peers for guidance—and that is the idea behind our Electrical Distribution Handbook series,” wrote the magazine’s editor.

When the Electrical Distributor (tED) magazine reached out to DMF Lighting for insights to help guide growth in the industry, Vice President of Sales, Nate Hagemeier, tackled the question: “What Will Your Job Look Like in 2034?”

Electrical Distributor (tED) magazine: “From AI to generational changes, data gathering, increased e-commerce, and more, the industry is changing. How do you envision the part you play in electrical distribution to be different in 2034?”

Nate Hagemeier: “Operational efficiency will reach an all-time high in previously human-centric and time-consuming tasks (quoting, forecasting, materials planning, transacting orders, reconciling AP/AR, managing inventory, etc.). All industry parties (owners, designers, manufacturers, contractors, and distributors) will participate in and be impacted by this paradigm shift. As efficiency and adaptive technology become the norm, greater importance will be placed on building effective and trusting professional relationships. The human element will be the most valuable and impactful.”

To read the entire handbook, click here.

News

X Series Downlights Named 2024 Sustainable Product of the Year

X Series recognized for sustainability

May 22, 2024

X Series Downlights Named 2024 Sustainable Product of the Year

Awarded by Green Builder, X Series 2-inch downlights excel in energy efficiency, eco-consciousness, and more.

May 22, 2024

DMF Lighting’s X Series 2-inch downlights have been selected by Green Builder’s editorial team as a 2024 Sustainable Product of the Year, which represents today’s most innovative products that make homes more efficient, resilient, healthy, intelligent, and safe.

Providing the ultimate in performance, installation, serviceability, and sustainability, the downlights are Title 24 JA8 and RoHS compliant, and Declare listed — free of toxins and harmful chemicals deemed non-sustainable. The energy-efficient LED downlights are also ENEGY STAR® rated and consume only 9.5 to 14.3 watts, based on the selected lumens.

DMF is dedicated to saving our earth through eco-friendly practices, including energy-efficient design, recycled material usage, waste reduction strategies, and a post-warranty refurbishment program.

Learn more about our Sustainability Commitment.

Featured Blog Post Insights News Products Technical

DMF's Commitment to Sustainability

Shining a light on sustainability

April 22, 2024

DMF’s Commitment to Sustainability

Shining a light on sustainability

April 22, 2024

DMF is dedicated to saving our earth through eco-friendly practices, including energy-efficient design, recycled materials usage, waste reduction strategies, and a post-warranty refurbishment program.

Designed to the Most Rigorous Standards

Energy Efficiency – Based in California, all our products are LED and designed around the most stringent local mandates and energy codes, like Title 24 ensuring optimum energy efficiency.

Declare Listed, Red List Compliant Since 2020 – DMF was one of the first downlighting manufacturers to become Declare Listed and today all product SKUs proudly carry the Declare Label.

Sustainably Designed – We continue to be at the forefront of sustainable design. Universal, junction box-based housings are designed free of electronics ensuring a future-proof solution.

Manufactured for Optimum Performance

Non-Waste Sheet Metal – By design, all of our sheet metal punch outs and excess scrap metal are utilized for smaller components minimizing waste and cost.

Alternative Material Sourcing – Our H Series housings are manufactured in the United States out of PET plastic making them not only recyclable but incredibly lightweight, providing for more efficient transport.

20% Aluminum Reuse Policy – 20% of the diecast aluminum parts used in our light fixtures are recycled to provide a sustainable footprint while at the same time ensuring we are not sacrificing the integrity of the material or performance.

Filling Orders, not Landfills

Recyclable Packaging – All DMF packaging is made of recyclable cardboard and additionally, any used packaging we receive is shredded and repurposed as filling for future packages.

Bulk Packaging – Available upon request to help you minimize job site waste.

End of Life & Long-Term Maintenance Commitment

90% Recyclable Components – All metal, steel & plastic components in our product are recyclable, additionally DMF will recycle your retired electronics free of charge if you send them back to our factory.

Post Warranty Refurbishment Program – Housings from our product can be reused to update spaces sustainably with little labor impact. You can be confident there will be new products that will support your upgrades for years to come. DMF is committing to circular product solutions, ensuring you have a solution for your fixture when it reaches the end of its life. For any product sold from 2024 and on, DMF’s refurbishment program will rework or offer a backwards compatible product 5 years after warranty to give you the most sustainable solution.

Insights

Hospitality & Multifamily Application Feature: Corridors

Corridors require precise lighting solutions that blend safety, efficiency, and aesthetic continuity for seamless design integration.

April 2, 2024

Hospitality & Multifamily Application Feature: Corridors

Corridors require precise lighting solutions that blend safety, efficiency, and aesthetic continuity for seamless design integration.

April 2, 2024

Price: Effective cost management is crucial in any construction project, particularly when designing spaces that require extensive lighting. While aesthetics and functionality are important, staying within budget often requires strategic decisions, such as selecting cost-efficient lighting fixtures and optimizing their placement. By carefully evaluating the long-term energy savings and maintenance costs of lighting systems, designers can find a balance between upfront expenses and overall project affordability without compromising on quality.

High Lumen Output: Sufficient brightness is essential in corridors to ensure people can see clearly and navigate safely. High lumen output ensures there’s adequate illumination, especially in long or narrow corridors.

Emergency Lighting: This is an important feature in lighting corridors. In the case of power failure or emergencies, emergency lighting ensures safe evacuation by providing visibility.

Learn more about the S Series, H Series, M Series, M Series Multiples, X Series, and X Series Cylinder.

Insights

Hospitality & Multifamily Application Feature: Units & Guestrooms

Affordability without compromising design quality

March 6, 2024

Hospitality & Multifamily Application Feature: Units & Guestrooms

Units & Guestrooms have a unique set of features that specifiers must design around to balance function, comfort, and code.

March 6, 2024

Price: All construction projects have a budget and as Multifamily Units & Hotel Guestrooms comprise a high quantity of lighting fixtures in mixed-use spaces they can often be the most cost-sensitive spaces to design.

Fire Rating: Fire Rating is a code requirement specific to many wood-built structures in which individual living spaces or guestrooms are accessed via common corridors, stairways, and exit doors. These common passageways should be constructed to provide approved levels of fire protection enabling occupant egress in the case of an emergency. There are several methods of installing a light fixture without sacrificing the fire rating of floor or ceiling assembly but these methods can be labor-intensive and costly. Fire-rated fixtures simplify the design and construction of these spaces.

Sound Rating: Don’t you hate it when noisy neighbors disrupt the peace in your home or getaway lodging? As building finish trends have recently moved away from using carpet in favor of more laminated type products this issue is more pronounced than ever. That’s why sound-rated luminaires are an important component in the design of any building: to minimize sound transmission from one room to the next. Minimizing the transmission of noise from adjacent rooms requires judicious choice of many building components such as floor topping, floor underlayment, subfloor topping, subfloor underlayment, ceiling insulation, joist size, resilient channel, ceiling finish, construction quality, and a sound-rated luminaire.

Non-Conductive (Dead Front): The term dead-front is defined by the National Electric Code (NEC) as “without live parts exposed to a person on the operating side of the equipment” and usually is specific to electrical panels. Some jurisdictions like the City of Seattle go one step further and require all “luminaires, with exposed metal parts that are grounded, must be ground fault circuit interrupter protected.” The requirement to add GFI protection to the luminaire circuit within the shower or bathtub zone adds complexity and cost. However, dead front trims are constructed out of non-conductive polycarbonate. Contractors and designers alike prefer these trims as a cost and time-efficient way of overcoming the GFI requirement, which is only applicable to grounded metal trims.

Closet Rating: Due to their unique usage, closets, and storage spaces demand special electrical code requirements outlined by the (NEC). Luminaires in clothes closets must be (1) Surface-mounted or recessed incandescent or LED luminaires with completely enclosed light sources (2) surface-mounted or recessed fluorescent luminaires or (3) Surface-Mounted fluorescent or LED luminaires identified as suitable for installation within the close storage space. These permitted luminaire types must meet minimum clearance requirements. Depending on the lighting type, the space between the fixtures and the closet contents requires up to 12″ of clearance and if that is not available, the fixtures must pass the UL Closet Rating Test in compliance with standards UL 2108, 67.1.9, and 60.4.

Warm Dim: Warm dim technology gives occupants the flexibility to choose the light that’s right for them by dimming from vibrant, full-spectrum lighting, to a warm, comfortable glow. There’s minimal color temperature change at the high end of the dimming curve so daytime lighting remains vibrant and unaffected. Once dimmed below 50% light output, the color temperature gradually warms to provide the personal, intimate ambiance desired in the evening.

Tunable White: Tunable white is becoming increasingly trendy in high-end hotels and living spaces as it grants the occupants full autonomy to choose the specific color temperature of their lights and quickly change as desired. Comprised of multiple LEDs of different color temperatures, you can control the mix of these LEDs as well as intensity using a lighting control system of your choice. Tunable white can be programmed to mimic natural daylight patterns, supporting occupants’ circadian rhythm. This feature is important to hotel guests with jet lag or those in senior living facilities without outdoor mobility. Tunable white fixtures also allow for the ultimate task flexibility in a living space as you can choose the color temperature ideal as you move throughout the motions of your day whether it be working, cleaning, or relaxing.

Learn more about the S Series, H Series, H Series Cylinder, M Series Residential, and M Series Cylinder.

Technical

Technical Bulletin: Fire-Rated Assemblies

Maintaining a fire resistance rating in compromised floor-ceiling material

March 5, 2024

Technical Bulletin: Fire-Rated Assemblies

March 5, 2024

What is a Fire-Rating?

Many people live in multi-family homes where individual living spaces are accessed via common corridors, stairways, and entry/exit doors. These common entry/exit passageways are constructed to provide approved levels of fire protection that enable occupants to safely exit the building in case of an emergency. DMF Lighting’s M Series, H Series, and DRD5S Series offer housing options with a two-hour fire rating, suitable for common entry/exit passageway applications when a fire rating is required. *Other fire barriers or methods of protection maybe utilized, such as a concrete structure or a sprinkler system.

See the following product codes for more information:
M Series: M4NCRF, M4NCSF, M4LTRF, M4LORF, M4LTSF, M4LOSF

H Series: H3FR, F4NC

DRD5S Series: F4NC

What is the IBC?

The International Building Code® (IBC), developed by the International Code Council (ICC), is a model building code adopted and used as a base code standard throughout most of the USA. The IBC® is a complex and lengthy document with comprehensive requirements. Chapter 7 on Fire and Smoke Protection Features is key, and in particular Section 714 Penetrations: The provisions of this section shall govern the materials and methods of construction used to protect through penetrations and membrane penetrations of horizontal assemblies and fire-resistance-rated wall assemblies. Penetrations of ceiling membranes are covered in Section 714.5 where subsection 714.5.2 Membrane Penetrations states: Where floor/ceiling assemblies are required to have a fire-resistance rating, recessed fixtures shall be installed such that the required fire resistance will not be reduced.

How can a recessed fixture be installed without reducing the fire rating of the floor/ceiling assembly? The traditional approach is shown above.

Although this is an effective method, it requires the ceiling space to have boxed-out cavities, using the same fire-rated membrane material, to mount the recessed fixtures in. This approach adds significant costs and requires extra space above the ceiling plane that may not always be available.

The M Series, H Series, & DRD5S family, fire-rated housings provide a new method of achieving the same result and is shown above.

DMF fire-rated junction box solutions reduce installation costs significantly because they eliminate the requirement to create boxed-out cavities at the time of construction by utilizing one of the exceptions provided by subsection 714.5.2: Ceiling membrane penetrations of maximum 2-hour horizontal assemblies by steel electrical boxes that do not exceed 16 square inches (10,323 mm²) in area, provided the aggregate area of such penetrations does not exceed 100 square inches (44,500 mm²) in any 100 square feet (9.29 m²) of ceiling area, and the annular space between the ceiling membrane and the box does not exceed 1/8 inch (3.2 mm).

DMF fire-rated junction box solutions reduce installation costs significantly because they eliminate the requirement to create boxed-out cavities at the time of construction by utilizing one of the exceptions provided by subsection 714.5.2: Ceiling membrane penetrations of maximum 2-hour horizontal assemblies by steel electrical boxes that do not exceed 16 square inches (10,323 mm²) in area, provided the aggregate area of such penetrations does not exceed 100 square inches (44,500 mm²) in any 100 square feet (9.29 m²) of ceiling area, and the annular space between the ceiling membrane and the box does not exceed 1/8 inch (3.2 mm).

UL 514A Standard for Safety - Metallic Outlet Boxes

One of the many UL listings DMF M Series, H3FR, and F4NC housings has been granted is QCIT.E469361. This UL listing states that each of these housings is a qualified metallic outlet box or in IBC terminology, steel electrical box. UL’s Fire-resistance Ratings – ANSI/UL 263 BXUV.GuideInfo states in section III – Floor-Ceilings and Roof-Ceilings, sub-section 6 – Metallic Electrical Outlet Boxes, can be used in fire-rated floor-ceiling and roof-ceiling assemblies, as described below: Metallic outlet and switch boxes with metallic or nonmetallic cover plates may be used in floor-ceiling and roof-ceiling assemblies with ratings not exceeding 2 hours. These assemblies should have gypsum wallboard membranes. The metallic outlet boxes should be securely fastened to the joists and the opening in the gypsum board facing should be cut so that the clearance between the boxes and the gypsum board does not exceed 1/8 in. The surface area of individual boxes should not exceed 16 sq in. The aggregate surface area of the boxes does not exceed 100 sq in per 100 sq ft of ceiling surface. Note the requirement for the contractor to create a tight, not to exceed 1/8” cut-out in the gypsum wallboard to ensure the integrity of the fire-rated membrane.

More Than Just Fire-Rated

M Series, H Series, and DRD5S Families have been granted an unparalleled combination of other safety certifications, including Sound, Air-Tight, IC, and Wet Location ratings. You can be confident that DMF has a solution for you that is compliant in a wide range of installations.

Note: This Bulletin was originally published 07/10/2017 and has been updated to reflect the new product offerings.

Products

DMF and Lutron Partner to Offer Athena Wireless Node Integrations

February 29, 2024

DMF and Lutron Partner to Offer Athena Wireless Node Integrations

DMF is proud to announce the integration of the Lutron Athena Wireless Node across many of our M Series product offerings and participation in the 2024 Lutron OEM Advantage Program.

The new Lutron Athena Wireless Node is an ultra-small, wireless, integral fixture controller. Packed with technology and endlessly versatile, this tiny device can handle communications via DALI-2 with DALI Type 8, 0-10V, Clear Connect Type X, and simplifies the set-up process with bluetooth.

Please review the product specification sheets for more information:

Available Now:

M Series Commercial (750-3500 lm Non-IC Rated Solutions)

M Series Commercial Round Downlight

M Series Commercial Round Adjustable

M Series Commercial Square Downlight

M Series Commercial Square Adjustable

Coming Soon:

M Series Cylinders (750-3000 lm Solutions)

M Series Cylinder Pendant Mount

M Series Residential (750-1500 lm IC Rated solutions)

M Series Residential Round Downlight

M Series Residential Round Adjustable

M Series Residential Square Downlight

M Series Residential Square Adjustable

M Series Multiples (750-3000 lm solutions)

M Series Multiples

Contact our team to discover the advantages of these integrations!

Learn more about Lutron Athena Node

Featured Blog Post News

Announcing a New Hospitality & Multifamily Series

A new series specifically focused on DMF application solutions for mixed-use spaces

January 17, 2024

Announcing a New Series on Multi-family & Hospitality Solutions

DMF has been the go-to downlighting solution for multi-family and hospitality spaces for over a decade and continues to tailor and develop products specific to the needs of these mixed-use spaces. As a way for us to share with you the knowledge we have gathered through the years, as well as a way for us to synthesize all of our brand-new product offerings into a digestible format we are excited to launch DMF Digest, our Multi-family & Hospitality Insights Newsletter. Multi-family & Hospitality Insights will be a compilation of new product overviews, space-by-space application guides, technical bulletins, case studies, and more. All delivered to your inbox on a monthly cadence.

Sign up using the form below!

Insights News Technical

Living Building Challenge Compliant Since 2020

DMF downlights surpass international sustainability standards, helping clear the path towards multiple regulatory incentives

June 5, 2023

DMF Lighting is proud to have its LED Downlight System and Surface-Mount LED carrying the Declared Label and be Living Building Challenge compliant since 2020. The Living Building Challenge is an international sustainable building certification program. Similar to LEED, Green Globes, and other standards recognized by local, state, and international governments, it’s the world’s most rigorous proven performance standard for buildings. People from around the world use its regenerative design framework to create spaces that give more than they take.

Living Buildings are:

Regenerative buildings that connect occupants to light, air, food, nature, and community.
Self-sufficient and remain within the resource limits of their site.
Create a positive impact on the human and natural systems that interact with them.

“An LBC certified building has to use construction materials – including lighting equipment – that do not contain certain toxins. Using an LBC Compliant product meets this mandate, eliminating adverse environmental, health, and social impacts.”

Benjamin Chen
Product Architect, DMF Lighting

DMF’s commitment to better living

Efficiency and sustainability are core values at DMF, pushing us to design ever-more energy efficient lights and informing the materials we use to build our products. Projects using DMF’s downlight system and surface-mount cylinders, are on the pathway to reaching the top classification of Living Certified.

LBC Red List Approved under the Declare program, DMF’s downlight and cylinders fulfill the disclosure credit requirements under LBC Materials Petal Imperatives in fostering a transparent materials economy free of certain toxins and harmful chemicals deemed non-sustainable. In addition, the Declare program is also an officially recognized compliance path in LEED v4 under the Building Product Optimization credit.

Regulatory Incentives

Developers who choose to become LBC compliant ensure the sustainability of their project, and may even qualify for certain regulatory incentives. “In Seattle, projects in certain zones with LBC certification could build up to 25% more floor area and height than regulations allow,” stated Chen. While in Miami Beach, LBC compliant projects may be eligible for a full rebate on mandated sustainability fees. Moreover, LBC certification increases a building’s long-term value, and makes it more desirable for clients interested in reducing their environmental footprint. Compelling incentive case studies can also currently be seen in Vancouver, Washington, Ohio, and Oregon.

Using non-LBC compliant products puts developers and designers at risk of including toxic materials in a project. By using LBC Declared and compliant products like DMF’s LED lighting solutions, projects are one step closer to pursuing the highest level of sustainability and regenerative design.

For more information on DMF’s Living Building Challenge compliance, please visit our Declare Products page.

Learn more about the International Living Future Institute.

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News Products

Green Builder Recognizes H Series for Sustainability

DMF’s home downlighting solution named to 2023 Sustainable Products of the Year list

April 25, 2023

DMF Lighting is excited to have the H Series named in the Honorable Mentions of Green Builder’s 2023 Sustainable Products of the Year. The annual list recognizes prominent, enviro-friendly products while honoring companies that encourage sustainability and go above and beyond in manufacturing items through innovative technology.

The H Series brings downlighting with stellar efficiency and a sustainable design to the whole home. The downlight goes beyond standard efficacy requirements and is both California Title 24 JA8 compliant and ENERGY STAR qualified. Manufactured in the US, the housings are recyclable and free of non-sustainable, harmful toxins.

DMF Lighting is committed to better living, pushing us to design ever-more energy efficient lights and informing the materials we use to build our products.

Learn more about the H Series.

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