designing lighting is focused on the Business of Lighting Design™ and provides business information to the lighting design community. In addition to the website, designing lighting publishes bi-monthly online magazines featuring original content, interviews within the community and highlights successful and award-winning lighting designs.

In the April 2021 issue, Benya’s Art & Science section featured a fascinating article on the history of the downlight, covering everything from their origin to their latest features.

The Incredible Evolving Downlight

By Jim Benya

The downlight as we know it was invented in 1939 by Rambusch Lighting. Famous for ecclesiastical lighting of churches and cathedrals, Rambusch knew that illumination of hymnals and prayer books was typically poor because chandeliers were hanging far overhead of the congregation. A recessed luminaire with a narrow beam effectively lighted the “tasks” an invention that changed church lighting forever. But modernism and its demand for un-ornamental design gave us the “can light” (aka the “pot light” in Canada) that probably lights more interior space than any other lighting fixture type to date.

Residential downlights played a huge role in the acceptance and growth of the industry. Offering different apertures of varying diameter and shape, as well as interchangeable trims ranging from open baffles to shower lenses and wall washers, allowed for the customization of lighting for each room and function. As the market grew there were dozens of companies and an increasing number of options, including low voltage and compact fluorescent light sources.

Unfortunately, fires resulting from overheated downlights became a problem, and the National Electrical Code responded with a series of strict UL listing requirements. Thermal protection, insulation detectors and insulation contact (IC) housings became standard. As downlights became popular for hotels and apartment buildings, the need for fire-rated downlights entered the codes and marketplace. Selecting a residential downlight housing quickly became complex and further complicated by compact fluorescent lamps and the huge variety of variations. Once popular because of low cost, residential downlights were rapidly becoming expensive.

Well, everything changed when a 7.5-watt LED luminaire could generate as much light as a 60-watt incandescent luminaire. Manufacturers and lighting designers began to question everything about downlights to regain their popularity and cost effectiveness. Thanks to LEDs, downlights have become affordable, and the new section in the 2020 National Electrical Code resolved the complications that accumulated over 50 years of legacy light bulbs. Four of the more noteworthy innovations and adaptations include:

Low wattage downlights that clip into the ceiling – With common cans, the electrician nails the can light’s hanger bars in place, wires the 120-volt branch circuit to the junction box, and returns after the drywall work to find the can and cut out the hole before installing the guts and trim. Moving a downlight means a lot of drywall work as well as electrical work. With clip-in fixtures, the wiring is put in before the drywall, then the electrician cuts a hole, grabs the wire, connects it to the luminaire, and pushes the luminaire into the hole. Spring loaded “mousetrap” clips hold the luminaire in place. Moving a luminaire is easy and involves a minimum of drywall and electrical work. Significant labor cost savings are the key.

Low voltage downlights – LEDs are inherently low voltage light sources. Encouraged by UL 2018 and Articles 411 and 725 of the National Electrical Code, a new generation of downlights allows for a Class 2 driver connection to 120-volt power on a flexible whip, that in turn can power up to 60 watts of downlights using plug-in class 2 flexible wiring. This could include dedicated above ceiling drivers or PoE-wired applications. These take advantage of clip in downlights to make the labor savings even more impressive.

Fire-rated downlights – Especially in multi-family structures where ceilings are required to be fire rated, contractors were required to either build a sealed drywall box around a recessed downlight or to cover it with a UL listed fire protection blanket until recently. The added costs for either can be as much as $150 per downlight in labor and material. More than half of these costs are saved by new generation of downlights, including compact LED sources that fit into fire-rated junction boxes and fire-rated versions of conventional can lights. With up to 10 downlights in a mid-market 2-bedroom apartment, these savings become important and preserve the appeal of downlighting in these project types. These lights can be used in hotel guest rooms for that same reason.

More than half of these costs are saved by a new generation of downlights, including compact LED sources that fit into fire-rated junction boxes

Multiples are better than ever – The smaller size of LED options have resulted in a completely new generation of luminaires that feature multiple sources connected to one power source. These include conventional “multiples” with several individually aimable heads and new types of wall washers and small linear downlights on a residential scale. Like the other innovations, these often use mousetrap clips for simple cut-in installation and low voltage class 2 wiring, making these appealing for a wide range of projects and budgets.

Perhaps most intriguing of these innovations is their small size. For instance, a 2-3/8” x 1-5/8” square downlight with two micro downlights can produce up to 400 lumens using 5 watts, and with several of them connected to a single class 2 driver, can be installed for the labor cost of a single conventional 6” can. Not only more sophisticated in appearance and performance, but it is also a whole new design look that is affordable in a larger percentage of projects.

I’m still learning how to use these innovations, and every day I receive an email announcement of a new product of this type from companies all over the world. In downlighting, this is our future because it is a better tool for smaller environments, energy efficient, resource efficient, and a dramatic improvement in the downlight on which so much lighting design depends.

View the entire article at designing lighting.

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Each year, DMF honors a special selection from our network of representatives for all the great work they do. The Brilliance Awards celebrate not just great performance, but a partner’s outstanding dedication to reflecting all that DMF stands for, from knowledge and partnership to loyalty and professionalism.

Here are this year’s winners.

W. Rodgers Hill, Founder and Principal of Hill Residential Systems, accepts their DMF Brilliance Award trophy from DMF’s Andy Wakefield, Senior Vice President

Diamond Award

The Diamond Award celebrates representatives without equal. Diamond Award winners excel at communicating with the whole DMF organization and are constantly learning more about our products and policies. Their excellence reflects amazing sales performances, especially across different business segments. Their passion and dedication makes them more than just partners, it makes them key members of the DMF Family.

Winner: Hill Residential Systems

Prism Award

The Prism Award goes to the Representative that achieved great success in their first year with DMF. These remarkable reps go beyond the day to day to successfully integrate themselves into the DMF ecosystem, quickly and effectively building relationships and knowledge. Prism Award winners demonstrate their hard work and potential for growth. They have a bright future together with DMF.

Winner: Pacific Lighting Systems

Crystal Award

The Crystal Award recognizes Representatives, who achieve their agreed sales quota goals. Such commitment and achievement are essential to our DMF business success. Crystal Award winners help us invest consistently in our business, growing our products, people, and impact to the market. Their partnership excellence is recognized and greatly appreciated.

Congratulations to the recipients

Our manufacturer’s representatives are the cornerstone of our business and we are proud to bestow the very best of them these Brilliance Awards. Congratulations to the winners and thank you everyone for your effort and dedication.

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PRESS RELEASE:

Carson, California – November 23, 2020

DMF Lighting, the leader in modular downlighting innovation, announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB or Patent Office) entered judgment in favor of DMF in an inter partes proceeding trial instituted at the request of AMP Plus Inc., d/b/a ELCO Lighting (ELCO) to challenge the validity of DMF’s U.S. Patent No. 9,964,266 (“the ‘266 Patent”).  This continues a string of victories by DMF in its litigation against ELCO in the Patent Office and district court that started from ELCO’s improper copying of DMF’s patented DRD2 products.   

In August 2018, DMF filed a patent infringement suit against ELCO in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California in Los Angeles based on ELCO ELL LED products that ELCO copied from DMF’s award-winning DRD2 LED products.   In March 2019, the District Court granted DMF’s request for a preliminary injunction against ELCO and all those acting in concert with ELCO that were selling the accused infringing ELCO ELL products.  On March 19, 2020, the District Court also granted summary judgment in DMF’s favor finding that ELCO infringed ‘266 Patent claims, dismissing ELCO’s unenforceability defenses and dismissing most of ELCO’s validity challenges.  A trial will be held to determine if ELCO also infringes other additional patent claims and to consider ELCO’s remaining validity challenges that are based on two primary pieces of prior art.  That trial has not been scheduled yet due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  

In parallel to the District Court case, ELCO also has tried to invalidate the ‘266 Patent claims in the Patent Office based on the same two pieces of prior art at issue in the District Court.  On March 17, 2020, the Patent Office ruled in DMF’s favor that ELCO’s validity challenge, based on one piece of prior art, did “not demonstrate a reasonable likelihood that [ELCO] will prevail” as to any patent claims. The Patent Office did grant a trial on the other piece of prior art. On November 19, 2020 the Patent Office issued a judgment in DMF’s favor, ruling that ELCO failed to invalidate any of the 22 challenged patent claims except for one claim.

 “We are pleased with the Patent Office decision today, which recognizes the innovative technology of the DRD2. DMF invests heavily in research and development to create innovative solutions in lighting.”

Michael Danesh, DMF COO.

About DMF Lighting 

DMF brings a creative approach to lighting and offers industry-leading technology that sets the bar for performance, quality, and flexibility. At our in-house Research and Development lab, our engineers and designers are constantly pushing boundaries and refining product to ensure that our products consistently exceed expectations. Every DMF product delivers outstanding performance, reliability and aesthetics. DMF LED lights produce accurate color rendering, smooth dimming, and have low power consumption. 

At DMF, we understand that light is more than illumination; light is what makes a space beautiful, useful, and ultimately, enjoyable. 

Official Press Release

Honoring technical excellence and product innovation, the CEDIA Awards encompass nearly every aspect of the home technology industry, including hardware, software and projects. The DID was awarded Best New Hardware Product for its flexibility during and after installation. Its modular design allows it to adapt to changing homeowner preferences, future room designs, and even retrofits.

Winners were announced last week at the 2020 Americas CEDIA Awards Virtual Ceremony. Watch a brief clip of the DID being named the Best New Hardware Product.

About CEDIA Awards

The CEDIA Awards projects represent the finest in the design and installation of residential technology. From whole home audio to lighting systems, from dedicated home cinemas and media rooms to networking and automation solutions, you’re sure to find inspiration and ideas when it comes to custom electronics for the home.

These residential technology integrations are all built to ensure that the tech you’ll find here are aesthetically beautiful — if not invisible or hidden — and incredibly easy to use. 

Simply put, this is what CEDIA members do best: Designing custom technology solutions to create for you a “Life Lived Best at Home.”

Learn more about the DID Series.

Contact us for more details, including preliminary specs and availability.

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