Minimum Quality Standards

Recommended Performance Targets

Lighting Africa Quality Test Methods

Standardized Specifications Sheets

Stakeholders can provide comments in both an initial comment period and a follow-up comment period.  The new framework will be ready to implement in March, 2012.

Timeline

Initial Comment Period: December 18 – January 16 (This is complete)

Stakeholders should provide suggested changes to the QA Framework using the  form provided by Lighting Africa. Please complete one form for each suggested change to the Framework. After January 16^th, Lighting Africa personnel will synthesize the comments and prepare a draft set of recommendations. 

You can download the form here . Please fill it out and return it to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it by January 16.

There is no guarantee that Lighting Africa will act on any particular recommendation, but all suggestions will be considered.

Web Conference: February 7th, 3 PM GMT (This is complete-see links below)

Lighting Africa presented the draft recommendations in a web conference.

Stakeholder Webinar Slides Feb 7 2012
Full set of QA Stakehodler Recommendations Memo - please comment by Feb 22.

Follow-up Comment Period: February 8 - February 22

Stakeholders can respond to the draft recommendations with written feedback.

Framework updates announced: March 1, 2012

Lighting Africa will announce the updates to the QA Framework and begin the process of rolling out new elements.

Background Materials

The following background materials should be helpful for preparing your feedback:

• A document describing the relationship between Lighting Africa and manufacturers of off-grid lighting products

• The Lighting Africa Minimum Quality Standards and Recommended Performance Targets

• Lighting Africa Standardized Specifications Sheets and Guidelines

• Lighting Africa Quality Test Method test method (LA-QTM)
  

• A Quality Assurance Summary Table to help see how the framework fits together.

FAQs

What are some examples of potential changes to the Framework?

• Strengthening requirements for a particular Quality Standard or Performance Target, for example, requiring better Lumen Maintenance characteristics or brighter lights.

• Loosening requirements for a particular Quality Standard or Performance Target, for example, requiring less stringent ingress protection or shorter run times.

• Adding a Standard or Target for aspects that are not currently covered, for example, requiring charge controller limits to protect batteries.

• Eliminating a Standard or Target, for example, eliminating the requirement to have a six-month warranty.

• Adding content to the Standardized Specifications Sheets, for example, adding information about mobile phone charging performance.

• Adding a new test to support an additional Standard or Target, for example, adding a battery durability test and a requirement for passing it.

• Others…we are open to any good ideas.

How will these changes affect my product?

Once the Standards and Targets are updated it is possible that previously tested products that did not meet the existing standards and/or targets would pass according to the newly revised levels (i.e. this could occur if the thresholds for passing are relaxed for a particular metric); in such cases, Lighting Africa will automatically revise the status of products with respect to the Standards and Targets. It is also possible that there will be products that have passed the existing standards and/or targets that would not meet revised thresholds (i.e. this could occur if a particular metric were strengthened). In these cases, Lighting Africa will continue to support the products during a grace period and work with manufacturers to address any changes that need to be made to update the products.