LED TM-30 - Learning Objectives

1. What is TM-30?
2. Why do we need TM-30?
3. LED questions that can be answered by TM-30?
4. Who can read TM-30 data?

What is TM-30?

Since LED light sources do not mimic daylight, there is a need to have some metrics for comparison to familiar light sources of sunlight, incandescent and halogen. Lighting Facts is a good start, for more details consider the Kelvin, CRI, and TM-30 metrics.

TM-30 Colors

TM-30 Color Type Key:  
​A-Nature  B-Skin  C-Textiles  D-Paints  E-Plastics  F-Printed Materials  G-Color Systems

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TM-30 Color Rendering Test Colors

• TM-30 uses state-of-the art scientific advances in color science. As a result, it is more accurate than the CRI, especially for narrow-band spectra where the CRI can fail.
• TM-30 provides more accurate information such as a fidelity index Rf which replaces the CRI index and indicates whether colors look natural.
• TM-30 also provides more insight into the gamut index Rg which indicates a color's saturation and an accuracy graphic which gives advanced information about the rendering of specific colors.
• https://www.ies.org/store/technical-memoranda/ies-method-for-evaluating-light-source-color-rendition/

R9 Color Rendering Test Colors

Color Rendering Index (CRI) indicates the ability of a light source to render color accurately.  The problem is that the original 8 muddy colors, and the addition of 4 additional colors are not enough to judge a light source's ability to accurately render all colors.
Sunlight and Halogen Incandescent lighting score 100 serving as the basis for color comparisons for values of CRI.
Regulations in California (Title 24) require 90 CRI or higher in Residential applications. Commercial projects often use light sources with 80 CRI or as low as 70.
As LED light source technology advances, the CRI is improving; however, it is important to learn about the color rendering and limitations of a particular light source before specifying or purchasing, since most light sources cannot be returned, because the wholesaler or retailer cannot tell how many hours the lamp (light source) has been used.

Lighting Facts - Comparing the numbers

• Lumens Per Watt = Efficacy of light source
  
• Watts = Power Consumption
• CRI = Color Rendering Index
• R9 = Red light component
• CCT - Correlated Color Temperature -K = Degrees Kelvin, or color temperature of the light
• Flicker = dimability and stability
• TM-30 = New Color Rendition Metric by IES

TM-30 and DOE - Department of Energy
Lighting Facts

Light Source Color Rendering Chart
R9 Chart %
Consult Individual LED Manufacturer for Test Results

tm-30-primer_hubbell.pdf  printable PDF on TM-30

Related Topics

Manufacturer's Educational Links, LED for your B&B, Color in Paint - Why they Fade

Footnotes

1. Professor David Heeger - Light/Dark Adaptation
2. www.lightingfacts.com
3. IES RP-28-16 Seniors and Low Vision http://www.ies.org/
   

Photo Credits

• Lighting Facts Card - DOE - Department of Energy
• Test Colors for CRI & Light Source Color Rendering Chart - EYE Lighting
  
• TM-30 Test Colors - IES TM-30-15 Errata

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