The Effects of Air Handling Plenums on Compact Fluorescent Lamps

Due to recent evolution of the lamp industry to produce reduced-mercury (amalgam technology lamps), the use of horizontally lamped compact fluorescent downlights with open reflectors are not recommended for use in air handling plenums. These styles of reflectors inherently feature cutouts in the top of the reflector that can allow air to flow through the fixture. Depending on the volume of air movement, this flow may adversely cool the lamps, possibly resulting in substantially reduced light output.

The following types of CFL downlights are recommended for air handling plenums.

• Horizontally lamped downlights that use a lensed reflector.

• Vertically lamped downlights.

• Downlights that have an “Air-Tight” construction or rating.

As an alternative, LED lighting fixtures would benefit from this cooling effect.  Click here for a link to our LED downlight products.