One of the best things about living in New Zealand is the isolation of this country. It means we don't have to worry about pollution or conflicts from other countries spilling over into our own. It is a huge part of the reason why we can live the way we do in such a beautiful and pristine environment.
One of the unfortunate side affects of being far away is however that we often don't get access to the same products as the rest of the world in a timely manner. All too often great products are tested and certified for the major markets in Europe and North America, but don't get put through the same process for New Zealand.
While LED lighting is a growing industry in this country, too many suppliers ignore regulatory advice and recommend products that have not been tested to the New Zealand standard. While these products, usually tested to the European standard, are certainly safe for use in most situations, they miss out on being tested for compliance with New Zealand specific issues that could affect the performance of the light or even create safety concerns.
While this may sound overblown, it is important to remember that the standards here are designed to work in conjunction with the New Zealand Building Code. Compared with our European cousins, New Zealanders use different materials in our building construction, have different earthquake safety standard requirements and utilize different building techniques. By accepting workmanship that does not meet New Zealand standards, you may save money in the short term, but you run a higher risk of the LED lighting failing early or becoming an insurance voiding safety hazard.
When you are installing LED Lighting in NZ, make sure that the paperwork and testing has been done correctly. If you want to find out more about this or to talk about LED lighting that does conform with the New Zealand standards, leave a comment below, email us or give us a call. We are always glad to help.