PLATO Educates Industry and Public about First Standard for Measuring Portable Lighting Product Performance
OutdoorHub 01.08.14
New website supports industry organization
The Portable Lights American Trade Organization (PLATO), a trade association, has been formed to advance the mutual interests of the portable lighting industry. A primary goal of PLATO is to educate the public about the first industry standard known as “ANSI/NEMA FL-1”, developed to measure flashlight performance. The National Electrical Manufacturers Association approved the ANSI/NEMA FL-1 standard as an American National Standard on August 18, 2009. Many companies in the portable lighting industry now utilize this standard. PLATO has recently updated its website for those seeking further information about ANSI/NEMA FL-1.
The ANSI/NEMA FL-1 standard specifies a methodology for testing, measuring, and rating the basic performance of flashlights, headlamps, spotlights, and portable lighting tools, giving consumers and purchasing managers a uniform system for understanding and comparing product performance.
The organization has a new website — plato-usa.org — which includes lists of voting and associate members, information on industry performance standards, and guidelines for joining the rapidly expanding association. As the first group of its kind to promote the common interests of the portable lighting industry, PLATO serves as an industry advocate to the public and government. PLATO also seeks to (1) publish research studies on the industry, (2) monitor and promote accurate use of the ANSI/NEMA FL-1 rating standard by manufacturers that choose to utilize this voluntary standard, and (3) elevate the public’s understanding of the performance attributes of portable lighting.
Products rated with the ANSI/NEMA FL-1 standard utilize icons on their marketing materials and product packaging to provide easily understood and easily compared levels of light output, runtime, beam distance, peak beam intensity, water penetration resistance, and impact resistance.
“I am excited to be part of an organization that supports a well understood benchmark for our products,” said Matthew Hemenez, Vice-President of Sales and Marketing of Surefire, LLC. “Public safety professionals, military personnel, industry users, sporting enthusiasts and consumers all deserve to know the details about what they are buying. Now, with these standards in place, they will have a better understanding and gauge for the performance of the lighting product.”
“PLATO works to promote the common interests of companies that manufacture portable lighting products, including standards, legislation, litigation, and education,” said PLATO President, Kevin Parsons. “The recent response to these industry standards has been overwhelmingly positive. We are excited by the momentum, support and growing interest in our initiatives and the positive impact our efforts are having on the industry and our customers.”
