Making and Selling Lamps

We often hear from people who want to start a small business making and selling lamps and other lighting products. A common misunderstanding is that “a quick PAT test” is all that’s needed before selling a product. PAT testing can be useful for in-service checks in the workplace, but it is not the same thing as product compliance.

This guide explains the basic UK requirements for making and selling mains-powered lamps, what evidence you should keep, and what routine tests you should perform during manufacture.

Key Point: PAT Testing Is Not a Compliance Certificate

PAT testing is designed for equipment that is already in use (in-service inspection and testing). When you place a new product on the market, you are taking on the responsibilities of a manufacturer. That means you must be able to show that the product has been designed and built to meet the applicable safety requirements and standards.

If you’re not sure where PAT fits into the bigger picture, see our guide to managing PAT testing in the workplace.

Legal Requirements

If you are making and selling mains-powered electrical equipment, your product must comply with the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016.

In practice, you need to carry out a conformity assessment and keep technical documentation that shows how your lamp meets the essential safety requirements. For simple lamp designs using standard components, this doesn’t need to be complicated, but you do need to be organised and consistent.

You must also create a Declaration of Conformity and apply the appropriate conformity marking for Great Britain (typically UKCA). The Declaration of Conformity is a signed statement that you take responsibility for compliance, and it must be available to market surveillance authorities on request.

Important: in Great Britain, CE marking is accepted for many products indefinitely (so requirements depend on the specific regulations that apply to your product). If you want background and practical guidance, see our article on UKCA marking.

What to Keep in Your Technical File (Simple Checklist)

A practical technical file for a small lamp maker often includes:

• Photos of the finished product (external + internal wiring)
• A wiring diagram and basic construction drawings
• Parts list (including lampholder, flex, plug, switch, cord grip/gland)
• Supplier records / invoices (showing traceability)
• Risk assessment notes (heat, strain relief, sharp edges, stability, accessible metal parts)
• Marking/label artwork (rating label content, warnings, symbol use where relevant)
• Production test records (earth/insulation/strength + functional checks)

Product Standards

The most common route to demonstrating compliance is to design and test your product to an appropriate product standard. For lighting equipment, the main standard is BS EN 60598.

BS EN 60598 is split into two parts: 60598-1 (general requirements for safety, construction, marking, wiring and tests) plus a set of 60598-2 particular standards covering specific luminaire types. For many domestic-style table/floor lamps, 60598-2-4 Portable General Purpose Luminaires is often the relevant “particular” standard.

Standards are expensive to buy from BSI, but you can often access them free through an online standards library at your local library.

Complying With BS EN 60598

Terminology note: technically, the “lamp” is the light-emitting source (the bulb). The complete item is the luminaire. In this article we’ll use “lamp” in the everyday sense.

BS EN 60598 covers mechanical, thermal, electrical and marking requirements. If you’re building a simple design using compliant components, you’re part-way there — but you still need to check the details (for example: stability, strain relief, heat resistance, clearances, correct earthing, and correct markings).

Mechanical and Thermal Requirements

For table and floor lamps, stability is a common requirement. Standards also include requirements around cable anchorage/strain relief, gland/cord grip performance, protection against sharp edges, and temperature rise (heat) in normal use.

Marking and Instructions

Your product should be clearly marked (rating label) and supplied with any required safety information. Clear, simple user instructions reduce misuse and are part of a “professional” compliance pack.

Electrical Testing (Production / Conformity Tests)

BS EN 60598 typically requires a functional check, an earth continuity test (for Class I construction) and either an electric strength test or an insulation resistance test.

For a refresher on construction types, see our Class I and Class II equipment guide.

Earth Continuity Test (Class I)

This test verifies the resistance between the earth pin and accessible earthed metal parts. Production testing typically uses a high test current (often 10A minimum, and commonly 25A in many production environments) because it is better at revealing weak points such as single-strand connections and poor terminations.

Electric Strength Test (Hipot / Dielectric / Flash)

The electric strength test applies a high voltage between live parts and accessible metalwork/earth, checking that insulation and clearances do not break down. It is good at finding crushed insulation, stray strands and inadequate clearances. Typical test voltages for luminaires are in the kV range (follow the standard’s requirements for your design).

Insulation Resistance Test (Alternative to Electric Strength)

An insulation resistance test (commonly 500 V DC) is sometimes used as an alternative where electric strength testing is not available. It is generally a less searching test, so if you have access to a suitable tester, electric strength testing is often preferred for production checks.

Choosing Test Instruments

Some PAT testers can be used for certain production checks, but many modern battery-powered PAT testers do not provide a high-current bond test, and only some models support electric strength testing. If you’re doing regular production testing, a dedicated production/safety tester is often the better tool.

Seaward also produce testers designed for luminaire production testing: Seaward luminaire production testers.

Other Regulations That Commonly Apply

Depending on your design and what you supply with it (for example LED drivers, dimmers, smart controls, USB chargers), other UK regulations may also apply. Common examples include:

• EMC: Electromagnetic Compatibility Regulations (especially relevant with LED drivers and electronics).
• RoHS: restriction of hazardous substances (relevant for electrical/electronic parts and assemblies).

If you’re building simple lamps using reputable, compliant components, your suppliers may already hold evidence for component compliance — but you should still keep supplier records and traceability in your file.

Training Courses

Our PAT testing courses teach practical inspection and test procedures that can be useful background knowledge, but PAT training alone does not cover the legal requirements for manufacturing or full compliance to standards like BS EN 60598.

Training specific to luminaire testing and compliance is available through the Lighting Industry Association (LIA), who also offer wider support for the lighting industry: thelia.org.uk

Tim Thornton Ceramics also offers an online course titled “Making Electric Lamps”: Making Electric Lamps Course

Additional Legislation

As well as electrical safety regulations, there are other obligations that often apply to lighting products.

Ecodesign and Energy Information (Lighting)

Energy labelling and ecodesign obligations can apply to certain lighting products. Your obligations depend on exactly what you place on the market. The UK guidance here is a good starting point: placing energy-related products on the UK market.

WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment)

As a producer of electrical equipment, you may need to meet WEEE obligations. Many small producers use a compliance route such as a takeback scheme, and you must mark products with the crossed-out wheeled bin symbol where required. UK guidance starts here: WEEE regulations guidance.

Product Liability Insurance

As a manufacturer, you may be liable if a product causes damage or injury. Product liability insurance is not usually a legal requirement, but it is a sensible safeguard for anyone selling electrical products.

Component Suppliers (Avoid Counterfeit or Substandard Parts)

Cheap imported components from marketplaces can be counterfeit or substandard and can compromise the safety of your product. This is especially important for plugs, lampholders, flex and switches. See our examples of dangerous counterfeit plugs.

Where possible, buy components from reputable suppliers with traceability and quality assurance. Examples include:

S. Lilley & Son (lampholders and lighting components): s-lilley.co.uk

Flexform (decorative flexible cables): flexform.co.uk

Upcycling and Refurbished Lamps

If you refurbish a lamp for resale, it is normally treated as second-hand equipment. See our guide to selling second-hand electrical equipment.

If you upcycle an item that was not previously a lamp (for example turning another object into a new luminaire), that is effectively a new product and should be treated as such for compliance purposes.

Additional Resources

• Office for Product Safety & Standards (OPSS)
• Business Companion (Trading Standards): Electrical equipment

This website is provided for information purposes only. While every effort has been made to keep information accurate and up to date, you should carry out your own checks and seek professional advice where necessary.