CAN CSA C22.2 No. 250.13-17: Comprehensive Guide to Portable Luminaire Safety Standards in Canada

Scope of CAN CSA C22.2 No. 250.13-17

CAN CSA C22.2 No. 250.13-17 applies to portable luminaires and portable lighting equipment intended for connection to branch circuits at nominal system voltages of 120 V and 347 V AC, 50/60 Hz. The standard covers both indoor and outdoor portable luminaires designed for use in non-hazardous locations, in accordance with the Canadian Electrical Code, Part I (CE Code).

The standard addresses all types of portable lighting products that are not permanently fixed in place, including:

Portable floor, table, and desk lamps
Portable work lights and task lights
Portable outdoor landscape and accent lights
Portable luminaires with flexible cords and attachment plugs
Battery-powered portable luminaires with charging units that are connected to the branch circuit

Excluded from the scope are luminaires that are permanently mounted or hard-wired, those intended for hazardous locations, and products covered by other CSA C22.2 standards (e.g., emergency lighting, decorative lighting strings).

Note: This standard was reaffirmed in 2022 and remains the current edition as of 2026. It is harmonized with corresponding UL standards where applicable but contains specific Canadian deviations.

Technical Requirements

Electrical Safety and Performance

Portable luminaires must withstand dielectric voltage withstand tests at 1000 V plus twice the rated voltage. Grounding continuity is required for products with accessible metal parts that could become energized. The standard specifies minimum distances for live parts, creepage, and clearance, which vary depending on voltage and pollution degree.

Mechanical Construction

Luminaires must resist impact, crushing, and drop tests. Portable luminaires with adjustable arms or joints must pass a torque endurance test of 10 000 cycles. All enclosures must have sufficient mechanical strength to prevent access to live parts during normal use and foreseeable abuse.

Thermal Limits

Maximum temperature rises are specified for accessible surfaces, cord strain relief, and internal components. For example, normally accessible metal surfaces must not exceed a 40 K rise above ambient under normal conditions, while plastic surfaces have a 50 K limit.

Marking and Instructions

Permanent markings must include:

Manufacturer’s name or trademark
Model or type designation
Rated voltage, frequency, and current (or wattage)
Indoor/outdoor suitability (when applicable)
Lamp replacement information
CAUTION or WARNING statements as required

Important: All markings must be in both English and French for the Canadian market. Minimum letter height is 1.6 mm for mandatory safety markings.

Table 1 – Key Test Requirements for Portable Luminaires (CAN CSA C22.2 No. 250.13-17)
Test Category	Requirement / Limit	Test Condition
Dielectric Voltage Withstand	1000 V + 2× rated voltage, 1 min	Between live parts and accessible metal
Grounding Continuity	≤0.1 Ω at 25 A	Ground terminal to accessible metal
Impact (plastic enclosures)	Steel ball 1.36 kg dropped 1.0 m	No cracking or penetration
Temperature Rise – Switch knob	Max. 45 K rise	Ambient 25 °C, rated load
Cord Pull (cord-connected units)	35 lbf for 1 min without displacement	Pull applied at strain relief
Lamp Replacement Accessibility	Live parts not accessible with finger probe	With lamp removed

Implementation Highlights

Manufacturers designing for the Canadian market should integrate the following considerations into their product development process:

Material Selection and Component Approval

All electrical components (cords, plugs, switches, lamp holders) must be listed or recognized to applicable CSA or harmonized standards. Plastic materials must have a minimum UL 94 V-2 flammability rating, with V-0 or 5VA required for parts close to live electrical connections.

Flexible Cord and Attachment Plug

Portable luminaires must be supplied with flexible cord approved for the application. For outdoor or damp location units, the cord must be suitable for wet locations (e.g., Type SJTW or SPT-3W). The attachment plug must be a molded, grounded type (for Class I products) or polarized (for Class II) as appropriate.

Tip: For battery-powered portable luminaires with a charging unit, the entire unit (charger + luminaire) must comply with the standard as a system. The charging transformer must meet C22.2 No. 66 or other applicable standard.

Outdoor and Wet-Location Considerations

Luminaires marked for outdoor or wet-location use must pass rain, hose-down, and corrosion tests. Drain holes are required in enclosures that could trap water. Gaskets must be resistant to UV and ozone.

Compliance and Certification Notes

Certification Bodies

Certification to CAN CSA C22.2 No. 250.13-17 is typically provided by Standards Council of Canada (SCC)-accredited organizations like CSA Group, Underwriters Laboratories (UL), Intertek (ETL), or TÜV SÜD. The standard is referenced in the CE Code and is recognized by provincial regulatory authorities.

Compliance Advantage: Products certified to this standard are accepted across all Canadian provinces and territories without additional testing, provided they have a recognized certification mark (CSA, cUL, cETL, etc.).

Key Differences from US Standards (UL 153)

While CAN CSA C22.2 No. 250.13-17 is harmonized in many respects with UL 153 (Portable Electric Luminaires), Canadian requirements differ in the following areas:

Marking must be in English and French
Dielectric test voltages are slightly different
347 V systems are unique to Canada and not covered by UL 153
Some cord types differ (e.g., SJT vs. SPT approvals)

Post-Market Surveillance

Manufacturers must maintain production-line testing for dielectric strength and ground continuity. Factory inspections are conducted at least annually by the certification body. Significant changes to the design require reevaluation.

Non-Compliance Risk: Non-certified portable luminaires sold in Canada can be subject to removal from the market, fines, and liability claims. Always verify that your product carries a valid certification mark from a recognized body.

Transition Period for Revisions

The 2017 edition supersedes the previous 2008 edition. A transition period of typically 2–3 years was allowed for manufacturers to update their existing certifications. As of 2026, all new products must be compliant with the 2017 edition.

Q: Does CAN CSA C22.2 No. 250.13-17 cover battery-operated lighting products?
A: Only if the product includes an AC charging unit that plugs into a branch circuit. The charging unit must also meet the applicable requirements of this standard or a complementary standard (e.g., CSA C22.2 No. 66 for transformers). Pure battery-operated luminaires that are not intended to be connected to the AC mains are not within the scope.

Q: What is the difference between this standard and CAN/CSA C22.2 No. 250.0?
A: CAN/CSA C22.2 No. 250.0 is the general standard for luminaires (fixed, recessed, etc.). No. 250.13 is a specific sub-part focused exclusively on portable luminaires. Portable luminaires must comply with the requirements in both the general standard (where referenced) and the specific requirements in No. 250.13.

Q: Are LED portable luminaires covered by this standard?
A: Yes. The standard applies regardless of light source technology. However, LED drivers and light engines must also comply with applicable component standards, such as CAN/CSA C22.2 No. 250.0 for LED luminaires or CSA C22.2 No. 61010-1 for power supplies.

Q: Is third-party testing mandatory, or can self-declaration be used?
A: While the standard itself does not mandate third-party certification, the Canadian Electrical Code (CE Code) requires that luminaires installed in Canada be certified by an accredited certification organization. Self-declaration is not accepted for compliance with the CE Code; products must bear a recognized certification mark from an accredited body.

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