Historically, people have been used to lower light levels. From candles to liquid fuels like oil or kerosene, and gas, the light levels that people lived by are hard to imagine today. Even with the invention of the incandescent light bulb light levels that were once sufficient are no longer up to current standards. A renovation is the optimal time to add fixtures or to replace those fixtures that may have gone missing. When there is at least (1) original fixture remaining, replication is a much simpler process. Molds can be taken from the existing fixture avoiding the need for labor intensive pattern making.

However, there may not be existing fixture. Buildings are repurposed over the decades and sadly, the original fixtures are lost. In these cases we find ourselves working from old architectural drawings and photographs, which can become an elaborate process. Depending on the level of replication desired, the means and methods of manufacturing must be considered—nothing can compare to a fixture made by hand using old world techniques. Aurora is adept at blending the old world techniques to preserve historic integrity and integrating new technologies for cost savings. It is a form of art and requires an artist eye which can only come from experience.

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UL Listing & Safety

Underwriters Laboratories, (UL) was founded in 1894 by William Henry Merrill to address the ever-growing electrical and fire safety issues. Its headquarters are located in Northbrook, Illinois. It has expanded into an organization with 64 testing laboratories serving customers in 104 countries and addressing a broader scope of safety issues.

Aurora Lampworks is a UL shop under 1598 Standard, which means we are able to UL List fixtures in house (mostly incandescent and fluorescent). We pay quarterly fees, host spontaneous inspections, and calibrate our testing equipment annually. We’re always in dialogue with UL Representatives who ensure that our wiring and testing procedures are compliant.

The technology is changing so quickly in the world of LEDs that there is no UL Standard for them. This means that fixtures that house integrated LEDs must be Field Evaluated, or otherwise undergo a 'Procedure Described' exercise. The options vary widely with circumstance. It often falls within our scope of work to advise on the most appropriate and cost effective way to navigate UL Listing and Safety standards.

In these days of litigation, rarely will an electrician install a fixture that does not carry the appropriate UL Label because it acts as an insurance policy. Should something go wrong in the field, the required labels for every UL Listed fixture are traceable back to the manufacturer. Consequently, we take the business of UL very seriously. We consider UL a partner in our business—friend, not foe.

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