NACE 27.4 – Manufacture of Electric Lighting Equipment | Public Tenders

Definition: NACE 27.4 covers the manufacture of electric lamps and luminaires, including LED lamps, street lights, indoor luminaires, emergency lighting systems, spotlights and stage lighting. The conversion of municipal street lighting to energy-efficient LED technology is one of the largest investment programmes in local authorities.

Legal basis: NACE Rev. 2 (Regulation (EC) No 1893/2006) · Last updated: April 2026

What does NACE 27.4 cover?

NACE 27.4 (Manufacture of electric lighting equipment) classifies manufacturers and suppliers of lighting systems used in municipalities, public buildings and infrastructure facilities for energy and cost efficiency.

Group 27.4 is broken down into the following classes:

Public contracting authorities relevant for NACE 27.4 are municipalities and local authorities (street lighting), building administrations (building lighting), public sports facility operators, federal trunk road administrations (tunnel lighting), municipal car park and underground garage operators, and public educational institutions.

Public Tenders: Scope of NACE 27.4

The conversion of municipal street lighting to LED is a major programme in German municipalities — around 10 million street lights are in operation nationwide, the majority of which still need to be converted to energy-efficient LED technology.

Typical Contract Types

• Street lighting conversion: Replacement of sodium and mercury vapour lamps with LED street lights across entire city areas
• Smart lighting systems: Dimming systems and remote control platforms for demand-responsive lighting control (IoT-based)
• Office and administrative building lighting: LED conversion in town halls, schools, public authorities — often as part of energy refurbishment
• Tunnel lighting: High-performance LED tunnel lighting systems for federal trunk road tunnels and urban underpasses
• Sports facility lighting: LED floodlight systems for public football pitches, athletics facilities and sports halls
• Emergency and safety lighting: Mandatory lighting for escape routes in public assembly venues, schools and hospitals

Thresholds and Procedure Types

Lighting systems are tendered as supply contracts (luminaires) or as works contracts (including installation). Large urban lighting projects frequently exceed the EU threshold. Contracting models (energy performance contracting, EPC) are widespread, where a service provider pre-finances the investment and recovers the cost through energy savings.

Relevant CPV Codes for NACE 27.4

CPV codes (Common Procurement Vocabulary), which must be specified in every notice on TED, bridge the NACE classification and the tender search.

Current tenders can be found on TED (Tenders Electronic Daily) and on national procurement platforms.

Who is NACE 27.4 relevant for in public procurement?

Public Contracting Authorities

Municipalities are by far the largest public contracting authorities in the area of street lighting — as the road authority for local roads, they are responsible for installing and operating the lighting infrastructure. State building administrations tender lighting installations for federal buildings. Autobahn GmbH des Bundes and the regional authorities are responsible for tunnel lighting on federal trunk roads and federal roads.

Companies and Bidders

Manufacturers and suppliers of luminaires must typically provide the following evidence:

• CE marking: Pursuant to the Low Voltage Directive (2014/35/EU) and EMC Directive (2014/30/EU)
• Energy efficiency evidence: Compliance with the EU Ecodesign Regulation for luminaires; declaration of LLMF (lumen maintenance factor) and LOR
• Photometric reports: Photometric test reports in accordance with LM-79, LM-80/TM-21 for LED luminaires
• Standards conformity: DIN EN 13201 (Road lighting), DALI standard for controllable systems

Frequently Asked Questions on NACE 27.4 and Public Tenders

What is energy performance contracting, and is it permissible under procurement law?
Under energy performance contracting (EPC), a contractor pre-finances the LED conversion and is remunerated from the energy savings achieved. In procurement terms, this is a service concession or a public contract that must be tendered accordingly. The EU Energy Efficiency Directive expressly promotes this model.

How do I find current tenders for street lighting?
On TED via CPV code 34928500 or 45316100. Municipal tenders below the EU threshold are published on DTVP, evergabe.de and municipal procurement portals. Many federal states operate their own tender bulletins.

What minimum requirements apply to LED street lights?
DIN EN 13201 defines lighting classes (M classes for carriageways, P classes for residential streets). Contracting authorities are increasingly requiring energy efficiency classes in accordance with the EU Ecodesign Regulation and minimum luminous efficacies of 120–140 lm/W.

• NACE C – Manufacturing: Parent section
• NACE 27 – Manufacture of electrical equipment: Parent division
• NACE 27.3 – Manufacture of wiring and wiring devices: Cables, switches
• NACE 27.5 – Manufacture of domestic appliances: Kitchen appliances, washing machines

Last updated: April 2026
All information is provided without guarantee. For legally binding advice, please consult a law firm specialising in public procurement law.