8539.32.00 - Mercury or sodium vapor lamps; metal halide lamps

HTS Code 8539.32.00 encompasses a specific group of discharge lamps that utilize either mercury vapor or sodium vapor to produce light. This category includes lamps where the electric discharge occurs through a gas containing mercury vapor, or through a gas that, when ionized, produces light from sodium vapor. Metal halide lamps, which employ a mixture of metallic halides, metal iodides, or metal alkyls with mercury or other metals within the arc tube, are also classified here. These lamps are distinguished by their operation within a sealed envelope, generating light through the excitation of gases and metal vapors.

This classification is distinct from its sibling category, 8539.31.00, which specifically covers fluorescent lamps utilizing a hot cathode. While both fall under the broader umbrella of discharge lamps, 8539.32.00 excludes fluorescent types and focuses on the unique light-producing mechanisms of mercury, sodium, and metal halide vapor systems. It also differentiates from the "Other" subcategory within 8539.39, which is reserved for discharge lamps not specifically enumerated elsewhere.

Within HTS 8539.32.00, further subdivisions exist to provide more granular classification. The subcategories 8539.32.00.20 for sodium vapor lamps, 8539.32.00.40 for mercury vapor lamps, and 8539.32.00.90 for "Other" metal halide lamps allow for precise identification based on the primary vapor element responsible for light generation. This detailed breakdown facilitates accurate tariff application by recognizing the specific technologies employed in these high-intensity discharge lighting solutions.