What are the standards and procedures for EN62778 blue light hazard testing in LED lighting products? In recent years, the harm of blue light has mainly manifested in ocular pathologies such as myopia, cataracts, and macular degeneration, as well as disruptions to the human body's circadian rhythms, leading to ongoing controversy about the blue light hazards of many lighting products.
In the new requirements for blue light hazard within the markings and structural requirements of EN60598-1 8th edition, while introducing new concepts such as blue light hazard, Risk Group (RG), Ethr, etc., it also stipulates that the evaluation of blue light hazard in lighting must comply with the provisions of EN62778. Therefore, LED lighting products must undergo the corresponding blue light hazard testing to ensure safe market entry.
Introduction to Blue Light Hazard Testing
The measurement and evaluation standards for the hazards of LED blue light primarily include IEC/TR 62778, IEC 62471, and IEC 62471-2, among others. IEC 60598-1 adopts the IEC/TR 62778 standard titled "Application of IEC 62471 for the assessment of blue light hazard to light sources and luminaires." IEC/TR 62778 simplifies the measurement and evaluation of blue light hazards for light sources and luminaires, based on IEC 62471. Considering the long LED supply chain, from LED chips to LED luminaires, spanning from upstream to downstream of the industry, where product variety is increasingly diverse, IEC/TR 62778 recommends an evaluation method for the transmission of blue light hazards from light sources to luminaires to alleviate testing burdens.
The fundamental standard within the IEC system that addresses photobiological hazards of lighting products is the IEC 62471 series. Given that LED lighting products encompass a product chain including LED chips, LED packages, LED modules, and LED lamps, evaluating the retinal blue light hazard at each stage of the LED lighting product would result in much redundant work. To address this, the IEC Technical Committee IEC/TC34 published the technical report IEC/EN 62778:2014, which aims to assess the blue light hazard of LED sources and luminaires using the IEC 62471 standard.
In the updated IEC 60598-1 8th edition, the newly added requirements for blue light hazard in the marking and structural requirements introduce several new concepts such as blue light hazard, Risk Group (RG), Ethr, etc. Meanwhile, it stipulates that the evaluation of lighting blue light hazard must be conducted in accordance with the provisions of IEC EN 62778.
LED Lighting Equipment EN62778 Standard
From EN 62471 to ENTR 62778: 2014
EN 62471 is a comprehensive parallel standard that describes all potential health hazards, from the ultraviolet, visible, and infrared wavelengths of the spectrum.
EN/TR 62778:2014 is a technical report that specifically addresses only Clause 4.3.3 and 4.3.4 of the IEC 62471:2006 standard, which describe the blue light hazard to the retina.
EN/TR 62778:2014 Basis of Evaluation Methods
EN/TR 62778:2014 outlines several levels of application for LED lighting products, suggesting that the hazard classification of primary sources can be transferred to subsequent products.
Testing Requirements and Objects for LED Luminaires in accordance with IEC/EN62778
The measurement and evaluation standards for the hazards of blue light mainly include EN/TR62778, EN62471, IEC, etc., which evaluate and classify using weighted radiance or weighted irradiance.
EN62471 and IEC/TR primarily measure and evaluate the radiation hazards of individual light sources or luminaires. EN/TR62778, based on IEC6, emphasizes the transmission of blue light hazard information from light sources to luminaires.
EN/TR62778 primarily measures light sources, can directly measure lighting fixtures, and redefines the illustrated 3 safety levels (RG0 unlimited, RG1 unlimited, and Ethr for RG2).
Process for Blue Light Hazard Testing of LED Lighting Fixtures:
1. Project Application — Submission of application to the regulatory authority of the testing institution.
2. Documentation Preparation - According to the requirements, what should the company prepare for EN62471 testing?
EN60825 primarily focuses on energy testing calculations for single-wavelength light.
EN62471 primarily measures wideband light and calculates based on the human eye and skin's response to light in terms of time, angle, and sensitivity.
The purpose of EN62471 is to assess the photobiological hazards associated with various lamps and lighting systems, replacing the requirements for energy levels of LED products in the IEC/EN60825 standard. It introduces additional photobiological requirements, including radiation intensity and luminance, and classifies the hazards of products based on test data, encompassing exempt, low, medium, and high hazard levels.
The EU standards EN62471:2008 have been in effect since September 1, 2009, while the sections of EN60825 concerning LEDs have been fully invalidated as of September 1, 2010.
All lights and lighting systems except for lasers are applicable. (Single-wavelength lasers are easy to test, whereas common lights may be a broad-spectrum light source due to the effects of the light source, diffusers, lenses, auxiliary optical components, and other devices.)
Tested wavelength range: optical radiation within the range of 200nm to 3000nm.
EN62471 test parameters and object test parameters:
Irradiance (radiant flux per unit area, unit: W/m-2)
2. Luminance (illuminance divided by the field of view, can be converted from illuminance) Test Subjects: 1. UV hazards to skin and eyes
Near-ultraviolet (UV) hazards to the eyes (315nm-400nm)
4. Retinal Blue Light Hazard (Low Light Source) 5. Retinal Heat Hazard 6. Retinal Heat Hazard
5. Eye Infrared Radiation Hazards (780nm-3000nm) 8. Skin Heat Hazards (380nm-3000nm)
4: Result Evaluation 1. Continuous Light: No hazard; (1) Category 1 Hazard (Low Risk); (2) Category 2 Hazard (Medium Risk); (3) Category 3 Hazard (High Risk)
2. Pulsed Light: (1) Any light exceeding the radiation limit is classified as Category 3 hazard; (2) Single-pulsed lights that do not exceed the radiation limit are considered non-hazardous.
(3). Multi-pulse lamps with radiation levels not exceeding the limit are classified as continuous lamps.
What is EN62471 testing?
The purpose of IEC/EN62471 is to assess the light radiation hazards associated with various lamps and lamp systems, replacing the requirements for energy levels of LED products in the IEC/EN60825 standard. It adds photobiological requirements, including radiation intensity and luminance, and classifies product hazards based on test data, including exempt, low, moderate, and high hazard levels.
EN62471 standard
IEC/EN62471 primarily measures wideband light and calculates based on the human eye and skin's response to light in terms of time, angle, and sensitivity.
All lighting and lighting systems, excluding lasers, are applicable.
Standard for Light Bio-safety:
- IEC/EN 62471 applies to all lamps and lighting systems, including LEDs, incandescent bulbs, fluorescent lamps, gas discharge lamps, arc lamps, and other lamps and lighting fixtures.
The EU Regulation 244/2009 on energy efficiency requirements for directional household lamps also applies to the testing of UV content, which must be conducted in accordance with IEC/EN 62471 (including energy-saving lamps and incandescent/halogen lamps).
The CB certification for self-ballasted LED lamps must include the execution of photobiological safety tests in accordance with IEC 62471 and IEC TR 62471-2.
In accordance with the OSM/CTL resolution, LED lighting must comply with IEC/EN 62471.
-Label for LED modules regarding eye protection, referencing IEC/EN 62471.
Scope of Application: All lamps and lighting systems (non-coherent broadband electroluminescent sources, 200-3000nm)
LED lighting products are no longer covered under the new IEC60825-1 and require evaluation according to IEC62471. Relevant certification documents are required.
3. Product Testing – The company sends the samples to be tested to the laboratory.
4. Report Compilation – Certified engineers draft reports based on qualified test data.
5. Submission for Review – Engineers will review the complete report.
6. Issue the Report - The report is issued after the review confirms its accuracy.
Our company boasts a fully-equipped testing and certification laboratory capable of issuing EN62778 Blue Light Hazard Test reports. For those in need of such a report, please call 135-2877-4248 to contact us for processing.
