IEC/EN 62471 and IEC/EN 62778 (Photobiological Safety )

What does EN 62471 test?

• EN 60825 mainly conducts energy testing and calculation for monochromatic light.

• EN 62471 mainly measures broadband light, and calculates by comprehensively considering the response time, angle, sensitivity, etc., of human eyes and skin to light.

The purpose of EN 62471 is to address photobiological hazards associated with various lamps and lamp systems. It fully replaces the energy class requirements for LED products in the IEC/EN 60825 standard, and adds photobiological requirements including radiant intensity, radiance, etc.

Products are classified into hazard levels based on test data: exempt, low hazard, moderate hazard, high hazard.

The EU standard EN 62471:2008 has been in force since 2009.09.01.

The LED-related part of EN 60825 became fully obsolete on 2010.09.01.

1. Applicable products

All lamps and lamp systems except lasers.

(Monochromatic lasers are easy to test; ordinary lamps may act as broadband light sources due to illuminants, diffusers, lenses, auxiliary optical components, etc.)

2. Test wavelength range

Optical radiation in the wavelength range of 200 nm to 3000 nm.

3. Test parameters and objects of EN 62471

Test parameters:

1. Irradiance (radiant flux per unit area, unit: W/m²)

2. Radiance (irradiance per field of view, convertible from irradiance)

Test objects:

1. Ultraviolet hazards to skin and eyes

2. Near-ultraviolet hazards to eyes (315 nm–400 nm)

3. Retinal blue light hazard

4. Retinal blue light hazard (small light sources)

5. Retinal thermal hazard

6. Retinal thermal hazard

7. Infrared radiation hazards to eyes (780 nm–3000 nm)

8. Thermal hazards to skin (380 nm–3000 nm)

4. Judgment of results

1. Continuous lamps:

No risk;

Risk Group 1 (low risk);

Risk Group 2 (moderate risk);

Risk Group 3 (high risk).

2. Pulsed lamps:

(1) Those exceeding radiation limits are classified as Risk Group 3.

(2) Single-pulse lamps not exceeding radiation limits are classified as No Risk.

(3) Multi-pulse lamps not exceeding radiation limits are classified using the continuous lamp method.

What is EN 62471 testing?

The purpose of IEC/EN 62471 is to address photoradiation hazards related to various lamps and lamp systems.

It fully replaces the LED energy class requirements in IEC/EN 60825, adds photobiological requirements (radiant intensity, radiance, etc.), and classifies products into hazard levels: exempt, low hazard, moderate hazard, high hazard.

EN 62471 Standard

IEC/EN 62471 mainly measures broadband light and calculates based on the response time, angle, sensitivity of human eyes and skin to light.

Applicable products:

All lamps and lamp systems except lasers.

Photobiological safety standards

①　IEC/EN 62471 applies to all lamps and lamp systems, including LEDs, incandescent lamps, fluorescent lamps, gas discharge lamps, arc lamps, and other luminaires.

②　EU Regulation 244/2009 on energy efficiency requirements for non-directional household lamps also requires UV content testing to be performed in accordance with IEC/EN 62471 (including energy-saving lamps, incandescent/halogen lamps).

③　cb certification of self-ballasted LED lamps must include photobiological safety testing according to iec 62471 and IEC TR 62471-2.

④　According to OSM/CTL resolutions, LED luminaires must be tested in accordance with IEC/EN 62471.

⑤　Labeling of LED modules for eye protection refers to IEC/EN 62471.

Scope:

All lamps and lamp systems (incoherent broadband electric light sources, 200–3000 nm)

LED lighting products are no longer covered by the new edition of iec 60825-1 and must comply with IEC 62471.

Introduction to IEC 62778 Standard for Luminaires

IEC 62471 is a comprehensive standard that describes all potential health hazards of artificial optical radiation, covering ultraviolet, visible, and infrared spectra.

IEC/TR 62778 specifically addresses the hazards described in Clauses 4.3.3 and 4.3.4 of IEC 62471:2006, known as retinal blue light hazard, which is mainly caused by the blue part of the visible spectrum and poses potential risks to the retina.

In IEC 62471, the maximum allowable exposure time  depends on both the product and the viewing distance.

For general lighting luminaires, the evaluation distance is taken at the position where illuminance = 500 lx, but not less than 200 mm.

IEC EN 62778 Blue Light Hazard Test Content for Luminaires

1. Guidance on evaluation results of different light sources using IEC/EN 62778

Evaluation of luminaires with replaceable light sources

When a luminaire with an open industrial standard interface uses LED lamps, LED modules, or other replaceable light sources, the luminaire manufacturer does not know the alternative primary light sources beyond the designed one.

In this case, IEC EN 62778 recommends that the luminaire be evaluated for hazard grouping using the worst-case primary light source that can be installed in the luminaire.

Such a light source typically has the highest radiance (not necessarily luminous flux) and highest CCT value.

2. Evaluation of luminaires with integrated LED light sources

In practice, various LED light sources are used in luminaires: replaceable LED lamps, LED packages, LED modules, etc. Some are replaceable, others (e.g., integrated LED modules) are non-replaceable.

Although the evaluation chain of IEC/EN 62778 starts from the primary light source, luminaire manufacturers often cannot obtain blue light hazard evaluation data of primary LED sources, especially for integrated LED luminaires.

This has been considered in the 8th edition of iec 60598-1.

IEC 60598-1 8th edition states:

In general, risk group classification can be obtained from the LED light source manufacturer.

However, for luminaires designed with integrated LED light sources, the entire luminaire must be tested.

In other words, for integrated LED luminaires, blue light hazard evaluation starts with the luminaire as a whole.