State-of-the-art photobiological safety testing facility will help Korea-based manufacturers target global markets safely and speedily
TÜV Rheinland, a global leader in independent technical services, has opened a state-of-the-art photobiological safety testing laboratory in Korea. The new facility will help Korea-based manufacturers of LED products and lighting systems to target local and international markets, including the European Union, safely and speedily.
As well as offering one-stop testing for CB and CE certification to IEC 62471[1] and IEC TR 62778[2] standards, the new laboratory is the first ENEC-TL[3] accredited facility in Korea. It is authorized to test products and issue ENEC certifications – an essential qualification for any lighting equipment vendor interested in entering any EU market.
“Photobiological safety testing is important because the glare from lighting systems can be hazardous to the human eye and skin. This is especially true for LED lighting, which can concentrate largely invisible blue light radiation energy on the delicate retina and potentially cause irrevocable eye damage,” said Mr. Holger Kunz, Executive Vice President Products at TÜV Rheinland.
The new lab is equipped to measure the color temperature and luminance of blue light in wavelengths between 380 and 780nm and determine what risk group the LED product falls into. For example, Group 0 is for products that pose no risk, Group 1 for low risk and Group 2 for medium risk.
Group 3 is reserved for products that are considered high risk, even for short periods of exposure, and the IEC 62471 and IEC TR 62778[2] standards prohibit their use in lamps, LEDs or general purpose lighting equipment.
The facility is also equipped with a 10-meter rail facility which enables the evaluation of high lumen and high power rating lighting products and lighting systems.
“TÜV Rheinland Korea is developing strict evaluation standards and services optimized to respond promptly to rapidly developing technology, diversifying products, and the requirements of markets and consumers. We are continuously expanding the scope of our testing, as well as actively investing in testing facilities. This new photobiological safety lab provides an ideal environment for testing lighting devices to internationally recognized safety standards,” said Mr. Carsten Lienemann, CEO of TÜV Rheinland Korea.
[1] IEC 62471: Photobiological safety standard for LED modules and LED lighting
[2] IEC TR 62778: A method for evaluating the maleficence of blue light from LED modules and LED lighting
[3] ENEC-TL (ENEC Testing Laboratory): An officially authorized laboratory affiliated with EU that tests for ENEC certifications.