Standard: IEC/EN 62471
As White light LEDs become widely used in many LED products, assessment of the unique "Blue Light" hazard is critical. As of September 1, 2009, IEC/EN 62471, Photobiological Safety of Lamps and Lamp Systems was fully applied to all LED lighting products.
STANDARD SCOPE
IEC/EN 62471 gives guidance for evaluating the photobiological safety of lamps and lamp systems including luminaires. Specifically it defines exposure limits, references measurement techniques and the classification scheme for the evaluation and control of photobiological hazards from all electrically powered incoherent broadband sources of optical radiation, including LEDs (but excluding lasers), in the wavelength range from 200 nm through 3000 nm. This standard was prepared as Standard CIE S 009:2002 by the International Commission on Illumination.
Difference between IEC/EN 62471 and IEC/EN 60825
Hazardous Considerations
There are various biological hazards that are considered within different wavelength ranges in accordance with the standard IEC/EN 62471. The biological effects on both the eyes and skin are considered.
Classification
According to EN 62471:2008 sources of optical radiation are classified into risk groups subject to their potential photobiological hazard. This classification takes place through a risk assessment, which is conducted on the either individual components or the final product based on information obtained from the manufacturer. If a source is assigned to a “safe” group (Exempt Group), or to a low risk group (Risk Group 1), it would not be needed for a detailed workplace evaluation, since there is no photobiological safety hazard issue.
Sources are classified into the following four groups according to hazard, based on the emission limit as well as permissible exposure time before hazard exceeded.
Permissible Exposure Time (Cl. 6)
In order to determine the risk group of a source, its spectral irradiance or radiance has to be measured at a specified distance, weighted with action spectra and maximum allowed exposure time, which is compared to different exposure limits. For continuous sources, the exposure time
limits are as follows:
Labeling Requirements – IEC62471-2
IEC 62471-2 "Photobiological safety of lamps and lamp systems – Part 2: Guidance onb manufacturing requirements relating to non-laser optical radiation safety" provides further guidance on the measurement and labeling of sources and is a useful supplement to IEC/EN 62471.
