UK lighting test group Photometric Testing has launched a service for testing the photobiological safety of lamps
The move is part of an increasing need to safeguard workers against the damaging effects of light.
The European Artificial Optical Radiation Hazard Directive (2006/25/EC) places a statutory responsibility upon employers to ensure that employees are not subjected to hazardous exposure levels from lamps and other forms of artificial lighting.
This in turn means that manufacturers and suppliers of lighting products are being asked more often to provide exposure limit information in accordance with IEC 62471:2006 and BS EN 62471:200, 'Photobiological Safety of Lamps and Lamp Systems'.
To satisfy EN 62471, measurements of spectral irradiance and spectral radiance must be performed over the wavelength range produced by the light source under test.
Responding to this need, Photometric Testing has taken delivery of a scanning double monochromator-based spectroradiometer that allows it to perform measurements from 200-1700nm.
According to the company, this enables measurements to be performed to the highest accuracy, with low stray light, wide dynamic range and calibration traceable to the UK's National Physical Laboratory (NPL).
The new spectroradiometer forms part of a £200,000 investment that has lead to the creation of what the group claims 'is probably the most up-to-date lighting test laboratory in the UK'.
