FLASH issue 16 - Tridonic connection technology

Technology
LED safety redefined
Personal safety in the use of technical products has always been the prime consideration in drawing up standards.
This also applies to all the directives that govern the safe use of light sources. Because of their specific properties
all lamps and light emitting diodes have the potential for damaging the eyes or skin for example. The factors here
include the wavelength (i.e. infra-red or ultra-violet radiation), the intensity, the dose (i.e. intensity over time) and
the size of the light source or its projected size.
Despite having the same parameters, the
photo-biological safety of lamps and lamp
systems on the one hand and light emitting
diodes on the other are tested on the basis
of different standards. Because of their discrete
spectrum and their original applications, for
example as signal lamps, LED were subject
to international standard IEC 60825-1 and
European standard EN 60825-1 “Safety of
laser products – Part 1: Equipment classification,
requirements and user‘s guide”. With
the increasing importance of LED for general
lighting applications the safety aspects were
increasingly difficult to assess on the basis
of IEC 60825-1.
LED lighting is the focus of the IEC 62471 standard
The realisation that the photobiological safety
of LED and that of all other lamps should
ideally be brought under a common standard
relating to lamp safety has resulted in the new
international standard IEC 62471:2006 and
European draft standard prEN 62471:2006
“Photobiological safety of lamps and lamp
systems” that has been in force since July
2006. The requirements of this standard takes
greater account of the use of LED light sources
for illumination purposes.
IEC 62471 defines the types of danger and
the permissible radiation doses for each type
of danger. It also describes the specific
measurement methods and conditions for
assessing the lamps for their photobiological
risks.
It concludes with an overview and the criteria
for classifying the lamps in terms of their risks.
The four groups are the “Exempt Group”, in
which there is no risk according to IEC 62471,
and risk groups 1, 2 and 3 with low, medium
and high risks respectively.
In future, TridonicAtco will measure and classify
its LED products and systems under the
TALEXX brand in accordance with IEC 62471.
These certified TALEXX components will enable
innovative and compliant LED luminaires to
be developed in the future. TridonicAtco’s outstanding
LED know-how is therefore of great
benefit to all users.
FLASH Issue 16
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