NABL
NATIONAL ACCREDITATION
BOARD FOR TESTING AND
CALIBRATION LABORATORIES
SPECIFIC CRITERIA
for
PHOTOMETRY TESTING
LABORATORIES
ISSUE NO : 02
ISSUE DATE: 28.03.2008
AMENDMENT NO : 00
AMENDMENT DATE: --
AMENDMENT SHEET
Sl
Page
No.
Clause
No.
Date of
Amendment
Amendment made
Reasons
Signature
QM
Signature
Director
10
Page No: i
Contents
S.NO.
SECTION
PAGE NO.
Amendment Sheet
Contents
ii
1.
Introduction
2.
Scope of Accreditation
3.
Terminology
4.
Principles of Measurement
5.
Facilities
11
6.
15
7.
Calibration
17
8.
Precautions
18
9.
19
10.
Records
20
Appendix A
21
Fig. 1 : A - Plane
22
Fig. 2 : B - Plane
23
Fig. 3 : C - Plane
24
Page No: ii
Introduction
Laboratories Accreditation activities are administered under the direction of the National
Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) and involving Technical
Committees and Accreditation Committees as recommending bodies. NABL assessment
system is based on ISO/IEC 17011 and APLAC/ ILAC requirements.
Specific Criteria for Photometry Testing Laboratories set out in this document is one of a
series of supplementary documents to ISO/ IEC 17025: 2005 General Requirements for the
Competence of Testing and Calibration Laboratories. While preparing this document, reference
has been made to Technical Report No. CIE 121-1996 on The Photometry and
Goniophotometry of Luminaires, BS: 5225: Part 1 and IESNA Lighting Handbook.
These specific criteria are in compliance to ISO/ IEC 17025: 2005 and are based on the
recommendations of the Technical Committee on Photometry Test Laboratories.
Page No: 1/ 24
Scope of Accreditation
The scope of the Accreditation is applicable to all laboratories, which perform the following
repetitive photometric measurements for light sources (electric lamps) and luminaries in the
laboratory, which are used for the purpose of illumination involving either Spherephotometry or
Goniophotometry:
2.1
2.2
2.1.2
Life Test
2.1.3
2.1.4
Color Characteristics
2.1.1.1.
2.1.1.2.
Color Temperature
2.1.1.3.
Luminaires
2.2.1
2.2.2
2.2.3
2.2.4
The scope does not apply to various techniques of measurement of optical guidance systems
like electroluminance, phosphorescence, LEDs etc.
Page No: 2/ 24
Terminology
Ballast
A device used with an electric discharge lamp to obtain the necessary circuit conditions
(voltage, current and waveform) for starting and operating.
Blackbody
It is a thermal radiator (also called a blackbody radiator) which, when heated, emits
visible radiation of a color specific to the temperature of the body.
Chromaticity Diagram
It is a plane diagram formed by plotting one of three chromaticity co-ordinates against
another.
Color Temperature
Color temperature of a light source is the temperature of the blackbody in Kelvin at
which a color match is obtained. It is the absolute temperature of a blackbody radiator
having a chromaticity equal to that of the light source.
Page No: 3/ 24
Cut-off Angle
The angle measured from nadir in a given vertical half-plane, between the vertical axis
and the line of sight at which all surfaces of high luminance (of lamp and the luminaire)
just ceased to be visible.
Goniophotometer Photometer
It is a photometer for measuring the directional light distribution characteristics of light
sources, luminaries, media and surfaces.
Isocandela Diagram
The isocandela diagram is the array of isocandela curves. These are curves traced on
an imaginary sphere with the source at its centre and joining all the points corresponding
to those directions in which the luminous intensity is the same, or a plane projection of
this curve.
Light Centre
Point used as origin for photometric measurements and calculations.
Luminaire
Apparatus which distributes, filters or transforms the light transmitted from one or more
lamps and which includes, except the lamps themselves, all the parts necessary for
supporting, fixing and protecting the lamps and, where necessary, circuit auxiliaries
together with the means for connecting them to the electricity supply.
Page No: 4/ 24
Luminous Efficacy
The quotient of the total luminous flux emitted by the total lamp power input, expressed
in lumen/ watt.
Photometer
It is an instrument for measuring photometric quantities.
Photometer Head
It is a light sensitive detector, which incorporates facilities for the spectral weighting (e.g.
color filters) or for the spectral dispersion. (e.g. grating) of the light. It may also contain
facilities for the direction evaluation of light (e.g. diffusion windows, lenses, and
apertures).
Page No: 5/ 24
Photometric Centre
It is the point in a lamp/ luminaries from which the inverse-square law operates most
closely in the direction of maximum intensity.
Primary (light)
It is any one of the three lights in terms of which a color is specified by giving the amount
of each required to match it by additive combination.
Reference Ballast
A special inductive type ballast designed for the purpose of providing comparison
standards for use in testing ballasts, for selection of reference lamps and for testing
regular production lamps under standardized conditions.
Reference Lamp
A lamp complying with the appropriate national or international standard and having
electrical characteristics within 1% of the objective values of that standard.
Reflectance ()
It is the ratio of the reflected flux (r) to the incident flux (I), i.e. = r / I
Refraction
It is the process by which the direction of a ray of light changes as it passes obliquely
from one medium to another in which its speed is different.
SI Units
It is the international system of Units adopted by the International Conference of Weights
and Measures (CGPM) in 1960. Under this, the applicable units for photometry are:
Length meter (m)
Mass kilogram (kg)
Time second (s)
Electric Current ampere (A)
Thermodynamic temperature Kelvin (K)
Luminous intensity Candela (cd)
Page No: 6/ 24
Transmittance ()
It is the ratio of the transmitted flux () to the incident flux (I) i.e. = /I
Page No: 7/ 24
Principles of Measurement
4.1
Spherephotometry
Spherephotometry is used for the determination of total luminous flux output of light
sources and measurement of light output ratio (LOR) of luminaries. Spherephotometry
works on Ulbrichts theory, according to which the luminous flux of the light source is
related to the indirect illuminance on the internal surface of the integrating sphere by
= Eind *A* ( 1 - )/
where Eind Indirect illuminance on the internal surface of the sphere
- Reflectance of the internal surface of the sphere
A Surface area of the sphere
The k = A* (1-)/ is called the sphere factor and theoretically can be determined
from this relationship.
Since in practice, the sphere is never empty during measurements, the value of k
differs from the theoretical calculation. Thus, sphere factor k is determined with the
help of calibrated lamp from the following, which is the key to this process of
measurement.
K = s / Eind s
Where, s Luminous flux of calibrated lamp
Eind s Indirect illuminance of the Luminous flux, s
While photometric integrator could be of a shape other than spherical, generally it is a
sphere.
4.2
Goniophotometry
4.2.1
Page No: 8/ 24
In the zonal method, the light source is imagined to be at the centre of a large sphere.
The sphere is divided into horizontal zones whose upper and lower boundaries subtend
angles 2 and 1 with the vertical axis at the centre of the sphere.
The zonal flux between the angle, 1 and 2 is given by I * ZF Where I - Average
intensity within the zone and
ZF 2 ** (Cos 1 Cos 2) steradians
In the 5 zonal method, the sphere is divided into 36 zones, while in the 10o zonal
method, the sphere is divided into 18 zones. The sphere can further be divided into
smaller and differential zones depending upon application.
4.2.2
Page No: 9/ 24
In the B- system, the line of intersection (polar axis) of the planes goes through the
photometric centre and is parallel to the second axes of the luminaire. Figure 2 depicts
the system.
In the C - system, the line of intersection (polar axis) of the planes is the vertical line
through the photometric centre and is depicted in Figure 3.
4.3
Test Methods
National or International Standards or recommendations of the CIE shall be followed for
all the photometric tests. For any other test method, the same should be validated before
adoption.
Facilities
5.1
Accommodation
Space required by the laboratory would depend on the type of tests, workload and
number of work personnel. Adequate space should, however, be provided to ensure
Adequate optical path length as per relevant standards, e.g. 30m for floodlight,
25m for automobile headlights
5.2
That photometric measurements are free of thermal effects of life test on lamps
Environment
Environmental condition of the laboratory should comply with the following:
Relative humidity of the photometric test area should not exceed 70%
In case of goniophotometry, the walls, ceiling and floor of the test area should have
non-reflective, non-selective and matt finished black surface.
Stray light intrusion into the optical path and the photo detector should be
eliminated through the use of suitable baffles
5.3
Equipment
Depending on the tests being performed, the photometry laboratory would be equipped
with one or more of the following minimum configurations.
5.3.1
Spherephotometry
i)
Integrating Sphere
Sphere diameter should at least be 10 times the diameter of the lamp for spherical
lamps and at least 1.5 times the largest dimension in case of tubular lamps. Interior
coating of the sphere should be non-selective and highly diffusive with a
reflectance preferably of 0.8 throughout the visible spectrum of 380 to 780 nm. The
sphere should have 4-terminal lamp holders, 2 terminals for power supply and the
other 2 for voltage measurement and monitoring at the lamp terminals, so that the
voltage drop between the point of measurement on the supply line and the
lampholder contacts does not exceed 0.1% of the test voltage. Facility should be
incorporated for orientation of the lamp, in order to effect correction for spatial light
distribution. A small screen/ baffle should be placed at a distance d/4 or d/6 (d =
sphere diameter) from the photocell so that no direct light falls on the photo-cell.
Hardware inside the sphere should be minimal and all such components like
screen, wiring, holder etc. should have matt white finish, preferably in similar
coating. An auxiliary lamp with a small screen in front of it, should be placed on a
window on the sphere wall for effecting corrections due to different lamp geometry
with respect to calibrated lamps, as per the method given in Appendix A.
ii)
iii)
Power Supply
Since DC meters exhibit better accuracy, power to all incandescent lamps for
spherephotometry should be provided through a DC Power Supply. The Power
Supply, however, must give stable output of 1% at the test voltage, with the AC
component not exceeding 0.5%. For AC Power Supply, the harmonic content of
the output should not exceed 3% of the fundamental and shall have the same
output stability.
iv)
5.3.2
Goniophotometry
i)
Goniophotometer
Depending on the type of test being performed, the laboratory would be equipped
with one or more of the following types of Goniophotometers.
In which the luminaire/lamp is rotated around one axis only, the second
rotation being given by a relative movement between the luminaire and the
photometer head around a second axis at right angles to the first and
crossing is at the photometric centre of the goniophotometer
In which the luminaire/lamp does not move at all. The photometer head
rotates around two mutually perpendicular axes whose crossing is the
photometric centre of the goniophotometer.
Test Distance
Test distance should be such that it satisfies the inverse square law. For this, the
test distance should generally be 15 times the maximum light emitting area of the
luminaire or 5 times the light emitting area parallel to the lamp axis.
iii)
5.3.3
5.3.4
Life Test
Lamps under life test should have the same burning position as in the actual fitment.
Spacing between the lamps on the life test rig should be such that thermal effect of one
lamp does not affect the power consumption of the adjacent lamps. During the life test,
terminal voltage of the individual lamps should be monitored. The supply voltage to the
test rig should incorporate suppression of surges above 600V. Normal airflow should be
ensured in the laboratory during the life test. Other parameters of the test should be
maintained as per the relevant standard.
5.3.5
5.3.6
Other Instruments
Other instruments used for conducting photometric tests like scales, measuring tapes,
vernier calipers, spirit levels, frequency meters, power meters, reference ballasts,
temperature indicators, hygrometers etc. should comply with the accuracy requirement
of the relevant and applicable standards.
6.1
Personnel
The photometry testing laboratory shall be headed by a person preferably having a post
graduate degree in physics or equivalent or Bachelor degree in electrical / mechanical /
electronics / instrumentation engineering / technology or equivalent with adequate
experience in the relevant area especially in the analysis of testing of relevant products.
The minimum qualification for the technical staff in a photometry testing laboratory shall
be Graduate in Science with photometry / optical measurement as one of the subjects or
Diploma
in
Electrical/ Mechanical/
Electronics/
Instrumentation
engineering or
equivalent. The staff shall have sufficient training and exposure in analysis and testing of
appropriate products.
The laboratory technicians or equivalent shall have higher secondary certificate in
science / ITI and at least one year experience or training in a relevant laboratory.
6.2
Authorized Signatory
The minimum requirement for an Authorized Signatory shall be a Graduate in Science
with physics as one of the subjects / Diploma in Electrical/ Mechanical/ Electronics/
Instrumentation engineering or equivalent from a recognized university with at least 5
years experience in relevant field, or Post-graduate in physics / specialization in
photometry / optical measurement or Degree in Electrical/ Mechanical/ Electronics/
Instrumentation engineering / technology or equivalent from a recognized university with
at least 2 years experience in relevant field.
Note: The Assessment team may however recommend Authorized Signatory who does
not meet the above specified minimum experience requirement with specific
recommendations to NABL, after adjudging the competence of the Authorized Signatory
during on-site assessment.
6.3
Training
The work experience should relate to the type of tests being performed. The laboratory
shall have a system for imparting necessary training to technical staff at various levels
through any of the following:
In-house
In a lighting industry
Calibration
All measurements should have traceability to national or international standard. For this, all
measuring instruments including the calibrated lamps should be calibrated either from NPL or
from a NABL accredited laboratory. For all in-house calibrations, the Standard should have
direct traceability to national or international standard.
Precautions
All lamps should be agent for the hours specified in the relevant standard, in the
absence of which, ageing should be carried out for 10% of their specified life.
ii)
iii)
iv)
Light sources should be burnt in the same position as it would be done during its actual
operation or as recommended by the manufacturer.
v)
Since regenerating halide cycle of the tungsten halogen lamps gets adversely affected
with the change of burning position leading to change in light output characteristics, such
lamps should be burnt only at the recommended position.
vi)
The lamp should be oriented through 90o and the lux values averaged in order to
compensate for the effect of spatial light distribution.
vii)
viii)
While determining sphere factor, current values rather than the voltage values of the
calibrated lamp data sheet should be duplicated.
ix)
x)
The integrating sphere and the lamps should always be handled with clean white glove
hand.
xi)
xii)
For discharge lamps where starting device requires high voltage, care should be taken
to protect the electronic metering circuit against voltage surges.
Test results of photometric measurements should be reported as per the norms and formats
prescribed in the relevant and applicable standards.
10
Records
While all records of the laboratory should be maintained for the period prescribed in the
laboratorys quality system documents and in line with ISO/ IEC 17025: 2005, records pertaining
to calibrated lamps and determination of sphere factor should be maintained for a minimum
period of 2 years.
Appendix A
For luminous flux measurement of lamps having different geometry than the calibrated lamps, a
correction may be applied using the following relationship:
Luminous flux = Luminous flux of calibrated lamp * (E / ES) * (ESA / EA)
Where,
ES
- Illuminance value in lux with Std. lamp ON & Aux. lamp OFF
ESA
- Illuminance value in lux with Std. lamp OFF & Aux. lamp ON
EA
- Illuminance value in lux with lamp under test OFF & Aux. lamp ON
- Illuminance value in lux with lamp under test ON & Aux. lamp OFF
Fig. 1 : A - Plane
Fig. 2 : B - Plane
Fig. 3 : C - Plane