NABL 109 Photometry Testing Laboratories

NABL 109
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
1
Page No.
Clause No.
Date of Amendment
Amendment made
Reasons
Signature QM
Signature Director
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National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories

Doc. No: NABL 109 Issue No: 02 Specific Criteria for Photometry Testing Laboratories Issue Date: 28.03.2008 Amend No: 00 Amend Date: -Page No: i
Contents
S.NO. SECTION Amendment Sheet Contents 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Introduction Scope of Accreditation Terminology Principles of Measurement Facilities Personnel and Training Calibration Precautions Reporting of the Test Results Records Appendix A Fig. 1 : A - Plane Fig. 2 : B - Plane Fig. 3 : C - Plane PAGE NO. i ii 1 2 3 8 11 15 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Doc. No: NABL 109 Issue No: 02 Specific Criteria for Photometry Testing Laboratories Issue Date: 28.03.2008 Amend No: 00 Amend Date: -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.

Doc. No: NABL 109 Issue No: 02 Specific Criteria for Photometry Testing Laboratories Issue Date: 28.03.2008 Amend No: 00 Amend Date: -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 Light Sources (Electric Lamp) 2.1.1 2.1.2 2.1.3 2.1.4 Initial Rating Test Life Test Luminous Flux Output Color Characteristics 2.1.1.1. 2.1.1.2. 2.1.1.3. 2.2 Luminaires 2.2.1 2.2.2 2.2.3 2.2.4 Luminous Intensity Distribution Downward & Upward Light Output Ratio (DLOR/ULOR) MHI Value in Lumens Ballast Lumen Factor Color Co-ordinates (CIE Chromaticity Coordinates) Color Temperature Color Rendering Index (CRI)
The scope does not apply to various techniques of measurement of optical guidance systems like electroluminance, phosphorescence, LEDs etc.

3
Terminology
Acceptance Area (of Photometer) It is the area of photometer head, which is receiving and directionally evaluating the incident light.
Ballast A device used with an electric discharge lamp to obtain the necessary circuit conditions (voltage, current and waveform) for starting and operating.
Ballast Lumen Factor It is the ratio of the luminous flux emitted by a reference lamp when operated with particular production ballast, to the luminous flux emitted by the same lamp when operated with its reference ballast.
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 Co-ordinates (x,y,z) It is the ratios of each of the tristimulus values of the light to the sum of the three tristimulus values.
Chromaticity Diagram It is a plane diagram formed by plotting one of three chromaticity co-ordinates against another.
Color Rendering Index (CRI) It is a measure of the degree of color shift objects undergo, when illuminated by the light source as compared with the color of those same objects when illuminated by a reference source of comparable color temperature.
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.

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.
Illuminance (E) (lm/m2) It is the density of luminous flux incident on a surface.
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.
Integrating Sphere (Ulbrichts Sphere) Photometric equipment for measuring the indirect illuminance of the inner surface of the sphere.
Light Centre Point used as origin for photometric measurements and calculations.
Light Output Ratio The ratio of the luminous flux of the luminaire, measured under specified practical conditions with its own lamp and equipment, to the sum of the individual luminous fluxes of the same lamps when operated outside the luminaire with the same equipment under specified conditions.
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.

Luminance (L) (cd/m2) It is the quantity of light emitted per unit area of a surface in a certain direction. It is also known as brightness.
Luminous Efficacy The quotient of the total luminous flux emitted by the total lamp power input, expressed in lumen/ watt.
Luminous Flux () (lm) It is the rate of emission of light, derived from the radiant flux by weighing the radiation with respect to the sensitivity of the human eye.
Luminous Intensity () (cd) It is the luminous flux radiated by a light source in a specific direction per second per solid angle.
Luminous Intensity Distribution It is the distribution of luminous intensity with direction and is expressed in candelas per 1000 lumens.
Luminous Intensity Distribution Curve The luminous intensity distribution curve (for a lamp or light fitting) is the curve, generally polar, which represents the luminous intensity in a plane passing through the source, as a function of the angle measured from some given direction.
MHI (Mean Horizontal Intensity) The average intensity (candela) of a lamp/ luminaire in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the lamp/ luminaire and which passes through the luminous centre of the lamp/ luminaire.
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).

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.
Photometric Test Distance It is the distance from the photometric centre of the luminaire to the surface of the photometer head.
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)

Luminous flux lumen (lm) Illuminance lux (lx) Solid angle Steradian (sr) Transmittance () It is the ratio of the transmitted flux () to the incident flux (I) i.e. = /I Tristimulus Values (X,Y,Z) It is the amount of each of the three primaries required to match the color of the light. Upward/ Downward Light Output Ratio (ULOR / DLOR) The product of the light output ration of a luminaire and the upward / downward flux fraction.

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4.1
Principles of Measurement
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 4.2.1
Goniophotometry For Measurement of Luminous Flux By definition, Luminous Intensity is the luminous flux per solid angle in a specified direction of radiation. If I is the luminous intensity in Candela (cd), the luminous flux in Lumens (lm) and the solid angle in Steradians (sr), then I = /

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 For Measurement of Luminous Intensity Goniophotometry is used for the measurement of luminous intensity of luminaries in specific directions as well as determination of total luminous flux output of light sources. It is also used for the measurement of light output ratio (LOR) of luminaries. Luminous Intensity (I) is determined from the measured illuminance value and the calculated photometric distance, as per the following formula: I = E * d2 / Cos Where, E illuminance on the acceptance area d distance between luminaire and acceptance area - angle of incidence in steradians, measured relative to the normal to the acceptance area Measurement of luminous intensity is generally done in any one of the three system of planes, viz. A-, B- and C- In the A- system, the line of intersection (polar axis) of the planes goes through the photometric centre and is perpendicular to the plane containing the first and the second axes of the luminaire. Figure 1 depicts the system.

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.

5
5.1
Facilities
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 Obstruction free layout of test facilities Adequate optical path length as per relevant standards, e.g. 30m for floodlight, 25m for automobile headlights That photometric measurements are free of thermal effects of life test on lamps
5.2
Environment Environmental condition of the laboratory should comply with the following: Ambient for photometric tests should be controlled to 25 4o C 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) Photo-cell and Luxmeter Should be silicon photodiode having a small diameter so that it flushes with the internal surface of the sphere after fitment. It should be cosine as well as color corrected with response as close to the CIE Photopic Luminnosity Curve as possible. The accuracy of the photo-cell with respect to the CIE observer should be 3% (max) for cosine correction and 5% (max) for V () match. The display unit should have an accuracy class of 0.5. 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) Voltmeter & Ammeter The meters used should be of class 0.5 and should have 1/10th the resolution of the specified value of measurement. The accuracy of the meters should be calculated at the indicated reading and not on full scale deflection. 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 two mutually perpendicular axes, whose intersection is the photometric centre of the goniophotometer
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.
Goniophotometers without mirrors would need large space to achieve adequate optical path necessary for carrying out the measurement. Mirror goniophotometer is used where the axis of the luminaire burning position is to be maintained undisturbed. It is also used to meet the requirement of adequate optical path through multiple reflections of the mirrors. The resolution of the goniophotometer scale should be 0.5o or better. Mirror goniophotometer may have one-mirror or two-mirror system, depending on the requirement. In one mirror system, the mirror rotates around the luminarie axis while the photometric values are noted at various planes at various angles. In twomirror system, in addition to the rotating mirror, a fixed mirror is incorporated to increase the optical path. The diameter of the rotating mirror shall not be less than 1.5 times the maximum length of the luminarie, while the size of the fixed mirror shall not be less than the maximum dimension of the luminaire. ii) 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) Photo-cell & Luxmeter, Power Supply and Voltmeter & Ammeter Should have the same specifications as mentioned for spherephotometry.

5.3.3
Calibrated Standard/ Sub-Standard Lamp The Sphere Factor should be determined using at least 3 nos. calibrated lamps, from either the NPL, New Delhi or another NABL accredited laboratory, so that traceability to National Standard is established. Calibrated lamps could also have international traceability viz. NIST-USA, PTB-Germany, BIPM-France, NPL-UK. The Sphere Factor should be rechecked at prescribed intervals but not later than once in three months.
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
Chromaticity Co-ordinate Meter/ Colorimeter Should measure X, Y and Z tristimulus values for determination of color coordinates and color temperature. The meter could also incorporate direct display of color temperature in (K). The accuracy of the colorimeter head with respect to the CIE Colorimeter Standard Observer should be 5% (max) for spectral response and cosine correction of 3% (max). The display unit should have an accuracy of 0.5.
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.

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6.1
Personnel and Training

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 By arrangement with an accredited laboratory in photometry In a lighting industry Training program / courses organized by professional bodies in the field of lighting.

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
Following precautions should be taken in a photometry laboratory: i) 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) Lamp surface should be wiped clean before test. The photocell surface should be maintained in a clean condition, as a dusty photocell may read the flux value much lower than the actual. 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) A correction factor, as determined by the method given in the Appendix, should be applied when calibrated lamps and the lamps to be tested have different geometry. viii) While determining sphere factor, current values rather than the voltage values of the calibrated lamp data sheet should be duplicated. ix) The sphere should be recoated / repainted periodically to minimize influence of ageing and pollution. x) The integrating sphere and the lamps should always be handled with clean white glove hand. xi) xii) The lux values should be allowed to be stabilized before reading. For discharge lamps where starting device requires high voltage, care should be taken to protect the electronic metering circuit against voltage surges.

Reporting of the Test Results
Test results of photometric measurements should be reported as per the norms and formats prescribed in the relevant and applicable standards.

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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 ESA EA E - Illuminance value in lux with Std. lamp ON & Aux. lamp OFF - Illuminance value in lux with Std. lamp OFF & Aux. lamp ON - 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

National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories 3rd Floor, NISCAIR 14, Satsang Vihar Marg New Mehrauli Road New Delhi 110 067 Tel.: 91-11 26529718 20, 26526864 Fax: 91-11 26529716 Website: www.nabl-india.org

NABL 109 Photometry Testing Laboratories

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NABL 109

NATIONAL ACCREDITATION BOARD FOR TESTING AND CALIBRATION LABORATORIES

PHOTOMETRY TESTING LABORATORIES

ISSUE NO : 02 ISSUE DATE: 28.03.2008

AMENDMENT NO : 00 AMENDMENT DATE: --

National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories

National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories

National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories

National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories

National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories

Illuminance (E) (lm/m2) It is the density of luminous flux incident on a surface.

National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories

Photometer It is an instrument for measuring photometric quantities.

National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories

National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories

National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories

National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories

National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories

National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories

National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories

National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories

National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories

National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories

Personnel and Training

National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories

National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories

National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories

National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories

Reporting of the Test Results

National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories

National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories

National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories

National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories

National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories

National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories

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