Photometry

Testing of light sources and advanced lighting systems

Our photometric specialists provide comprehensive and independent testing and certification services to ensure the safety, performance, and compliance of lighting products with national and international standards. With advanced techniques and in-depth expertise, we help manufacturers develop products that not only meet legal requirements but also contribute to comfort, efficiency, and innovation in an increasingly demanding market. Learn more about how we ensure product safety and compliance.

Photometry is the science of measuring light as humans see it, focusing on brightness and visible effects rather than just raw energy. It is essential in ensuring lighting products are safe, efficient, and comfortable to use. Photometry plays a key role in product safety by checking that light sources meet necessary standards to protect users.

Our engineers use various techniques to determine the specific photometric properties of your product. Our services include characterizing spectral distribution, lamp efficiency, luminous flux, UV levels, and reflection and transmission. Additionally, we conduct photobiological safety tests to prevent light-induced harm to end users. These tests are an essential part of our photometric services.

Photometry for Smart Lighting Systems

Lighting plays a crucial role in the rise of the Internet of Things (IoT) and the development of connected, smart homes, buildings, and cities. Smart lighting systems, with a wide range of innovative functionalities, also face new challenges in the field of cybersecurity . Stricter regulations and higher standards make it essential to ensure the safety and performance of new lighting products. DEKRA's photometric testing specialists help our clients fully meet these responsibilities.

Photometry at DEKRA

Manufacturers are under increasing pressure. On top of ensuring safety, they are now accountable for delivering products and components with the right photometric properties. At DEKRA, we offer independent services to characterize spectral distribution, lamp efficacy, luminous flux, UV contents, and reflection and transmission. You can also count on us to perform photobiological safety testing of lamps and lamp systems, ensuring that the light emitted by artificial light sources does not harm users.

What do we test?

Our photometry department tests, among other things:

Photometric testing for lighting products

Light-emitting products are everywhere: from low-energy lamps to street lights, from emergency lighting to Christmas tree lights, and from smart dimmers to the realm of healthcare. As technologies become more sophisticated, safety requirements become more stringent. At DEKRA, we ensure we stay ahead of the curve and our specialists keep on top of the latest developments in the lighting industry at all times. Our testing activities cover components, subassemblies, LED modules and complete lighting systems and may lead to certification marks such as ENEC , ENEC+, DEKRA LED Performance, DLC, Lighting Facts and Energy Star.

The following tests can be carried out:

Luminous flux
Lamp efficacy
Color rendering index (CRI)
Correlated color temperature (CCT)
Spectral distribution measurements
Chromaticity coordinates
Luminance measurements
Luminous intensity distributions
Lamp Lumen Maintenance Factor (LLMF)
Ray tracing
Color intensity distribution
Electrical safety

Lighting Testing

Do you need certification according to various lighting standards? Discover our broad portfolio of services for lighting testing and certification.

Photometric labs for automotive lighting

Over the last few years, innovations in headlamps, signaling and light sources in combination with advanced styling and complexity have added tremendous value to automotive lighting. Ensuring quality, performance and safety while obtaining access to global markets is no easy task.

Global standards

Depending on the market, distinct requirements are applicable:

Countries of the European Union, Russia and Japan require certification according to the UN ECE Regulations, for which DEKRA cooperates with several authorities.

North America requires compliance with FMVSS108 (USA), CMVSS108 (Canada) and SAE standards for certain states, depending on the function. This can be demonstrated with reports issued by our partner Calcoast-ITL.

India requires certification according to the AIS Standards based on witness testing by ARAI (or ICAT), which can be done directly in our laboratories.

Taiwan requires certification by the local authorities, VSCC. The reports issued by DEKRA are automatically recognized, saving you time in obtaining VSCC approval.

Brazil requires compliance with the portarias issued by INMETRO, for which DEKRA is accredited for testing, auditing and certification.

China requires certification according to the GB Standards. While testing must take place in Chinese institutes, DEKRA can offer you guidance to ensure a smooth process.

With the support of an international branch network, our photometric laboratories undertake full testing programs in the space of just a few weeks. We take care of the entire process for you, saving you the hassle of submitting test samples to different laboratories.

Photometry for a reliable CMS

Once a future innovation, more and more often rear view and camera monitor systems are being implemented in new vehicle models by car manufacturers across the globe. The first vehicles fitted with cameras instead of mirrors are already on the road and more will follow. These types of systems replace entire side and rearview mirrors and equip vehicles with cameras, displays, electronics and software. It goes without saying that rear view and camera monitor systems need to be tested to ensure that they function consistently, perform well and keep everyone using the vehicle and the road safe.

UNECE Regulation

UNECE Regulation No. 46 was specifically developed for the purpose of approving devices used for indirect vision in motor vehicles. Camera monitor systems can be approved as part of the homologation of vehicles or separately as a supplier product. DEKRA tests the cameras, displays and the system as a whole including electronics according to the current UNECE Regulation No. 46 in DEKRA’s only photometry test lab. Among the aspects tested are lateral uniformity, luminance and contrast rendering, system latency, resolution, magnification factor, sharpness, depth of field, color rendering and more.

Why DEKRA?