IEC International Standards for the lighting industry

(07/07/2010)

LED (light-emitting diode) technology was developed nearly 50 years ago, but widespread commercial use is quite recent. LEDs are now commonly used for automotive lighting, traffic lights and signals, emergency lighting, visual signal applications, decorative and street lighting.

LEDs are also used in non-visual applications such as remote controls and as movement sensors, i.e. for optical computer mice. They find application in machine vision systems such as barcode scanners and contour illumination in assembly lines. Because of their low heat production LEDs find application in medical lighting and with their low power consumption they help preserve battery power in many electronic and multimedia devices.

New innovations are bringing production costs down and LED light output is currently doubling every 36 months.

The IEC, founded in 1906, is today the world leading organization that prepares and publishes International Standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies – collectively known as "electrotechnology".

The IEC provides industry and governments with a platform where they can meet, discuss and prepare the Standards they need. The IEC also handles three Conformity Assessment Systems for the millions of devices that use or produce electricity in any form.

o Over 10 000 experts in 174 Technical Committees with over 1 000 Working Groups
o Over 6 000 International Standards in catalogue today
o Over 500 000 Conformity Assessment certificates established

All IEC International Standards are fully consensus-based and represent the needs of key stakeholders of every country that participates in IEC work. They enable global trade and ensure technology transfer.

The IEC is one of three sister organizations (IEC, ISO and ITU) that prepare International Standards for the world.

The IEC is keeping abreast of these developments by providing relevant International Standards. Many different TCs (Technical Committees) within the IEC cooperate to deliver Standards that help industry produce safe, efficient, high-quality products.

Lighting covers a vast number of applications and involves many different disciplines. Think power supply, batteries, wires, switches, transformers, converters, starters, enclosures, digital control systems in home networks, the colour rendering in monitors and more.

IEC International Standards address the needs of the lighting industry in terms of requirements, tests, safety and EMC (electromagnetic compatibility). They cover anything from product to systems specifications, to safety and performance, interoperability and their impact on the environment both during production and at the end of their life cycle.

Billions of lamps, indicators and luminaires used in households, gardens and pools; public and private transportation; industrial complexes; hospitals, stadiums and urban environments; zoos and aquariums; film, photo and theatre production; and much more, are built, wired and connected based on IEC International Standards.

The leading TC for lighting is IEC TC 34: Lamps and related equipment. Its work is driven by rapid technological developments and changes in regulatory requirements that have to continuously be incorporated into new and existing Standards. Areas where changes are especially rapid include the automotive industry, alternative light sources such as LEDs and new government regulations in the area of EMFs (Electromagnetic Fields).

IEC International Standards, driven by industry needs, are state of the art. They are fully consensus-based, and respond to market needs in countries all around the globe. They facilitate innovation, help avoid costly mistakes, and improve quality and efficiency. They simplify production, quality control and technology transfer. They reduce costs for redundant testing, certification and homologation, reduce waste, facilitate communication and increase business efficiency.

IEC International Standards are regularly reviewed to stay abreast of latest technology developments, safety and environmental needs and regulatory requirements. Many regulators include references to IEC International Standards in their legislation to ensure ongoing relevance.

IEC International Standards also serve as the basis for Conformity Assessment and Certification. Without testing and certification, Standards remain theoretical. To complement Standards development, the IEC handles three global Conformity Assessment Systems that each covers a dedicated sector of electrotechnology.

Related categories:  Lamps   Legislation and regulation