Photometric Testing

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. 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.

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

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 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.