UL and TÜV Rheinland: Latest OLED/LED Lighting Product Certification Trends
Bullish on the prospects of the emerging OLED lighting technology, UL — a product safety standards developer and testing and certification provider — announced to domestic manufacturers during the 2012 Taipei International Photonics Week that, in the face of this rapidly emerging new-generation trend, UL is already prepared to provide the greatest support for the development of OLED lighting technology right from the production source. In addition, TÜV Rheinland Taiwan has also provided the latest information on the LED lighting product certification requirements for products imported into the Japanese market.
Timing and degree of innovation are the decisive keys for OLED products
International manufacturers successively launched next-generation lighting technology fixtures in 2012 that are thinner and lighter than LEDs and offer more application methods. Among these, the topic of organic LEDs (OLED) continues to generate heated discussion across the global optoelectronics industry, with mass-produced OLED lighting or home appliance products expected to hit the market in the second half of the year. Taiwan is a stronghold in the upstream LED supply chain, and its strategic position is becoming increasingly important internationally.
At the end of 2011, UL pointed out that 'timing' and 'innovation' would be the decisive keys for OLED products. Therefore, based on OLED's low-voltage and low-energy-consumption characteristics, it proposed an OLED-specific UL 8752 'Outline of Investigation for Organic OLED Panels.' Considering OLED's inherently low safety-risk characteristics, this outline adjusts the prevailing safety principles to streamline the investigation process, not only accelerating time-to-market but also enhancing the innovation and market advantages of OLED manufacturers.
UL pointed out that the current UL 8752 standard is used in conjunction with the U.S. 'National Electrical Code' and the 'Canadian Electrical Code.' Its first edition was officially promulgated on June 13, 2012 as the national standard for both the U.S. and Canada: ANSI/UL 8752 and CAN/ULC-S8752, becoming the essential certification guide for OLED panels in North America. For Taiwanese OLED manufacturers seeking to enter the North American market, UL 8752 is the best choice to enhance product value and optimize competitiveness.
The scope of UL 8752 is similar to that of UL 8750 for LED equipment, including OLED panels used in fixed or portable luminaires, as well as OLED panels independently installed in building structures and connected to remote low-voltage sources. Inspection considerations include potential overvoltage/current conditions, thermal dissipation performance, flame spread, and risks of glass breakage. Scoring items also include factors related to OLED product power supply matching.
Latest certification requirements to be aware of when entering the Japanese LED lighting market
TÜV Rheinland pointed out that Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) issued on July 1, 2011 the 'Cabinet Order to Partially Amend the Enforcement Order of the Electrical Appliance and Material Safety Law.' According to the latest provisions of this order, LED bulbs and LED luminaires sold in the Japanese market will be required to bear the circular PSE mark starting July 1, 2012.
这意味LED 灯泡及LED 灯具也成为《电气用品安全法》管制对象。管控对象范围限于额定电压为 100V~300V ，额定功率大于 1W 的使用 50Hz 和 60Hz 交流电路的 LED灯具和灯泡。德国莱因表示，日本 LED 产品认证的安全和电磁兼容标准目前只有公告省令 1 项，省令2 项(JIEC)的协调标准尚未公告。因此与 LED相关的IEC 标准不在《电气用品安全法》接受范围内，也代表从 2012 年 7 月 1 日进口至日本市场必需依据日本省令 1 项的技术基准制造 LED 灯泡和 LED 灯具。
台湾德国莱因为日本 METI 核可之发证单位 (ACAB)，可以在台湾直接执行省令1 项之相关测试，所核发报告具有公信力并可直接在台湾核发，审核时间短且申请流程简单方便。 一站式服务，一次测试、一次文件准备，世界通用。