European Union - Standard Changes for Lighting Products

By Ylenia Merli, EMEA regulatory program expert

Electrical equipment in compliance with a harmonized European Standard (EN) cited in the Official Journal of the European Union may be presumed to conform with the corresponding requirements of harmonization legislation.

New European harmonized standard editions or amendments become mandatory starting from the “Date of cessation of presumption of conformity of superseded standard” as published in the Official Journal of the European Union. Generally, this date is the same as the Date of Withdrawal (DOW) as published in the individual superseding standards.

This date marks the end of the period when both the old and the new versions of the standard can be used to claim “presumption of conformity” to the essential requirements of the relevant directive. After that date, “presumption of conformity” can no longer be claimed for a product manufactured according to the old version of the standard.

Here is a recent change in harmonized standards:

On Nov. 27, 2020, with the Implementing Decision (EU) 2020/1779, the list of harmonized standards under the Directive 2014/35/EU was amended.

The Implementing Decision (EU) 2020/1779 amending Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/1956 regarding harmonized standards for certain household and similar appliances, electrical supply track systems for luminaires, luminaires for emergency lighting, switches for household and similar fixed electrical installations, circuit breakers, proximity switches, arc welding power sources, and electrical equipment for measurement, control and laboratory use.

Manufacturers may use the new standards published in the Official Journal of the European Union in order to assess and declare the conformity to the regulation requirements of Directive 2014/35/EU. The publication in the official journal grants presumption of conformity.

View the references of harmonized standards conferring a presumption of conformity with Directive 2014/35/EU. Please be aware that it is an amendment and not the complete list.

This decision shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union except for Points (1) and (3) of Annex I that shall apply from May 30, 2022, and Point (5) of Annex I shall apply from May 30, 2021.

On Oct. 30, 2020, the new EN IEC 61000-4-3:2020 was published. DOW: 2022-10-13.

The EN IEC 61000-4-3:2020 standard is applicable to the immunity requirements of electrical and electronic equipment to radiated electromagnetic energy. It establishes test levels and the required test procedures. This document aims to establish a common reference for evaluating the immunity of electrical and electronic equipment when subjected to radiated, radio-frequency electromagnetic fields.

The test method documented in this part of EN IEC 61000 describes a consistent method to assess the immunity of equipment or systems against radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic fields from RF sources not in close proximity to the equipment under test (EUT).

This edition includes the following significant technical changes compared to the previous edition:

• Testing using multiple test signals is described.
• Additional information on EUT and cable layout has been added.
• The upper frequency limitation has been removed to take account for new services.
• Characterization of the field and checking the power amplifier linearity of the immunity chain are specified.

On Dec. 18, 2020, the new EN IEC 61228:2020 was published. DOW: 2023-12-09.

The IEC 61228:2020 standard describes the method of measuring, evaluating and specifying the UV irradiation characteristics of fluorescent ultraviolet lamps that are used in appliances for tanning purposes.

It includes specific requirements regarding the marking of such lamps. This edition constitutes a technical revision and includes the following significant technical changes from the previous edition:

• Maintenance code: description of the depreciation of the UV irradiance lamp during operation
• Operating position: information added for single capped lamps
• Spectroradiometer measuring system: new information about the distance between sensor and lamp axis
• Measurement and evaluation procedure: separated detailed information for double capped fluorescent UV lamps and single capped fluorescent UV lamps
• Annex C (normative), Method of test for irradiance maintenance: new information added; - Annex D (normative), Reflector gauge: new information added
• Annex E (normative), Lamp datasheets for measurement: complementary information added

How UL can help

UL can help companies demonstrate that their products meet the essential requirements of EU directives and regulations through compliance testing and certification to the applicable harmonized standards. We provide product certification Marks such as the D Mark, UL-EU and ENEC Marks. Widely recognized throughout Europe, the D Mark, UL-EU and ENEC Marks are voluntary for appliances, and they demonstrate compliance of products with harmonized European standards verified by an independent third party. Therefore they could be complementary Marks to the mandatory CE marking, which is based on a self-declaration.

CB Scheme — International Standard IEC

The CB Scheme is a vast international arrangement established by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) for mutual acceptance of test reports among participating certification organizations in the field of electrical and electronic equipment.

The CB Scheme is an international network of product certification organizations in more than 50 countries around the world. 

The CB Scheme benefits product manufacturers and distributors engaged in international trade by providing:

• A single point of product testing for efficient Global Market Access
• Global acceptance of test reports leading to national certification in CB Scheme member countries
• Unilateral acceptance of test reports in many developing countries that are not yet participating in the CB Scheme

On Nov. 4, 2020, IEC 61228:2020 was published.

The IEC 61228:2020 standard describes the method of measuring, evaluating and specifying the UV irradiation characteristics of fluorescent ultraviolet lamps that are used in appliances for tanning purposes. It includes specific requirements regarding the marking of such lamps.

This third edition cancels and replaces the second edition published in 2008. This edition constitutes a technical revision and includes the following significant technical changes compared to  the previous edition:

• Maintenance code: description of the depreciation of the UV irradiance lamp during operation
• Operating position: information added for single capped lamps
• Spectro radiometric measuring system: new information about the distance between sensor and lamp axis
• Measurement and evaluation procedure: separated detailed information for double capped fluorescent UV lamps and single capped fluorescent UV lamps
• Annex C (normative), Method of test for irradiance maintenance: new information added; Annex D (normative), Reflector gauge: new information added
• Annex E (normative), Lamp data sheets for measurement: complementary information added

How UL can help

UL is one of the largest and most active CB Scheme members and we operate four National Certification Bodies (NCBs) in various countries and over 50 CB Testing Laboratories (CBTLs) to provide our customers with local service and global coverage.

Our NCBs in Denmark, United States, Japan and Canada, with CBTLs in all major regions, can assess your products to a broad range of IEC standards, with any relevant National or Group Differences.