Overview
IEC 60050-845:2020, titled International Electrotechnical Vocabulary (IEV) - Part 845: Lighting, is a comprehensive international standard published by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). It defines the general terminology related to lighting, including terms for specific lighting applications and associated technologies. This second edition updates and complements the previous edition, aligning terminology consistently across the broader International Electrotechnical Vocabulary framework.
As a horizontal publication under IEC Guide 108, IEC 60050-845:2020 serves as a key reference for professionals, researchers, and standardization bodies engaged in lighting technology. The standard integrates terminology from the International Commission on Illumination (CIE) International Lighting Vocabulary (ILV), consolidating authoritative lighting terms used worldwide.
Key Topics
IEC 60050-845:2020 covers an extensive range of lighting-related terminology, structured into specialized sections to facilitate clarity and usability:
- Radiation, Quantities and Units: Defines fundamental concepts related to light radiation characteristics.
- Vision and Colour Rendering: Terms describing human visual perception and color quality assessment.
- Colorimetry: Vocabulary dealing with measurement and specification of color.
- Optical Properties of Materials: Definitions related to emission and light interaction with materials.
- Measurement Techniques: Photometric, radiometric, and colorimetric measurement methods and detectors.
- Actinic Effects of Optical Radiation: Terms related to biological effects induced by light.
- Light Sources and Components: Vocabulary on natural and artificial light sources, their components, and auxiliary devices.
- Lighting Technology and Daylighting: Concepts pertinent to lighting system design, daylight utilization, and control.
- Luminaires and Their Components: Definitions concerning lighting fixtures and their structural elements.
- Visual Signalling: Terminology for signaling devices using light.
- Imaging: New in the second edition, terms related to image formation via lighting technologies.
The standard provides bilingual definitions in English and French, with additional terms offered in Arabic, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, and Chinese, supporting international collaboration and understanding.
Applications
IEC 60050-845:2020 is invaluable across various industries and applications, including:
- Lighting Design and Engineering: Offers standardized language for specifying lighting components, systems, and their performance characteristics.
- Standards Development and Compliance: Assists regulatory bodies and companies in ensuring terminological consistency in national and international lighting standards.
- Research and Development: Facilitates clear communication of concepts among scientists and technologists in lighting innovation.
- Manufacturing and Quality Control: Supports manufacturers in defining product attributes and quality measures precisely.
- Education and Training: Serves as an authoritative resource for academic curricula and professional development in electrotechnical and lighting fields.
By harmonizing terminology, the standard enhances interoperability, reduces misunderstandings, and aids in the global adoption of lighting technologies that meet safety, efficiency, and sustainability goals.
Related Standards
IEC 60050-845:2020 forms part of the broad IEC 60050 series - the International Electrotechnical Vocabulary (IEV), which standardizes terminology across electrical, electronic, and related technologies. Related standards include:
- Other parts of IEC 60050 addressing fields such as electrical installations, power systems, and electronic components.
- IEC Guide 108, which outlines the principles for horizontal publications like IEC 60050 series for ensuring terminology consistency across domains.
- Publications developed jointly with the International Commission on Illumination (CIE) to align electrotechnical vocabulary with lighting science, including the CIE International Lighting Vocabulary (ILV).
- Specialized lighting standards developed by IEC technical committees, such as IEC TC 34 for lighting and IEC TC 1 for terminology.
For access to the latest terminology updates and related electrotechnical vocabulary, users are encouraged to consult the IEC Electropedia online database, which integrates IEC 60050 terminology with multilingual support.
Keywords: IEC 60050-845:2020, International Electrotechnical Vocabulary, IEV, lighting terminology, lighting technology, colorimetry, photometry, light sources, luminaires, lighting standards, IEC, CIE, electrotechnical standardization.