Photobiological Safety Standards for Lighting Products and Purchasing Guide for Healthy Lighting

Photobiological safety is a core safety indicator of lighting products, referring to the potential impact of light emitted by lighting products on the human visual system and biological rhythms, mainly including blue light hazard, ultraviolet radiation, infrared radiation, and glare. Understanding photobiological safety standards and mastering the purchasing methods of healthy lighting products is crucial for protecting human health.​
China's current national standard for photobiological safety is GB/T 20145-2013 "Photobiological Safety of Lamps and Lamp Systems". This standard classifies the blue light hazard of lighting products into four levels: RG0 (no hazard), RG1 (low hazard), RG2 (moderate hazard), and RG3 (high hazard). Among them, RG0 indicates that under normal use conditions, the blue light of the lighting product will not cause harm to the human body, which is the ideal choice for indoor lighting products; RG1 is suitable for lighting products used for a short time; RG2 and RG3 are only suitable for special industrial or medical scenarios and are prohibited from being used for ordinary indoor lighting. The new standard under revision in 2025 will further tighten the blue light hazard limits, requiring indoor lighting products to meet the RG0 level, and at the same time strengthen the control of ultraviolet radiation and infrared radiation.​
Blue light hazard is the core focus of photobiological safety. Blue light has a wavelength between 400-500nm. Short-wavelength blue light (400-450nm) has high energy. Long-term exposure may damage retinal cells, affecting visual health, and at the same time inhibit the secretion of melatonin, interfering with the sleep rhythm. Healthy lighting products reduce the proportion of short-wavelength blue light and increase the proportion of long-wavelength blue light (450-500nm), green light, and red light through optimized spectrum design to achieve low blue light hazard. In addition, healthy lighting products also need to meet the requirements of high color rendering index (Ra ≥ 80, preferably Ra ≥ 90), no stroboscopic effect (stroboscopic frequency ≥ 3125Hz), and appropriate color temperature (3000K-4000K is recommended for indoor lighting).​
Consumers can follow the following five principles when purchasing healthy lighting products: Firstly, check the photobiological safety certification and confirm that the product is labeled with the RG0 certification mark. Secondly, check the color rendering index and prioritize products with Ra ≥ 90. Products with R9 (red reproduction index) ≥ 50 are more suitable for scenarios with high color reproduction requirements. Thirdly, pay attention to the stroboscopic parameters and choose products with no stroboscopic effect or high-frequency stroboscopic effect (≥ 3125Hz) to avoid visual fatigue caused by low-frequency stroboscopic effect. Fourthly, choose products with adjustable color temperature to adjust the color temperature according to different usage scenarios (work, rest, reading). Fifthly, prioritize purchasing from formal channels, check the product test report, and avoid purchasing three-no products (no manufacturer, no production date, no quality certificate). For special groups such as infants and young children, the elderly, and students and office workers who read and write for a long time, it is recommended to choose healthy lighting products specially designed for these groups, such as special lamps for maternity and infant rooms, elderly care lamps, and desk lamps for reading and writing.