The correct way to "turn on" the "eye protection" desk lamp

For children who are at a critical stage of learning, growth and vision development, how can we choose an imported reading and writing desk lamp with safe and reliable quality? Let's see what professionals say.

1. How much do you know about "eye protection" desk lamps? Can eye protection desk lamps really "protect your eyes"?

Reading and writing desk lamps refer to desk lamps that provide lighting for reading, writing or similar activities, including desk lamps that claim to be "eye-protecting". They generally use tungsten filament lamps, fluorescent lamps or LED lamps as light sources. The main standards involved are:

GB/T 9473-2017 "Performance requirements for reading and writing desk lamps";

GB 7000.1-2015 "Luminaires Part 1: General requirements and tests";

GB 7000.204-2008 “Luminaires Part 2-4: Portable general purpose luminaires”.

2. What are the key safety inspection items? Are there any safety risks in the desk lamp you use?

1. Stability test

The main assessment is on the stability of the placement of the desk lamp, in order to prevent users from being mechanically injured by the desk lamp tipping over and falling during use, or from abnormal overheating of the installation surface due to the desk lamp continuing to work after tipping over, creating a fire hazard.

(II) External wiring

The main assessment is whether the fixing devices of the desk lamp's power cord and external flexible cable can protect the wires from the stress of tension and torsion when subjected to external forces, so as to prevent the risk of electric shock caused by loose or detached cable connections due to external tension and torsion during the use of the desk lamp.

(III) Protection against electric shock

Desk lamps must meet the corresponding anti-electric shock protection type. Except for low-voltage desk lamps, most desk lamps are Class II anti-electric shock types and should meet the requirements of reinforced insulation or double insulation. It is not allowed to touch live parts and basic insulating parts, otherwise it is very easy to cause electric shock hazards.

(IV) Heat and fire resistance - needle flame test

Assess whether the plastic material supporting the live parts of the desk lamp can effectively retard flames and reduce the risk of fire.

3. What are the key performance indicators? What should be measured in the matter of "eye protection"?

In addition to the key safety inspection items listed above, imported desk lamps that claim to be "eye-protecting" or reading and writing desk lamps are benchmarked against the reading and writing desk lamps defined in the national standard. It is recommended to use the standard GB/T 9473 "Performance Requirements for Reading and Writing Desk Lamps".

1. Illuminance and illumination uniformity

This indicator reflects whether the desk lamp can provide the best illumination for reading and writing tasks, and whether the illumination is uniform. It is the core indicator of reading and writing performance. Desk lamps for reading and writing tasks are classified into Class A and Class AA according to the illumination level. Class AA has a higher illumination value than Class A.

(II) Blue light hazard categories

Blue light hazard is caused by photochemical effects after exposure to radiation with wavelengths mainly between 400nm and 500nm, which has the potential to cause retinal damage. At present, the blue light hazard category is divided into four levels, RG0, RG1, RG2, and RG3, representing non-hazardous, low-hazardous, medium-hazardous, and high-hazardous categories respectively. The blue light hazard category of desk lamps for reading and writing should not exceed RG0.

(III) Light-shielding

Desk lamps for reading and writing should not produce excessive glare. When a person is in a sitting position, the surface brightness of all luminous parts observed by the human eye should not be greater than 2000cd/m2.

(IV) Flashing

The light emitted by the reading and writing desk lamp should not have uncomfortable flicker (stroboscopic). All light sources working under AC power will produce flicker. There is no such thing as absolutely flicker-free. The degree of flicker depends on the frequency of the AC current, the continuity of the light produced by the light source, and the observation conditions. The reading and writing desk lamp uses the fluctuation depth to evaluate the flicker, which is divided into low risk level and no significant impact level.

(V) Marking information

In addition, special attention should be paid to the marking information of desk lamps for reading and writing. For adjustable desk lamps (adjustable light color and adjustable angle), since the performance in the final use varies greatly, the product should clearly indicate the gear for reading and writing operations or the adjustment range that can meet the lighting requirements. When in use, the gear and position of the desk lamp should also be adjusted according to the product's explicit requirements. Otherwise, the test will need to be carried out under multiple light color combinations, which will inevitably increase the chance of non-compliance with standard requirements.

4. How should ordinary consumers choose and buy? How can they use the "eye protection" desk lamp correctly?

Tips for buying imported "eye protection" desk lamps:

Strategy 1

Check whether the product has the China Compulsory Certification (CCC) mark. You can check the validity of the certificate on the website of the National Certification and Accreditation Administration. For reading and writing desk lamps or desk lamps claiming to be "eye-protecting", check whether there are clear national standards, whether they can provide formal test reports, or whether they have been certified by formal institutions.

Strategy 2

Check whether the product identification information, certificate of conformity and instruction manual are complete. The identification should include information such as manufacturer information, product model, rated voltage, rated power, number of light sources, light source model or light source power, and protection against electric shock.

For desk lamps used for reading and writing, it should also include information such as the illumination level, the gear for reading and writing tasks or the adjustment range that can meet the lighting requirements (for adjustable desk lamps), and the general color rendering index.

Strategy Three

Check whether the desk lamp is intact and not damaged, whether the accessories are complete, choose products with good stability, and check whether the power cord is securely fixed.

Strategy 4

Turn on the desk lamp to check the light source. There should be no glaring spots or obvious dark spots. The light should feel soft to the naked eye without obvious flickering. Check the desktop illumination. There should be no obvious uneven brightness. Choose A or AA illumination according to your own needs. Based on the principle of appropriate illumination, it is not recommended to increase the illumination without limit. Do not buy products with only high color temperature. Give priority to products with a high color rendering index.

Precautions for use:

1. Do not use the lamp in an environment with flammable, explosive or corrosive gases, or in places with water. The tabletop on which the lamp is placed should be kept level.

(ii) Adjustable desk lamps should be used within the gear position or adjustment range specified by the product to meet the requirements for reading and writing tasks.

(III) Do not use desk lamps with a color temperature higher than 4000K at night. If the color temperature of the desk lamp is adjustable, it is recommended to adjust it to 4000K or below, and turn on the ambient light to reduce the illumination difference between the desktop and the surrounding environment.

It is certainly important to choose and use a qualified desk lamp for reading and writing, but protecting your eyes is also closely related to your eye habits. Do not use your eyes at close range for a long time. When using a desk lamp at night, take a break every once in a while, adjust the eye distance, and prevent myopia.