- 1 - ICS 43.040.20 
T 38 
 
  
 
National Standard  
of the People's Republic of China 
  
GBXXXX - XXXX 
 
 
 
Photometric characteristics of daytime 
running lamps for motor vehicles  
 
 
  
Draft for approval 
 
 
 Issue Date: 20XX – XX – XX Impl ementation Date: 20XX – XX – XX 
 
Issued by General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and 
Quarantine of the People's  Republic of China and the 
 
Standardisation Administration of the  People's Republic of China (SAC) 
 
 
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Foreword 
 
All of the technical cont ents set out in this Standard are mandatory. 
 
This Standard corresponds to Revision 1, Am endment 4 of ECE R87 of the United Nations 
Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), “Uniform provisions concerning the approval of 
daytime running lamps for power-driven vehicles”; the conformance degree between this Standard 
and ECE R87 is non-equivalent, a nd the main differences are: 
− the Scope has been modified; 
− Normative References have been added; 
− the following sections and appendix relating to administration in ECE R8 7 have been deleted: 
4. Marking; 5. Approval; 12. Type modification and Approval ex tension of daytime running lamps; 
13. Conformity of production; 14. Penalties for non-conformity of production; 15. Production definitely discontinued; 16. Names and addresses of the Technical Se rvice Department responsible for conducting 
approval tests and of Administrative Department; 
Appendix 1 Notice of Approval
 or of refusal or extension or withdrawal of approval or production 
definitely discontinued of a type of daytime running lamp pursuant to Regulation No 87 
Appendix 2 Example of arrangem ent of the approval mark; 
Appendix 4 Colour of light - Chromaticity  coordinates ; 
Appendix 5 Minimum requirements for conformity of production control procedures; Appendix 6 Minimum requirements for sampling by inspectors”; 
− Inspection Rules have been added. 
 
This Standard is proposed by China Nati onal Development and Reform Commission.  
 
This Standard is under the jurisdiction of the National Automobile Standardisation Technical 
Committee.  The organisations that participated in the drafting of this Standard are:  
Shanghai Automotive Lamp Research Institute; Changchun Hella Automotive Lighting Ltd.   The main drafters of this Standard are:   Wang Hua, Yu Peifeng, Yu Yali, Yelin. 
  
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Photometric characteristics of daytime running lamps  
for motor vehicles  
 
(Draft for approval) 
1 Scope 
This Standard specifies the technical requirem ents, test methods and inspection rules for the 
photometric characteristics of daytim e running lamps for motor vehicles. 
 This Standard applies to all types of daytime running lamps for use with Category M and Category 
N motor vehicles.  The daytime running lamps referred to in this Standard are also referred to as lamps. 
2 Normative References 
The provisions of the following documents become  provisions of this Standard after being 
referenced. For dated reference documents, a ll later amendments (excluding corrigenda) and 
versions do not apply to this Standard; however, the parties to the agreem ent are encouraged to 
study whether the latest versions of these doc uments are applicable. For undated reference 
documents, the latest versions apply to this Standard.  GB 4599 Motor vehicle headlamps equipped with filament lamps  GB 4785 Installation regulations for car and trailer exterior illumin ation and light signal devices 
 GB 15766.1 Filament lamps for road vehicles – Di mensional, electrical and luminous requirements 
 ECE R.37 Uniform provisions concer ning the approval of filament la mps for use in approved lamp 
units of power-driven vehicl es and of their trailers 
3 Terms and definitions 
The terms and definitions specified in GB 4785 apply to this Standard. 
4 Lamps of different types 
Lamps which differ in essential respects such as: 
(a) the trade name or mark; 
(b) the characteristics of the op tical system (such as the le vel of luminous intensity, the 
minimum angle of light distribution, the cate gory of employed filament lamp or the light 
source module); 
However, a change of the colour of the filament lamp or the colour of any light filter does not constitute a change of type. 
5 Requirements 
5.1. The lamps shall be designed and constructed so that under normal conditions of use, despite the 
vibrations to which they may be subjected, they  continue to function in accordance with the 
provisions set out in this Standard and con tinue to meet the operational requirements. 
 - 4 - 5.2 In the case of the lamps which use light source module(s),  the light source module(s) shall be 
designed so as to be installable at the correct lo cation even in the dark, and so as to avoid the 
incorrect usage thereof.  5.3 In the case of 
lamps that are incorporated along with another function using the same light source , 
then an electronic light source control gear  can be used to regulate  the luminous intensity. 
 5.4 The colour of light emitted by the lamps shall be white; the chromaticity characteristics thereof 
shall conform to the provisions set out in GB 4785.  5.5 If filament lamps are used, the filament lamp s shall conform to the pr ovisions set out in GB 
15766.1 or ECE R37.  5.6 The area of the light emitting surf ace shall not be smaller than 40cm
2. 
 5.7 Photometric characteristics  5.7.1 The intensity of the light emitted by the lamp on the reference axis shall not be less than 
400cd.  5.7.2 The luminous intensity of the light emitted by each lamp on every measuring direction, projected on to the points of the light distribution field in Diagram 1, shall not be lower than the product of the percentage value of the each sp ot indicated in Diagram 1 multiplied by 400cd. 
 5.7.3 In any direction, the luminous intensity emitted by the lamp shall not exceed 800cd. 
 
5.7.4 If a lamp contains more than one light so urce, the lamp shall comply with the minimum 
luminous intensity required when any one light sour ce has failed; when al l the light sources are 
illuminated, the maximum luminous intensity shall not be exceeded. 
 
Diagram 1 Table of sta ndard light distribution 
 
 
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5.7.5 The direction H = 0° and V = 0° corresponds to the reference axis (when it is installed on the 
vehicle, it is horizontal, parallel to the median longitudinal plane of  the vehicle and oriented in the 
required direction of visibility).  It passes through the centre of reference. Diagram 1 shows the 
minimum numerical value for the va rious directions of measuremen t, and is represented as the 
required minimum percentage in the axis for eac h lamp (in the direction H = 0° and V = 0°). 
 5.7.6 The light distribution area, as mentioned below in Article 6.10, shall be the same as in Section 
5.7.5, in the light distribution field formed by grid lines, 
the luminous intensity in each direction of 
the field shall meet at least the lowest required minimum percentage value shown on the gird lines. 
 
5.8 Heat resistance characteristics  5.8.1 After the lamp has undergone the heat resist ance test, and is stab le under an ambient 
temperature, there shall be no vi sible distortions, deformations, cr acking or colour modifications on 
the lamp.  5.8.2 If there is any doubt  with respect to the results of Section 5.8.1, the measurement of the 
photometric characteristics shall be repeated. The meas ured result shall be at least 90% of the result 
measured before the heat resistance test. 
6 Test methods 
6.1 The equipment and facilities of the test-darkroo m shall conform to the provisions set out in GB 
4599.  6.2 The boundary of the apparent surf ace in the direction of the refere nce axis of the lamp shall be 
determined.  6.3 The voltage when measuring the photometric characteristics 
 6.3.1 For lamps equipped with a replaceable f ilament lamp, when testing the photometric 
characteristics a colourless Standard filament la mp should be used, as set out in GB 15766.1 or ECE 
R37; the measurement should be taken unde r the specified reference luminous flux. 
 6.3.2 For lamps equipped with non-replaceable light so urce or other light source, measurements 
should be taken at a voltage of 6.75v, 13.5v or 28v. Where necessary, the manufacturer shall provide 
the special power supply prescribed  for this type of light source, and take the measurement under 
the voltage specified by the manufacturer.  6.4 Before the photometric characteristics test, illum inate the light source using the test voltage, 
enabling its light characteristics to be stable.  6.5 During the test of photometric characteristics, appropriate masking shall be provided, to avoid 
stray reflection.  6.6 Requirements for the light distribution measurem ent of the lamps with different light source: 
 6.6.1 For non-replaceable light sources, use the light source found in the lamp. 
 
6.6.2 For lamps with a replaceable light source: wh en equipped with filament lamps, the luminous - 6 - intensity value produced with a voltage  of 6.75v, 13.5v or 28.0v shall be corrected. The correction 
factor is the ratio between the reference luminous fl ux and the mean value of the luminous flux found at 
the applied voltage (6.75v, 13.5v or 28.0v);  filament lamps for which the deviation between the actual 
luminous flux and the mean value is not  greater than ± 5% shall be used. Alternatively, a Standard 
filament lamp may be used in turn, in each of the individual positions, operated at its reference flux, the 
individual measurements in each position being added together. 
 
6.6.3 Where an electronic light source control gear is used 
 6.6.3.1 If an
 electronic light source control gear  is part of the lamp, then all the measurements, both 
photometric and colorimetric, shall be appropria tely applied at the voltages of 6.75v, 13.5v and 
28.0v respectively.  6.6.3.2 If 
an electronic light source control gear  is not part of the lamp, the voltage declared by the 
manufacturer shall be applied to the input terminals of the lamp, and the required electronic light 
source control gear shall be provided by the manufacturer. 
 6.6.4 In the case of any lamps - except those equipped with fi lament lamps - the luminous 
intensities measured after one minute and after 30 minutes of ope ration shall comply with the 
maximum and minimum value of requirements spec ified in Article 5.7.  The luminous intensity 
after one minute of operation can be calculated fr om the luminous intensity distribution after 30 
minutes of operation applied at ea ch test points, the ratio of lu minous intensity measured at HV 
after one minute and after 30 minutes of operation.  6.7 The measuring distance for the photometric characte ristics shall ensure th at the inverse-square 
law of photometry is applicable.  6.8 Observing from the centre of th e reference of the lamp, the fiel d angle of the optical receiver 
shall be between the range of 
10 angular minutes and one degree . 
 6.9 The angle deviation shall not exceed 15' when th e measurement is taken in any of the directions 
shown in Diagram 1.  6.10 Where lamps are installed on the vehicle in more  than one position, or in a field of different 
positions, the photometric characteristics measurements  shall be repeated for each location or for 
the extreme locations of the field of the re ference axis specified by the manufacturer. 
 6.11 Heat resistance test  
6.11.1 Test methods 
 The lamps shall be under the 
ambient  temperature of 23oC ± 5oC, the filament lamps used shall be 
filament lamps of the category specified for the lamps. F or lamps equipped with non-replaceable light 
sources, the light source present in the lamps shall be used and the lamps shall be subjected to a 20-
minute ageing test and a one-hour test of continuous operation.  
 
6.11.2 Test voltage  6.11.2.1 For lamps with a replaceable light source, adju st the voltage of  the filament la mp to 90% of 
the maximum rated power as specified in GB15766.1 or corresponding regul ation ECE R37. Unless - 7 - specified by the manufacturer, use the filament la mp power of nominal rated voltage 6v, 12v or 24v. 
Under the first condition, use a filament lamp with maximum rated power to perform the test. 
 
6.11.2.2 For lamps with a non-replaceable light source,  the test voltage shal l be carried out in 
accordance with the requirements specified in Section 6.3.2.  6.12 Chromaticity inspection  6.12.1 For the chromaticity inspecti on, use an illumination A light  source (colour temperature 
2,856K).  6.12.2 For lamps with a non-replaceable light source, carry out the inspection under the test voltage. 
7 Inspection rules 
7.1 The different types of lamps sh all be determined in accordance with the provisions set out in 
Clause 4.  7.2 Daytime running lamps are subject  to type inspection approval a nd the inspection of conformity 
of production. If the lamp conforms to the corr esponding provisions set out in 7.3 or 7.4, then it 
shall be considered to have passed the insp ection for type approval and the inspection for 
conformity of production.  7.3 Type approval  7.3.1 The manufacturer shall provid e a detailed technical manual th at describes the lamps which 
may be installed on the vehicle with different inclinations of the reference axis in respect to the vehicle 
reference planes and to the ground or rotate around its reference axis , as well as: 
a) drawings (three copies) in sufficient detail to a llow identification of the type of the lamp and 
showing geometrically the position(s) in which the lamp may be mounted onto the vehicle, the 
axis of observation to be taken as the axis of reference in the tests (horizontal angle H = 0°, 
vertical angle V = 0°) and the point to be taken as the centre of reference in the said tests; and 
the illuminating surface; 
b) a brief technical description stating, in particular, with the exception of lamps with non-
replaceable light sources, the category or categories of filament lamp(s) prescribed; 
c) two sample lamps (lamps with changeable li ght source shall be provided with filament 
lamp). 
 7.3.2 Each of the sample lamps shall conform to the corresponding provisions  specified in Article 
5.1, Article 5.2, Article 5.3, Article 5.5 and Article 5.6.  7.3.3 According to Clause 6, in orde r to carry out tests, both samp le lamps shall conform to the 
corresponding provisions specified in Article 5.4, Article  5.7 and Article 5.8. 
 7.4 Checking conformity of production 
 
7.4.1 For products which have qualified for ty pe approval, the random ly selected sample
 lamps shall 
be used to determine the conformity of production thereof. 
 
7.4.2 The randomly selected lamps shall conform to  the corresponding provision s set out in Article 
5.1, Article 5.2, Article 5.3, Article 5.5 and Article 5.6. - 8 -  
7.4.3 According to Clause 6, in or der to carry out the test, the randomly selected lamps shall 
conform to the corresponding provisions set out in Article 5.4 and Article 5.8. 
 7.4.4 According to Clause 6, in or der to carry out the test, the randomly selected lamps shall 
conform to the corresponding provisi ons set out in Article 5.7, and: 
a) the minimum luminous intensity value shall not be smaller then 80% of the value specified 
in Article 5.7; 
a) the maximum luminous intensity shall not be gr eater then 120% of th e value specified in 
Article 5.7.