- 1 - ICS 43.040.20 
T 38 
 
  
 
National Standard  
of the People's Republic of China 
 
 
GB5920 – XXXX 
Replaces GB 5920-1999 
 
 
 
Photometric characteristics of front and rear position 
lamps, end-outline marker lamps and stop lamps for 
motor vehicles and their trailers   
 
 
  
Draft for approval 
 
 
 Issue Date: 20XX – XX – XX Implementation 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) 
 
- 2 -  
Foreword 
 
All of the technical cont ents set out in this Standard are mandatory. 
 
This Standard corresponds to Revision 4 of EC E R7 of the United Nations Economic Commission 
for Europe (UNECE), “Uniform provisions concerni ng the approval of front and rear position (side) 
lamps, stop lamps and end-outline marker lamps fo r motor vehicles (except motor cycles) and their 
trailers”; the conformance degree between this Standard and ECE R7 Rev .4 is non-equivalent, and 
the main differences are: 
− Administrative Provision s have been deleted; 
− Annex “Minimum requirements for conformity of  manufacturer inspection” has been deleted; 
− Inspection Rules have been added. 
 The main technical requirements of this Standard, such as the general requirements, photometric 
characteristics, colour of li ght and test methods, conform to  the abovementioned regulation. 
 This Standard replaces GB 5920-1999, “Photometric characteristics of front and rear position 
lamps, end-outline marker lamps and stop lamps for mo tor vehicles and their trailers”. Compared to 
the previous version, the main ch anges to this Standard are: 
− the content of “Quoted Standards”  in Clause 2 of the previous version have been modified to 
“Normative Reference” in the current version; 
− the content of “Definitions ” in Clause 3 of the previous vers ion has been modified - changed to 
“Terms and definitions” in the current version; 
− test methods for the photometric characteristic s of filament lamps in Section 5.8.2 of the 
previous version have been modified; 
− the principle for determining different types in Article 6.1 of the previous version have been 
modified, and changed to Clause 4 “Lamps of  different types” in the current version; 
− the inspection rules in Clause 6 of the previous version have been modified; 
− the test requirements for category S3 stop lamps intended to be mounted inside a vehicle have 
been added; 
− test requirements for lamps with multiple installation positions have been added; 
− test requirements for lamps with multiple light sources have been modified; 
− test requirements for the time length measurem ent for intensity reduction emitted by stop lamps 
with two levels of intensity have been added; 
− test requirements for lamps which are designed  to operate permanently with an additional 
system have been added;  
− test requirements for the signal lamp with  no filament lamps have been added; 
− requirements for the measurement of the light di stribution for lamps with an installation position 
height not higher than 750mm have been added. 
 From the implementation date of this Standard, lamps which newly apply for type approval shall 
comply with this Standard.  Transitional requirements for the implementation of  this Standard: for rear fog lamps of power-
driven vehicles that have passed the type approval inspection before the implementation date of this 
Standard; if there are is any non- conformity with the corresponding provisions of this Standard, a 
transitional period of 24 m onths shall be granted. 
 - 3 - 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;   The main drafters of this Standa rd:  Fei Yin, Zhang Shijun, Ji Yinhua 
 This Standard replaces the pr eviously issued Standards: 
GB 5920-1986, GB 5920-1994, GB 5920-1999.   
 - 4 -            
Photometric characteristics of front and rear position lamps, 
end-outline marker lamps and stop lamps  
for motor vehicles and their trailers 
 
(Draft for approval) 
1 Scope 
This Standard specifies the technical requirem ents, test methods and inspection rules for the 
photometric characteristics of fr ont and rear lamps, end-outline marker lamps and stop lamps for 
motor vehicles and their trailers.  This Standard applies to all types of front and re ar lamps, end-outline marker lamps and stop lamps 
for use with Category M, Category N, and Cate gory O motor vehicles and their trailers. 
 In this Standard, the abovementioned signa l lamps 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 agreement 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 
The 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); 
(c) in the case of stop-lamps with two levels of intensity, the system used to reduce 
illumination at night. 
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 - 5 Requirements 
5.1 General Requirements 
5.1.1 Front and rear lamps, end-outline marker lamps and stop lamps shall be designed and 
constructed so that under normal conditions of use,  despite the vibrations to which they may be 
subjected, the satisfactory operation thereof is assu red and the characteristics thereof continue to 
conform to the requirements set out in this Standard.   5.1.2 Front and rear lamps which are combined, groupe d or incorporated at the same time may also 
be used as end-outline marker lamps.  5.1.3 If filament lamps are used, they shall conf orm to the provisions set out in GB 15766.1 or ECE 
R37. 
 
5.1.4 The
 light source module(s) in the lamps  shall be designed so as to be installable at the correct 
location even in the dark, and so as to avoid the incorrect usage thereof. 
 5.1.5 The nominal rated voltages for lamps equippe d with non-replaceable light source are 6v, 12v 
or 24v; the luminous efficiency th ereof shall be decided by agr eement between the manufacturer 
and the users.  5.1.6 Position lamps that are incor porated along with another function, and which use a common 
light source, are permitted to be designed to operate  with an additional system to regulate luminous 
intensity. However, in the case of a rear position lamp that is incorporated along with a stop lamp, 
the lamp shall either be part of a multiple light source arrangement, or fitted and intended for use in 
a vehicle equipped with a failure m onitoring system for that function. 
 
5.2 Photometric characteristics 
 5.2.1 The luminous intensity of the light emitted by the front and re ar lamps, end-outline marker 
lamps and stop lamps in the direction of the refe rence axis shall conform to the requirements of 
Table 1.  
Table 1 Luminous intensity of lig ht emitted by the front and rear  position lamps, end-outline 
marker lamps and stop lamps in the direction of the reference axis 
Maximum Value 
Luminous Intensity Minimum 
Value Single 
lamp Single lamp, 
marked “D” Two or 
more lamps 
Front position lamps, front end-outline marker lamp 4 60 42 84 
Front position lamps 
incorporated in headlamp 4 100 --- --- 
Real position lamps, real end-
outline marker lamp 4 12 8.5 17 
Stop 
lamps With 1 level of 
intensity (category S1) 60 185 130 260 - 6 - By day 130 520 366 728 With 2 
levels of intensity (category S2) By night 30 80 56 112 
Stop-lamps of category 
S3 25 80 55 110 
 
5.2.2 The installation of the lamps shall conform to the regulations set out in GB 4785, and the 
luminous intensity within the angle of geometric vi sibility of the lamps in stalled shall conform to 
the following regulations:  5.2.2.1 Diagrams 1 and 2 show the requirements for light  distribution of the lamps; the digits at the 
joint of the grid lines in the diagrams are per centage values, to indicate the ratio between the 
minimum value of the luminous intensity in that direction and the minimu m value of the luminous 
intensity in the direction of the reference axis. 
 
Note: the angles in the diagram are the horizonta l angles formed with th e h-h line and vertical 
angles formed with the v-v lines 
 
Diagram 1 Table of light distribution of  the lamps (Categor y S3 is excluded) 
 
- 7 -  
 
Diagram 2 Table of light distribut ion for Category S3 stop lamps 
 
5.2.2.2 The light emitted by each type  of lamp shall be well distributed within the luminous 
intensity distribution field, which means that th e measured luminous intensity value in any one 
direction within the range of the field formed by grid lines shall not be smaller than the minimum 
value of the luminous intensity measured in any direction around this direction. 
 5.2.2.3 In any direction where the lamp is visibl e, the luminous intensity shall not exceed the 
maximum value specified in Table 1.  5.2.2.4 For rear position lamps incorporated along w ith stop-lamps, from the plane which is 5
o 
below the h-h line and downward, the luminous intensity of 60cd shall be permitted. 
 5.2.2.5 In any direction where the lamp is visible, th e intensity of the light emitted must be not less 
than 0.5cd for front and rear position lamps and end-outline marker lamps. 
 
5.2.2.6  In any direction where the lamp is visible, th e intensity of the light emitted must be not less 
than 0.3cd for stop-lamps with one level of intens ity, and for stop-lamps  with two levels of 
intensity, must be not less than 0.3cd by day,  and must be not less than 0.07cd by night. 
 5.2.2.7 If a rear lamp is incorporated along with a stop-lamp, and in the field is delimited by the 
straight horizontal line passing through ± 5
o of the vertical line and the straight vertical line passing 
through ± 10o of the horizontal line, then the ratio between the actually measured luminous 
intensities of the two lamps when turned on simulta neously and the measured intensity of the rear 
- 8 - lamp when turned on alone should be at least 5:1. If  the stop-lamp has two levels of intensity, then 
this requirement must be satisf ied when under night conditions. If the rear lamp and/or the stop-
lamp contain more than one light source and is/are  defined as a single-lamp, then the measurement 
values to be taken into consid eration are those obtained with  all light sources in operation. 
 5.2.3 If two or more lamps have th e same function when installed on a vehicle, according to the 
definitions set out in GB 4785 they can be considered  as a single lamp. Where this is the case, the 
lamp shall comply with the minimum luminous inte nsity required when any one light source fails. 
When all light sources are illuminated, the lu minous intensity emitted shall not exceed the 
maximum intensity value specified in the last ro w of Table 1. This maximum intensity value is 
provided by the limit value of single lamp multiplied by 1.4.  5.2.4 For single lamps which contain more than one light source:  5.2.4.1 All light sources that are c onnected in series are consider ed to be one light source. 
 5.2.4.2 The lamps shall comply with the minimum in tensity required when one light source has 
failed. However, for lamps designed for only two light  sources, if it is indicated in the technical 
description that the vehicles wh ich use such a lamp is equippe d with an opera ting signal lamp 
which indicates when any one of these two light source has failed, then 50% of the original value 
shall be considered as the minimum value of lumi nous intensity in the reference axis of the lamp. 
 5.2.4.3 When all light sources are illu minated, in the case of a single lamp not marked with “D”, its 
maximum intensity is allowed to exceed the specifie d value for a single lamp, but is not allowed to 
exceed the values in Table 1 specified for two or more lamps.  
5.2.5 In the case of a stop-lamp providing two levels  of intensity, the time taken from the electric 
power supply being switched on to the luminous in tensity measured on the reference axis being 
reduced to 90% of the initial value both levels of intensity shall be measured, and the time 
measured for the night condition of intensity shall not exceed the time measured for the day 
condition of intensity.  5.2.6 If the front lamp incorporates one or more infrared radiation ge nerators, then the requirements 
for the photometric characteristics and chromaticity ch aracteristics for such fr ont lamps shall be met 
with or without the operation of th e infrared radiation generators. 
 5.2.7 If the lamps may be installed on the vehicle in  more than one or in a field of different 
positions, the photometric characteristics measurements shall be taken for each location or for the extreme locations of the field of the refe rence axis specified by the manufacturer. 
 5.2.8 For Category S3 stop lamps which are mounted in side a vehicle, if multiple installations are 
permitted, they shall be combined with the corresponding window(s) sample plate(s) and the photometric characteristics measurement shall be taken.  5.2.9 If the installation height of the lamps is not  higher than 750mm, then the measurement of the 
photometric characteristics of the measuring point s and area which are underneath the range of 5
o 
below the h-h line is not needed.  
6 Colour of light 
6.1 Light emitted by the front lamps and front end-out line marker lamps are white; light emitted by - 9 - the rear lamps, back end-outline marker lamps and stop lamps are red. 
 6.2 The chromaticity characteristics of each light col our shall conform to the regulations set out in 
GB 4785; outside of the visible ar ea, no noticeable change s shall occur to the colour of the light 
emitted. 
7 Test methods 
7.1 The equipment and facilities of the test-darkroo m shall conform to the provisions set out in GB 
4599.  7.2 Luminous intensity shall be measured when th e light source is continuously switched on. If the 
colour of the light emitted by the lamp is red,  then the measurement shall be taken under the 
circumstance of the light emitted being coloured.  7.3 For replaceable filament lamps:  7.3.1 When testing, use a standard filament lamp, and make it work in the state of producing a 
reference luminous flux.  7.3.2 In the case of a system  with more than one intensity, th e reference luminous flux prescribed 
for the specific category of filament lamp sh all be applied to the greatest intensity. 
 7.3.3 When equipped with more than one filame nt lamps, the measurement for mass-produced 
filament lamps shall be permitted to be carried out at 6.75v, 13.5v or 28v, and the luminous intensity value produced shall be corrected. 
The correction factor is the ratio between the reference 
luminous flux and the mean value of the luminous flux found at the voltage applied (6.75 V , 13.5 V or 
28.0 V),  the actual luminous flux of each filament lamp used shall not deviate more than ± 5% from 
the mean value; alternatively a standard filament lamp may be used in turn, in each of the individual 
positions, operated at its reference flux, the individu al measurements taken in each position being added 
together. 
 
7.4 In the case of the lamps equipped with non-replaceable light sources (filament lamps and others), the photometric characteristics and colorimetric characteri stic shall be measured with the light source 
presented in the lamp at 6.75v, 13.5v or 28v. 
 
7.5 In the case of the light sources supplied by a special electric power supply, the output terminals of the electric power supply shall provide the test voltage specified in 7.3 or 7.4. When testing, the request 
of the requirement of the special electric power supply required to supply the light source from the 
manufacturer shall be permitted.  
 
7.6 However, in the case of a stop-lamp for which an additional system is used to obtain night-time 
intensity, the voltage applied to the system for measuring night-time intensity shall be that which was 
applied to the filament lamp for measuring the day-time intensity. 
 
7.7 Where a rear lamp is incorporated along with a dual-intensity stop lamp  and is designed to 
operate permanently with an additional system to regulate the luminous intensity of the light 
emitted, the measurement of the luminous intensity sh all be taken with the standard voltage of the 
system and, if a filament lamp is used, this sha ll enable the lamp to operate with the prescribed 
reference luminous flux. 
 
7.7.1 Where a position lamp is incorporated along with another function, using the same light source, - 10 - and is designed to operate permanently with an additional system to regulate the intensity of the light 
emitted: if the additional system is part of the lamp, then the measurement of the light emitted shall be 
performed at 6.75v, 13.5v or 28v respectively. 
 
7.7.2 Where the additional system is not part of the lamp, then the tests shall be performed at the rated secondary design voltage applied to the light source. The request of the requirement of the additional 
system needed to regulate the light source from the manufacturer shall be permitted.  
 
7.8 For any lamps which are not equipped with filame nt lamp(s), the luminous intensities, measured 
after one minute and after 30 minutes of operation, shall comply with the minimum and maximum 
requirements specified in Table 1. The luminous intensity after one minute of operation can be 
calculated from the luminous intensity after 30 minutes of operation by applying at each test point, 
multiplied by the ratio of luminous intensities measured  at HV after one minute and after 30 minutes of 
operation.  
 
7.9 The lamps shall be sufficiently pre-illuminated, enabling the light characteristics thereof to be 
stable.  7.10 
The distance of measurement of the photometri c characteristics shall be such that the inverse-
square law of photometry is applicable.  7.11 
The angular aperture of the receiver viewed fro m the reference centre of the lamp is comprised 
between 10 angular minutes and one degree.  
 
7.12 The angle deviation of each measuri ng direction shall not exceed 15'. 
 7.13 The initial measurement position of the lamps sh all be determined by the reference axis and 
reference centre specif ied by the manufacturer. 
 7.14 The measurement of chromaticity  shall use illumination A light source (colour temperature is 
2,856k). For lamps with a non-replaceable light sour ce, carry out the measurements at 6.75v, 13.5v 
or 28.0v. For Category S3 stop-lamps that are in tended to be mounted inside the vehicle, the 
colorimetric characteristics shall be verified with the worst case co mbination(s) of lamp and rear 
window(s) or sample plate (s). 
8 Inspection rules 
8.1 different types of lamps shall be determined in  accordance with the provisions set out in Clause 
4.  8.2 The lamps are subject to type inspection a pproval and the inspection of conformity of 
production. If it is in conformity  with the corresponding provisions in 8.3 or 8.4, th en this lamp 
shall be regarded as having passed the insp ection for type approval and the inspection for 
conformity of production.  8.3 Type approval  8.3.1 If a lamp has passed the inspection for type approval as a front or rear lamp, then this lamp is deemed to have passed the type inspection approval as an end-outline marker lamp. 
 
8.3.2 The manufacturer shall provide: 
 - 11 - 8.3.2.1 The statement that describes the lamp submitted for type approval, whether it is one of the 
two lamps of the same type in an assembly.  8.3.2.2 The statement that describes the colour of the light emitted by the end-outline marker lamp, 
whether it is intended to be red or white; 
 8.3.2.3 The statement that the S3 stop lamp, whether it  is intended to be mount ed inside the vehicle 
(behind the rear window) or outside of the vehicle; 
 8.3.2.4 When submitting the application, in the case of 
the lamp may be installed on the vehicle with 
different inclinations of the reference axis, in respect to the vehicle reference planes, or to the ground, or 
containing difference rotation angles around its referen ce axis, these different conditions of installation 
(or locations of installation) shall be indicated in the technical description; 
 
8.3.2.5 Drawings, in triplicate, in sufficient detail to enable identification of the types of lamp and 
showing geometrically the position(s) (if the lamp is a Category S3 stop lamp, then the position shall 
correspond to the rear window) in which the lamps may be mounted on the vehicle, indications of the 
reference axis (horizontal angle H = 0°, ver tical angle V = 0°) and the reference centre; 
 
8.3.2.6 A brief technical description stating, with the exception of lamps with non-replaceable light 
sources, shall describe the categories of the filament lamps prescribed, or the types of the light source modules. In the case of a category S3 stop lamp, which is intended to be mounted inside the vehicle, the 
technical description shall contain the parameters  of the optical properties (transmission, colour, 
inclination, etc.) of the rear window(s). 
 
8.3.2.7 In the case of a stop lamp with two levels of intensity, shall  provide the relevant information and system description; if there is an additional system to provide intensity at night time, then the function of the additional system and the installation requirements shall be specially stated; 
 
8.3.2.8 Two samples (including light source); if the approval is applied for lamps which are not identical but are symmetrical and suitable for mounting one on the left and one on the right side of the vehicle, then the two samples submitted may be two identical lamps for mounting only on the left or only on the 
right of the vehicle, or may be two lamps with which, one is suitable to be mounted on the right and 
another is suitable to be mounted on the left of the vehicle; in the case of a stop lamp with two levels of 
intensity, the application shall also be accompanied by all the parts of the two samples constituting the 
system which ensures two levels of intensity. 
 
8.3.2.9 For Category S3 stop lamps that are intended to be mounted inside a vehicle, a sample plate of 
the actual rear window (if there is more than one installation method, then all sample plates of the 
corresponding rear windows shall be provided) shall be accompanied. 
 
8.3.3 Each sample lamp shall conform to the provisions specified in Article 5.1. 
 8.3.4 According to Clause 8 to carry out test, both sample lamps shall conform to the corresponding 
provisions specified in 5.2 and Clause 6.  8.4 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. 
 - 12 - 8.4.2 The randomly selected lamps shall conform to the corresponding provi sions set out in 5.1. 
 8.4.3 According to Clause, in order to carry out the test, the photometric characteristics of the 
randomly sampled lamps shall conform to th e corresponding provisions set out in 5.2. The 
minimum value of the luminous intensity shall not be  smaller than 80% of th e prescribed value, the 
maximum value of the luminous intensity shall not be greater than 120% of the prescribed value. 
 8.4.4 According to Clause 7, in or der to carry out the test, the randomly selected lamps shall 
conform to the corresponding provi sions set out in Clause 6.