Florida Administrative Code › 15 - DEPARTMENT OF HIGHWAY SAFETY AND MOTOR VEHICLES › 15B - Division of Florida Highway Patrol › Chapter 15B-14 - LIGHT TRANSMITTANCE MEASURING DEVICES › Section 15B-14.002 - Requirements for Type Acceptance

Current through Reg. 50, No. 138; July 16, 2024
(1) Light
				transmittance measuring devices shall be provided with a standardized reference
				sample and procedure for taking readings utilizing the reference sample. The
				device light source shall be mid-range in the visible spectrum (560 nanometers
				plus or minus 20 nanometers) and shall exclude the ultraviolet and infrared
				portions of the spectrum. The accuracy of reference samples shall be verifiable
				with instrumentation calibrated to standards traceable to the National
				Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), whose standards applicable to
				this rule are hereby incorporated by reference. A copy of National Bureau of
				Standards Special Publication 250-6, "NBS Measurement Services: Regular
				Spectral Transmittance" may be ordered from the National Technical Information
				Services (NTIS), 5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, Virginia 22161,
				1(800)553-6847.
(2) Light
				transmittance measuring devices shall comply with the following criteria:
(a) Single unit light transmittance measuring
				devices shall be compact and designed to be operated by one person on vehicle
				glass with up to 1/4 inch glass thickness.
(b) Two-piece unit light transmittance
				measuring devices shall be designed to be operated by one person on front
				windows, side windows and rear windows up to 3/8 inch glass thickness. The
				two-piece unit shall have a digital readout to the nearest percent and an
				alignment aide feature to maintain stable alignment throughout the period of
				measurement. Activation may be manual or automatic.
(c) Measuring devices shall maintain unit
				accuracy within plus or minus three percentage points of reference samples and
				shall have a repeatability within plus or minus one percentage point from
				reading to reading. If the supply voltage is outside of the device's operating
				range, the device shall either produce a low battery signal or shall not
				produce an output reading, or both.
(d) Measuring devices affected by outside
				"stray" or "ambient" light sources of 2% or greater shall not be
				acceptable.
(e) Measuring device
				readings that are affected by temperature and humidity changes shall not be
				acceptable. Operating humidity range shall be 0 to 85 percent and operating
				temperature range shall be 20 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Acceptable units shall
				be capable of demonstrating both published accuracy and repeatability of
				transmittance readings throughout the operating temperature and humidity
				ranges.
(f) Reference samples shall
				be either glass or plastic based with a thickness of 1/8 inch to 1/4 inch and
				stable for at least one year. Reference samples shall provide a uniform surface
				reading with a variation not to exceed 1.0 percentage point as measured by a
				calibrated Spectrophotometer. Reference samples shall be permanently labeled or
				inscribed with the manufacturer's name and address, specific identification
				number, percent of light transmittance and preparation date. Reference samples
				shall be recalibrated at least once per year by a qualified
				laboratory.