ANSI/PLATO FL 1-2019 is a basic performance standard for flashlights developed by the Portable Lighting Trade Organization (PLATO) in the
United States, applicable to directional lighting products such as flashlights, headlights, bicycle lights, spotlights, etc. This standard is a voluntary
standard aimed at unifying testing methods and enabling consumers to compare the true performance of different brand products "apple to apple".
Testing environment and equipment requirements
The test needs to be conducted in a controlled laboratory environment: temperature controlled at 21 ± 2 ° C, relative humidity 50 ± 40%. The ambient
light in the testing area should be below 1 lux to avoid interference from reflected light on the measurement results. All measuring equipment
(integrating spheres, illuminance meters, etc.) must be calibrated annually by a third party and calibration records that comply with NIST standards
must be kept.
In terms of sample quantity, 3 samples are required for each performance test such as light output and beam distance; Reliability tests such as impact
resistance and waterproofing require 5 samples, and the impact resistance test must be completed before the waterproofing test. Test the use of new
batteries included in the product packaging or recommended new batteries in the packaging.
Light Output
Light output refers to the total luminous flux, measured in lumens (lm), representing the total amount of visible light emitted by a flashlight.
The testing method is to place the flashlight in an integrating sphere and measure the luminous flux value 30 seconds after turning it on at the maximum
output gear. The inner wall of the integrating sphere is coated with a white reflective coating, which can collect all the light emitted by the flashlight and
be accurately measured by internal sensors. For products with colored casings, absorption correction is also required. The final result is taken as the average
of three samples, rounded to the nearest integer lumen value.
Runtime
The running time refers to the duration of the flashlight from being turned on until the light output drops to 10% of the initial brightness.
The test starts with using a new battery and continues to run the equipment in a dark room. The initial light output value is taken from the measurement
taken 30 seconds after activation, and then the light output is periodically recorded until it drops to 10% of the initial value. This regulation prevents
manufacturers from using the faint light when the battery is about to run out to falsely label ultra long battery life.
The format of the time report has clear requirements: less than 1 hour should be expressed in minutes; 1 to 10 hours are represented by "hour+minute";
Only report the number of hours for those over 10 hours.
Beam Distance
The distance unit of the beam is meters (m), which represents the farthest distance that the flashlight can project "usable light".
The standard defines' usable light 'as the distance at which the illuminance reaches 0.25 lux, which is approximately equivalent to the brightness of a
full moon on a clear night, and is a practical navigation and object recognition benchmark.
During testing, use an illuminance meter in a dark room to measure the maximum illuminance value at 2 meters, 10 meters, or 30 meters after being
turned on for 30 seconds, and then calculate the beam distance using the inverse square law:
Beam distance ²=peak beam intensity (cd) ÷ 0.25
If the product supports focusing, it needs to be tested in maximum light distance mode. The final result is taken as the average of three samples,
rounded to the nearest integer in meters.
Peak Beam Intensity
The unit of peak beam intensity is Candela (cd), which represents the intensity of the brightest spot on the central axis of the beam.
Unlike measuring total light output with lumens, Candela measures the concentration of light in a specific direction - the brightness at the "hotspot".
During testing, measure the illuminance value at 2 meters, 10 meters, or 30 meters (choose the appropriate distance based on the size of the flashlight
head and output width), and then calculate:
Peak beam intensity=measured illuminance value x distance ²
A high Candela value means that the beam is more concentrated and projected further, making it suitable for long-distance recognition; A low Candela
value means wider and more uniform flooding, suitable for close range operations.
Impact Resistance
The impact resistance test simulates the drop scenario of a flashlight in daily use, measured in meters (m).
The testing method is to drop the flashlight with all accessories and batteries assembled from a specified height onto a concrete surface that is 4
centimeters thick and has an area of not less than 1 square meter. The drop needs to cover all six faces of the simulated cube, with one drop on each
face. The default drop height is 1 meter, and manufacturers can also indicate higher drop heights.
The standard is: no visible cracks or functional damage after falling (surface scratches are allowed); Manual reassembly is allowed, but tools or
replacement parts are not required.
Waterproof rating (Water Resistance)
The waterproof performance is represented by IPX rating, and the FL 1 standard covers three common levels:
IPX4 (splash proof): The device can withstand splashing water from any direction and spray continuously for 10 minutes. After testing, the device needs
to operate normally. Suitable for rainy days or light water exposure scenarios.
IPX7 (Waterproof): The device can be immersed in a water depth of 1 meter for 30 minutes without failure, and there is no water ingress inside. Suitable
for situations such as accidental drowning.
IPX8 (diving): The equipment can be continuously submerged at the depth and time specified by the manufacturer (usually requiring at least 4 hours)
without failure. Suitable for professional underwater scenarios such as diving.
The passing standard is: the equipment functions normally immediately and within 1 hour after testing, and critical circuit areas (battery compartment,
PCB, etc.) must not be flooded.
Content not covered by the standard
It should be noted that the FL 1 standard only specifies quantifiable performance indicators and does not evaluate the following aspects: product
workmanship quality, material selection, ergonomic design, user-friendly interface, battery quality, long-term reliability, heat dissipation management
capability, etc. Therefore, a flashlight certified by FL 1 may still have differences in actual usage experience.
Packaging Identification Specification
Products that have passed testing can use standardized FL 1 icons on their packaging. The minimum size of the icon is 9mm × 9mm, and only two-color
contrast design is allowed. Icons on the same packaging surface must maintain a uniform color scheme. If using the icon alone, it must include the
"ANSI/FL1" border identification. For multi gear products, performance parameters under different modes need to be listed separately.
