Comparison of Ultraviolet Power Meters

Project Description

A comparison of the calibration of UVA and UVB power meters at relatively high irradiance levels as carried out by NMI and at selected commercial and hospital calibration laboratories in Europe. This will be achieved by the circulation of a high quality commercial UV power meter with UVA ant UVB capability. Measurements are made with UV power meters in most if not all European countries for trade, in medical treatment, for process control, for NDT, for printing, for microlithography etc. There has never been a comparison of European calibration services for UV power meters. Calibration techiques vary across Europe and it is not known whether this leads to differing results.


Progress Report 2023-01-19

The measurements were carried out by all the participants.The pilot received the measurement results, uncertainty budgets and description of the facility from all participants. The Pre-Draft A comments from the participants are received. The Draft A that was circulated in January 2018 needed to be revised. In January 2020 the participants were asked to check if spectral mismatch was taken into account in the uncertainty evaluation and to update the uncertainty budget. A revised version of Pre-Draft A process 2 was sent in March 2022. A revised version of Pre-Draft A process 3 was sent in December 2023. The final report of the comparison is expected in June 2024.   


Progress Report 2022-01-21

Due to lack of resources at LNE the revised version of Draft A is expected in February 2022 The final report of the comparison is expected in September 2022.


Progress Report 2021-01-25

The comparison is under way. IFA withdrew from the comparison. Measurements by all the participants are performed. Pilot received measurement results, uncertainty budgets and description of the facility from all participants. Pre-Draft A comments from the participants are received. Draft A that was circulated in January 2018 needs to be revised. In January 2020 it was asked to participants to check if spectral mismatch was taken into account in the uncertainty evaluation and to update the uncertainty budget. But due to lack of ressources at LNE the revised version of Draft A is expected in April 2021 The final report of the comparison is expected in September 2021.
MKEH (Hungary) no longer participates in this comparison.  


Progress Report 2020-06-09

There has not been any activity in 2019.


Progress Report 2019-01-28

 A comparison of the calibration of UVA power meters at relatively high irradiance levels is proposed as carried out by NMIs in Europe. This will be achieved by the circulation of a high quality commercial UV power meter with UVA capability. Measurements are made with UV power meters in most European countries for trade, in medical treatment, for process control, for NDT, for printing, for microlithography etc. There has never been a comparison of European calibration services for UV power meters before. Calibration techniques vary across Europe and it is not known whether this leads to differing results.
The comparison is under way. Measurements by all the participants are performed. Pilot received measurement results, uncertainty budgets and description of the facility from all participants. Pre-Draft A comments from the participants are received. Draft A that was circulated in January 2018 needs to be revised. But due to lack of ressources at LNE the revised version of draft A is expected in March 2019 The final report of the comparison is expected in June 2019. 

 Progress Report 2018-01-15

Pre-Draft A comments from the participants are received. Draft A will be circulated in January 2018. The final report of the comparison is expected in June 2018.


Progress Report 2017-01-27

Pre-Draft A is in preparation and expected mid of February 2017. The report of the comparison is expected in June 2017.


Progress Report 2016-01-20

The comparison is under way. IFA withdrew from the comparison. Measurements by all the participants are performed. Pilot received measurement results, uncertainty budgets and description of the facility from all participants. Pre-Draft A is expected end of January 2016. The report of the comparison is expected in September 2016.


Progress Report 2014-02-20
The comparison is under way. Four NMIs have performed the measurements (METAS, INRIM,MKEH, CMI). SMU withdrew from the comparison.


Progress Report 2013-02-20

The comparison is under way. Four NMIs have performed the measurements (METAS, INRIM,MKEH, CMI). SMU withdrew from the comparison.


Progress Report 2012-02-14

The protocol and the call for participants have been sent on March 22, 2010. The list of participants is completed (12 participants). The two UV radiometers are characterized: linearity, spatial uniformity, fatigue, temperature behaviour, cosine response. The protocol is approved (end of January 2012). The spectral range was reduced to UVA eventually. The measurements at the pilot laboratory are performed (January 2012). The comparison has started. The radiometers are circulating since February 2012.


Progress Report 2010-02-23

See Progress Report 2009-02-18


 Progress Report 2009-02-18

See Progess Report 2007-03-12

New: The METAS (Switzerland, CH) and the INM (Romania, RO) joined.


Progress Report 2007-03-12

A comparison of the calibration of UVA and UVB power meters at relatively high irradiance levels is proposed as carried out by NMIs and a selected commercial and hospital calibration laboratories in Europe. This will be achieved by the circulation of a high quality commercial UV power meter with UVA and UVB capability. Measurements are made with UV power meters in most European countries for trade, in medical treatment, for process control, for NDT, for printing, for microlithography etc. There has never been a comparison of European calibration services for UV power meters before. Calibration techniques vary across Europe and it is not known whether this leads to differing results.
New: NIPNE (RO) would like to join.


Progress, March 2004

The aim of this project is to carry out a comparison of the calibration of UVA and UVB power meters at relatively high irradiance levels as carried out by NMIs and at selected commercial and hospital calibration laboratories in Europe. This will be achieved by the circulation of a high quality commercial UV power meter with UVA and UVB capability. Measurements are made with UV power meters in most, if not all, European countries for trade, in medical treatment, for process control, for NDT, for printing, for microlithography etc. There has never been a comparison of European calibration services for UV power meters. Calibration techniques vary across Europe and it is not known whether this leads to differing results.
There has been no progress on this planned comparison during the past year.

Note: OMH (HU) and CSIC (Spain) joined during the EUROMET PHORA meeting in April 2003.


Further Information

During the EUROMET PHORA meeting in April 2006, it has been decided that the coordinating NMI will change from NPL to PTB, because PTB has started new activities in the field of detector-based and source-based UV dosimetry (i.e., UV radiometry at high irradiance levels).

Progress report submitted in March 2004. This proposal is submitted for consideration for funding under 'concerted actions' of the CEC SM&T Programme.