Overview
ISO 10604:1993 - "Road vehicles - Measurement equipment for orientation of headlamp luminous beams" defines requirements for equipment used to measure or verify the orientation and basic quality of headlamp luminous beams on road motor vehicles (excluding mopeds and motorcycles). The standard covers dimensional, mechanical and optical quality criteria for the test area, optical apparatus (optical block), distant aiming screens and incorporated photometric devices, plus required installation and operating instructions.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Test area floor: rolling tracks clearly indicated; slope and lateral deviation limited (reference plane slope not to exceed 1%); local floor tolerances (example: floor may not be more than 4 mm below reference plane over a 2 m length).
- Dimensions and clearances: minimum test area lengths and widths are specified for passenger cars and other motor vehicles; apparatus optics must be positioned so beam measurement optics are not farther than ~0.9 m from the test area floor.
- Vehicle preparation: guidance on vehicle loading, tyre pressures, driver mass, suspension settings and removal of trailers or excess cargo to obtain repeatable aiming conditions.
- Distant aiming screen: screen distance (minimum 7.5 m; 10 m recommended), height and width requirements; marking of reference points, median longitudinal plane and characteristic beam pattern lines for alignment and visual evaluation.
- Optical apparatus / optical block: robust, corrosion-resistant construction; lateral and vertical alignment aids; ability to position optical centre between specified heights for different vehicle types; inclination scale readable to 0.1% and adjustable zero that is tamper-resistant; device to indicate vertical alignment error >0.2%.
- Projection and grid quality: projection equipment must form a reference grid with limited distortion and haze so small inclination deviations (~0.1%) are discernible.
- Photometric devices: where incorporated, beam-axis photometry must be possible (calibrated in kcd up to at least 125 kcd or equivalent lux at 25 m up to 200 lx). Calibration verification lamps and allowable relative errors (example: specified relative error limits around typical ranges) are defined.
Applications and users
- Vehicle manufacturers and lighting suppliers - for factory acceptance testing, headlamp design verification and quality control.
- Vehicle inspection and testing bodies - for periodic or roadside headlamp aiming checks and conformity assessments.
- Automotive test labs and equipment manufacturers - to design, install and certify headlamp aiming equipment in compliance with international expectations.
- Road safety and regulatory agencies - to define test procedures and equipment specifications for vehicle lighting regulations.
Related standards
- ISO 1176 (vehicle masses) is referenced for vehicle kerb mass and preparation data in this standard.
- ISO/TC 22 SC 8 (Lighting and signaling) is the technical committee responsible for development.
Keywords: ISO 10604:1993, headlamp aiming equipment, headlamp beam orientation, optical apparatus, test area floor, aiming screen, photometric devices, vehicle headlamp alignment.
