The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is a world-leading centre in the development and application of highly accurate measurement techniques. As the UK's national measurement institute, NPL underpins the national measurement system, ensuring consistency and traceability of measurements throughout the UK.

The Optical Technologies team in NPL's Quality of Life Division performs measurement-based research for optical radiation from the ultraviolet to the infrared. We provide characterisation and calibration of continuous and pulsed light sources, including LEDs and LED clusters, over a spectral range of 290 nm to 1100 nm, including the assessment of LED hazard. We can measure spectrally and in all geometries, providing spectral radiant intensity distribution as well as luminous flux, luminous intensity, spectral radiance and irradiance. In addition we research 'human factors' effects and can investigate thermal properties and electrical power, providing a full service for the characterisation of sources.

Additionally, consultancy can be provided for your specialised needs such as designing instrumentation, running training courses and classifying devices to customer or international standards.

NPL are UKAS-accredited for testing to IEC 60825-1 and EC 60825-2, and can test components against CIE S009.