Currently, UV germicidal lamps (or UV disinfection lamps) are sold in both offline and online markets. However, two common models easily cause confusion and trouble: 20W vs. 18W, and 40W vs. 36W. Which one is correct and standardized?

A certain brand ZW20S19W, a certain brand ZW40S24W

There are also UV germicidal lamps labeled 18W and 36W, such as Alvinar ZW18W19W and Alvinar ZW36S24W.

So why are there different models? It's actually due to changes in the national standard, GB/T 19258-2003 . The national standard listed 20W and 40W , along with their corresponding ultraviolet intensity values; however, both the GB/T 19258-2012 national standard and the latest GB/T 19258.1-2022 national standard have removed 20W and 40W, replacing them with 18W and 36W, and the ultraviolet intensity values have also been updated.

New National Standard Implementation Time & Status of Old National Standard

The new national standard, GB/T 19258.1-2022 , officially came into effect on May 1, 2023.

Old national standard: GB/T 19258-2 003 , repealed on 2013-09-01.

According to the "National Standards Management Measures",
once a new national standard is implemented, the original national standard will be repealed and shall no longer be used as the basis for testing or filing.

Power correspondence

Old national standard: 20W, 40W (nominal power)

New national standard: 18W, 36W (corresponding to the same specification of lamp tube, only the nominal values have been uniformly corrected).

Essentially, the lamp size, UV output, and application are exactly the same; only the standard has been updated with new model names and testing methods.

Now that it's 2026 , can we test and register the models according to the old national standard for 20W/40W?

We specifically consulted the local health commission about this, and received a clear answer : no.

There are three reasons (all are mandatory):

The standard has been repealed: the old national standard is no longer recognized, and testing institutions are no longer allowed to issue reports based on the repealed standard ;

The National Health Commission and the National Disinfection Product Registration Center only recognize the new national standards .

Ultraviolet germicidal lamps are disinfection products, and the following must be provided for registration:

Health and safety assessment report

Test report (based on current valid standards)

After May 1, 2023, all new registrations and tests must be conducted in accordance with GB/T 19258.1-2022 . Aoweina brand and most compliant professional manufacturers' UV germicidal lamps are tested and registered according to the new national standard specifications.

4. How should existing assets and the transition period be handled?

that have completed testing and registration according to the old national standard before 2013-09-01 can continue to be produced and sold until the inventory is cleared ( but please note that this is a transitional policy) . New production batches will be gradually switched to the new national standard , but no manufacturer can have inventory that has not been used up by 2026.

Based on the above , we can conclude that testing and registration can no longer be carried out according to the old national standard GB/T 19258-2003 with 20W and 40W; new registrations/new tests must be carried out according to the new national standard GB/T 19258.1-2022 with 18W and 36W.

Market supervision and health inspections only check the new national standards :

Product nameplates, instruction manuals, and test reports must indicate the new national standard number + new power rating (18W/36W) .

Continuing to label products with 20W or 40W will be deemed substandard/illegal, potentially leading to product removal and penalties . We urge everyone to verify this before making purchases to avoid unnecessary trouble later!