Non-destructive testing - Evaluation of vision acuity of NDT personnel (ISO/FDIS 18490:2025)

ISO 18490:2015 specifies the form of the optotype, the quality requirements for the chart, the test procedure, and the acceptance level for near vision acuity of NDT personnel. It also addresses the qualification requirements for personnel permitted to carry out the test.
ISO 18490:2015 only addresses near vision acuity under defined conditions similar to those encountered during routine NDT inspection. It does not address an individual's overall visual acuity and users are advised to consider the need for a general eye examination by specialist medical personnel to ensure general vision acuity is appropriate for job function.
ISO 18490:2015 does not address colour vision requirements.

Zerstörungsfreie Prüfung - Bestimmung der Sehfähigkeit von ZfP-Personal (ISO/FDIS 18490:2025)

Essais non destructifs - Évaluation de l'acuité visuelle du personnel END (ISO/FDIS 18490:2025)

L'ISO 18490:2015 spécifie la forme de l'optotype, les exigences de qualité requises de la mire, la procédure d'essai et le niveau d'acceptation pour l'acuité de la vision de près du personnel END. Il aborde également les exigences relatives à la qualification du personnel autorisé à effectuer ces contrôles.
L'ISO 18490:2015 traite uniquement de l'acuité de la vision proche dans des conditions définies, similaires à celles rencontrées lors des contrôles END de routine. Elle n'aborde pas l'acuité visuelle générale des individus. Il est conseillé aux utilisateurs d'envisager de procéder à un examen général d'ophtalmologie chez un médecin spécialiste afin de s'assurer que leur acuité visuelle générale est adaptée à leur activité professionnelle.
L'ISO 18490:2015 ne contient pas d'exigences relatives à la vision des couleurs.

Neporušitvene preiskave - Vrednotenje ostrine vida za osebje, ki izvaja neporušitvene preiskave (NDT) (ISO/DIS 18490:2025)

General Information

Status
Not Published
Publication Date
19-May-2026
Current Stage
5020 - Submission to Vote - Formal Approval
Start Date
25-Dec-2025
Completion Date
25-Dec-2025

Relations

Effective Date
13-Dec-2023

Overview

FprEN ISO 18490 (ISO/FDIS 18490:2025) is the international standard for evaluating the vision acuity of NDT personnel. The 2025 revision expands the original 2015 scope (which focused on near vision) to include near, far and colour vision tests under defined conditions similar to routine NDT inspection. The standard defines chart quality, test procedures, acceptance levels and qualification requirements for personnel who administer vision checks. It complements NDT personnel certification requirements (for example ISO 9712) by providing a repeatable, non-medical method to verify visual capability for inspection tasks.

Key Topics

  • Test scope and purpose: Standardised evaluation of vision acuity relevant to NDT inspection tasks (not a full medical eye exam).
  • Chart requirements: Quality, permanent marking and supplier conformity - avoid locally copied charts; suppliers can provide certificates of conformity.
  • Test charts and optotypes: Examples and formats included in annexes - Radner, Snellen, Landolt, Ishihara (colour), plus reading charts and distance charts.
  • Test conditions: Controlled illumination, luminance, and eye-to-chart distance to simulate inspection environments.
  • Vision correction: Provisions for testing with corrective eyewear or protective lenses used during routine NDT work.
  • Administration and personnel: Tests to be run by licensed medical staff (physician, nurse, ophthalmologist, optometrist) or persons designated by the NDT Level 3 authority.
  • Acceptance levels: Defined pass/fail criteria for near, far and colour vision (specified in the standard); includes informative annexes on grey scale perception and low-contrast visual acuity.
  • Trade tests: Employer-level colour trade tests when candidates fail Ishihara but must demonstrate practical colour differentiation for specific NDT methods.

Applications

  • Ensuring inspection personnel meet visual requirements for radiography, ultrasonic, magnetic particle and other NDT techniques.
  • Employer pre-employment or periodic vision screening programs tied to NDT certification (ISO 9712 compliance).
  • Occupational health teams, NDT Level 3 managers, certification bodies, and chart manufacturers using standardised visual acuity procedures.
  • Training and qualification workflows where objective, repeatable vision assessment is required for safety and quality assurance.

Related Standards

  • ISO 9712 - Qualification and certification of NDT personnel
  • ISO 8596, ISO 7921, ISO 10938 - Ophthalmic optics and visual acuity/testing references
  • ASTM E3168 - Low-contrast visual acuity practices for interpreters
  • (Note: EN 4179 reference was removed in the 2025 revision)

By applying ISO 18490, organizations can standardize vision acuity checks, reduce variability in tester methods and support compliance with NDT personnel qualification requirements. Keywords: ISO 18490, NDT personnel, vision acuity, near vision, far vision, colour vision, visual acuity testing, NDT inspection, Ishihara, Snellen.

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prEN ISO 18490:2025 - BARVE

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Frequently Asked Questions

FprEN ISO 18490 is a draft published by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN). Its full title is "Non-destructive testing - Evaluation of vision acuity of NDT personnel (ISO/FDIS 18490:2025)". This standard covers: ISO 18490:2015 specifies the form of the optotype, the quality requirements for the chart, the test procedure, and the acceptance level for near vision acuity of NDT personnel. It also addresses the qualification requirements for personnel permitted to carry out the test. ISO 18490:2015 only addresses near vision acuity under defined conditions similar to those encountered during routine NDT inspection. It does not address an individual's overall visual acuity and users are advised to consider the need for a general eye examination by specialist medical personnel to ensure general vision acuity is appropriate for job function. ISO 18490:2015 does not address colour vision requirements.

ISO 18490:2015 specifies the form of the optotype, the quality requirements for the chart, the test procedure, and the acceptance level for near vision acuity of NDT personnel. It also addresses the qualification requirements for personnel permitted to carry out the test. ISO 18490:2015 only addresses near vision acuity under defined conditions similar to those encountered during routine NDT inspection. It does not address an individual's overall visual acuity and users are advised to consider the need for a general eye examination by specialist medical personnel to ensure general vision acuity is appropriate for job function. ISO 18490:2015 does not address colour vision requirements.

FprEN ISO 18490 is classified under the following ICS (International Classification for Standards) categories: 03.100.30 - Management of human resources; 11.040.70 - Ophthalmic equipment; 19.100 - Non-destructive testing. The ICS classification helps identify the subject area and facilitates finding related standards.

FprEN ISO 18490 has the following relationships with other standards: It is inter standard links to EN ISO 18490:2015. Understanding these relationships helps ensure you are using the most current and applicable version of the standard.

You can purchase FprEN ISO 18490 directly from iTeh Standards. The document is available in PDF format and is delivered instantly after payment. Add the standard to your cart and complete the secure checkout process. iTeh Standards is an authorized distributor of CEN standards.

Standards Content (Sample)


SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-julij-2025
Neporušitvene preiskave - Vrednotenje ostrine vida za osebje, ki izvaja
neporušitvene preiskave (NDT) (ISO/DIS 18490:2025)
Non-destructive testing - Evaluation of vision acuity of NDT personnel (ISO/DIS
18490:2025)
Zerstörungsfreie Prüfung - Bestimmung der Sehfähigkeit von ZfP-Personal (ISO/DIS
18490:2025)
Essais non destructifs - Évaluation de l'acuité visuelle du personnel END (ISO/DIS
18490:2025)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN ISO 18490
ICS:
03.100.30 Vodenje ljudi Management of human
resources
19.100 Neporušitveno preskušanje Non-destructive testing
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

DRAFT
International
Standard
ISO/DIS 18490
ISO/TC 135/SC 7
Non-destructive testing —
Secretariat: SCC
Evaluation of vision acuity of NDT
Voting begins on:
personnel
2025-05-01
Essais non destructifs — Évaluation de l'acuité visuelle du
Voting terminates on:
personnel END
2025-07-24
ICS: 03.100.30; 19.100
THIS DOCUMENT IS A DRAFT CIRCULATED
FOR COMMENTS AND APPROVAL. IT
IS THEREFORE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
AND MAY NOT BE REFERRED TO AS AN
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD UNTIL
PUBLISHED AS SUCH.
This document is circulated as received from the committee secretariat.
IN ADDITION TO THEIR EVALUATION AS
BEING ACCEPTABLE FOR INDUSTRIAL,
TECHNOLOGICAL, COMMERCIAL AND
USER PURPOSES, DRAFT INTERNATIONAL
STANDARDS MAY ON OCCASION HAVE TO
ISO/CEN PARALLEL PROCESSING
BE CONSIDERED IN THE LIGHT OF THEIR
POTENTIAL TO BECOME STANDARDS TO
WHICH REFERENCE MAY BE MADE IN
NATIONAL REGULATIONS.
RECIPIENTS OF THIS DRAFT ARE INVITED
TO SUBMIT, WITH THEIR COMMENTS,
NOTIFICATION OF ANY RELEVANT PATENT
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PROVIDE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION.
Reference number
ISO/DIS 18490:2025(en)
DRAFT
ISO/DIS 18490:2025(en)
International
Standard
ISO/DIS 18490
ISO/TC 135/SC 7
Non-destructive testing —
Secretariat: SCC
Evaluation of vision acuity of NDT
Voting begins on:
personnel
Essais non destructifs — Évaluation de l'acuité visuelle du
Voting terminates on:
personnel END
ICS: 03.100.30; 19.100
THIS DOCUMENT IS A DRAFT CIRCULATED
FOR COMMENTS AND APPROVAL. IT
IS THEREFORE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
AND MAY NOT BE REFERRED TO AS AN
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD UNTIL
PUBLISHED AS SUCH.
This document is circulated as received from the committee secretariat.
IN ADDITION TO THEIR EVALUATION AS
BEING ACCEPTABLE FOR INDUSTRIAL,
© ISO 2025
TECHNOLOGICAL, COMMERCIAL AND
USER PURPOSES, DRAFT INTERNATIONAL
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
STANDARDS MAY ON OCCASION HAVE TO
ISO/CEN PARALLEL PROCESSING
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on
BE CONSIDERED IN THE LIGHT OF THEIR
the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below
POTENTIAL TO BECOME STANDARDS TO
WHICH REFERENCE MAY BE MADE IN
or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
NATIONAL REGULATIONS.
ISO copyright office
RECIPIENTS OF THIS DRAFT ARE INVITED
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
TO SUBMIT, WITH THEIR COMMENTS,
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
NOTIFICATION OF ANY RELEVANT PATENT
Phone: +41 22 749 01 11
RIGHTS OF WHICH THEY ARE AWARE AND TO
PROVIDE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION.
Email: copyright@iso.org
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland Reference number
ISO/DIS 18490:2025(en)
ii
ISO/DIS 18490:2025(en)
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .vi
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Chart print quality and marking . 2
5 Health and safety requirements . 2
6 Personnel administering the test . 2
7 Near and Far Vision Test charts . 2
8 Test procedure . 2
8.1 General .2
8.2 Illumination level (normative) .3
8.3 Luminance (informative) .3
8.4 Eye to chart distance .3
8.5 Vision Correction .3
8.6 The tests .3
9 Acceptance levels. 4
Annex A (informative) Radner Chart (Not to scale) . 5
Annex B (informative) Snellen Chart (Not to scale) . 6
Annex C (informative) Landolt Chart (Not to scale) . 7
Annex D (informative) Ishihara Chart (Not to Scale) . 8
Annex E (informative) Sample Colour Trade Test Exam . 9
Annex F (informative) Corresponding Reading Acuity Notations for Test Distances of 40 cm
(16 inches) and 32 cm (12.5 inches) .12
Annex G (informative) Grey Scale Perception Testing .13
Annex H (informative) Low Contrast Visual Acuity. 14
Bibliography .15

iii
ISO/DIS 18490:2025(en)
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through
ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee
has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations,
governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely
with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are described
in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the different types
of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the editorial rules of the
ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
ISO draws attention to the possibility that the implementation of this document may involve the use of (a)
patent(s). ISO takes no position concerning the evidence, validity or applicability of any claimed patent
rights in respect thereof. As of the date of publication of this document, ISO had not received notice of (a)
patent(s) which may be required to implement this document. However, implementers are cautioned that
this may not represent the latest information, which may be obtained from the patent database available at
www.iso.org/patents. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions
related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the World Trade
Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 135, Non-destructive testing, SC 7, Personnel
Qualification in collaboration with European Committee for Standardization (CEN), in accordance with the
Agreement on technical cooperation between ISO and CEN (Vienna Agreement).
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO 18490:2015), which has been technically
revised.
The main changes are as follows:
— Far and Colour vision acuity of NDT personnel added to the Scope
— Reference to EN 4179 Aerospace series - Qualification and approval of personnel for non-destructive
testing removed
— Reference to ISO 8596:2017 Ophthalmic optics Visual acuity testing Standard and clinical optotypes and
their presentation added as informative reference in the bibliography
— Reference to ISO 7921:2024 Ophthalmic optics and instruments- Near reading charts added as informative
reference in the bibliography
— Reference to ISO 10938:2016 Ophthalmic optics — Chart displays for visual acuity measurement — Printed,
projected and electronic added as informative reference in the bibliography
— Reference to ASTM E3168, Standard practice for Determining Low-Contrast Visual Acuity of Radiographic
Interpreters added as informative reference in the bibliography
— New terms and definitions added
— Charts for Illumination level and Luminance added; Chart for Eye to Chart distance for Near, Far and
Colour vision added
— Additional provisions for vision correction added
— Test instructions for Near, Far, and Colour vision added

iv
ISO/DIS 18490:2025(en)
— Informative information for grey scale perception and low contrast acuity added as Annexes (Annex G
and Annex H)
— For Near vision removed use of Jaeger Chart and Tumbling E and added use of Reading Charts and
Snellen chart
— Acceptance level for Near, Far, Colour visions added
— Examples of Radner, Snellen and Landolt charts added as Annexes
— Corresponding Reading Acuity Notations for Test Distances of 40 cm (16 inches) and 32 cm (12.5 inches)
added as Annex
v
ISO/DIS 18490:2025(en)
Introduction
Standards for NDT Personnel qualification and certification require that the visual acuity of inspection
personnel is verified as being appropriate to their function. By meeting the vision acuity level defined in
this International Standard, such requirements of ISO 9712 will be met. The purpose of this International
Standard is to provide a detailed, standardised procedure for the evaluation of vision acuity for such
personnel under defined lighting conditions.
The tests are not medical in nature and are intended to objectively ensure adequate vision perception
without reliance on reading ability or text identification. Be
...

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