H11 is established; H8, H16 and HB4 joined through the 2026 amendment package
H11 is an established Group 5 LED replacement category. H8, H16 and HB4 were introduced through the 2026 R.E.5 Amendment 12 package considered through the WP.29 process.
That status creates a formal technical route. It does not approve every bulb carrying one of those base designations. The exact product still needs matching type-approval evidence, marking and applicable use conditions. For the wider landscape across H7, H4 and upcoming categories, see ECE R37 LEDr Status in 2026.
H11 came first; later amendments expanded the category set
H11 LEDr established the practical model for a harmonized LED replacement light-source category. The 2024 amendment ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2024/156 added Configuration-2 details for a bi-directional emitting arrangement.
In 2026, ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2026/41 carried the Amendment 12 package introducing H8, H16 and HB4 LED replacement category sheets. The important point is procedural: an adopted category creates a technical route for product approval; it does not bypass product approval.
How the four category routes compare
| Category | Current reading | Buyer focus |
|---|---|---|
| H11 LEDr | Established Group 5 category; Configuration-2 details added in 2024 | Exact product approval, configuration and marking |
| H8 LEDr | Introduced through the 2026 Amendment 12 package | Exact category, product type and approved use |
| H16 LEDr | Introduced through the 2026 Amendment 12 package | Compact geometry, product approval and application |
| HB4 LEDr | Introduced through the 2026 Amendment 12 package | Category-specific requirements and exact product evidence |
A raw lumen number, color temperature, fan speed or wall photograph cannot establish type approval.
Category status still leaves one critical question: is this exact bulb approved?
A complete product file should identify the approval holder, exact type, applicable category, approval number, marking and any controlled installation components. The shipped product must match that record.
Keep R10 evidence separate. R10 can support electromagnetic compatibility for the tested electrical configuration, but it does not replace R37 light-source approval.
The practical sourcing mistake is simple: finding a valid category in R.E.5 and assuming a supplier's bulb is approved because the connector name matches. The category proves the route exists; it does not prove the product passed through it.
EB-H11 shows the difference between category and product evidence
The AZMK EB-H11 has UN R37 approval E8*37R03/49*0106*00, with technical report CS008-26-TAC. The report identifies a Configuration-2 bi-directional design and records compliance with the applicable light-source requirements.
At 13.2 V, five tested samples averaged 1,454 lm after one minute and 1,409 lm after 30 minutes. Those values belong to the tested EB type; they should not be transferred to another SKU simply because it also uses an H11 base.
The same configuration has separate UN R10 EMC approval E8*10R06/03*17720*00. That is a second approval object, not a substitute for R37.
Category questions
Are H11, H8, H16 and HB4 category specifications available through the current R.E.5 route?
H11 is established, and H8/H16/HB4 were introduced through the 2026 Amendment 12 package. Exact product approval remains separate.
Can any bulb with the same base claim LEDr approval?
No. Base compatibility does not establish category compliance or type approval.
Is R10 enough?
No. R10 concerns electromagnetic compatibility.
Official sources
- UNECE, Consolidated Resolution R.E.5 register
- ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2024/156
- ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2026/41, Amendment 12 proposal
- UNECE, WP.29 198th session and report
A category route and a commercial product approval are separate evidence layers.
Jack Liu
Jack Liu has worked in automotive LED lighting since 2011 and began designing LED automotive headlight products in 2015. Since 2017, he has concentrated on automotive lighting regulations, particularly LED replacement light sources (LEDr), approval requirements, regulatory definitions, and how product design and optical performance affect legal compliance. Drawing on hands-on product development experience and research into official UNECE and other regulatory documents, he writes to make complex automotive lighting rules clearer and more practical for manufacturers, brands, importers and technical teams.