Safety of laser products - Part 1: Equipment classification and requirements
1 Scope
This document is applicable to the safety of laser radiation from laser products emitting at wavelengths between 180 nm and 1 mm.
Laser products emitting laser radiation at wavelengths below 180 nm (within the vacuum extreme ultraviolet range) are not included in the scope of this document, as the laser beam is normally enclosed in an evacuated enclosure and the potential optical radiation hazards are inherently minimal.
A laser product may consist of a single laser with or without a separate power supply, or may incorporate one or more lasers in a complex optical, electrical or mechanical system. Typically, laser products are used for demonstration of physical and optical phenomena, materials processing, data reading and storage, transmission and display of information, etc. Such systems have found use in industry, business, entertainment, research, education, medicine and consumer products.
Laser products that are sold to other manufacturers for use as system components are not subject to this document, as the final product itself will be subject to this document. However, if the laser system within the laser product is operable when removed from the end product, the removed laser system shall comply with the requirements of this document.
Note 1: An operable laser system does not require tools to prepare it for operation.
A laser product is exempt from all further requirements beyond the minimum requirements of this document if the manufacturer demonstrates, in accordance with Clauses 4 and 5, that the accessible emission level does not exceed the accessible emission limit for Class 1 under all conditions of operation, maintenance, service and failure. Such laser products are regarded as "exempt laser products".
Note 2: The above exemption is to ensure that inherently safe laser products are exempt from the requirements of Clauses 6, 7, 8 and 9.
In addition to the potential hazards resulting from exposure to laser radiation, laser equipment may also present other associated hazards, such as electric shock, chemical hazards and excessive high or low temperatures. Laser radiation may cause temporary visual impairment, such as dazzle and glare. Such effects depend on the task and ambient lighting levels and are beyond the scope of this document. The classification and other requirements of this document are intended to address only the hazards of laser radiation to the eyes and skin. Other hazards are not included within the scope of this document.
This document specifies the minimum requirements. Compliance with this document may not be sufficient to achieve the required level of product safety. Laser products may also be required to conform to the applicable performance and testing requirements of other relevant product safety standards.
Note 3: Other standards may contain additional requirements. For example, Class 3B or Class 4 laser products may not be suitable for use as consumer products.
Where a laser system forms part of equipment subject to other product safety standards, such as medical electrical equipment (IEC 60601-2-22), IT equipment (IEC 60950), audio and video equipment (IEC 60065), audio-video and IT equipment (IEC 62368-1), equipment for use in hazardous atmospheres (IEC 60079) or electric toys (IEC 62115), the equipment shall comply with those standards. This document applies to hazards arising from laser radiation in accordance with the provisions of IEC Guide 104 [1) IEC Guide 104:2010, The preparation of safety publications and the use of basic safety publications and group safety publications]1). If no applicable product safety standard exists, IEC 61010-1 shall be applied.
For ophthalmic instruments, to ensure patient safety, the requirements of ISO 15004-2 should be followed, and its principles and limits apply to laser radiation.
Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) were included in the scope of GB 7247.1-2001 and are still included in other parts of the IEC 60825 series. However, with the development of lamp safety standards, the optical radiation safety of LEDs is generally more appropriately specified in lamp safety standards. The removal of LEDs from the scope of this document does not preclude other standards from including LEDs when referring to laser products. IEC 62471 may be applied to determine the risk group of an LED or a product incorporating one or more LEDs. Other (vertical) standards of the IEC 60825-1 series may apply the measurement, classification, engineering protection and labeling provisions of this document to LED products.
Laser products designed to function as conventional lamps, with accessible radiance below that specified in 4.4 and complying with the requirements of 4.4, may alternatively be evaluated in accordance with the IEC 62471 series of standards "Photobiological safety of lamps and lamp systems". Although the above-described optical radiation emission need not be considered for safety classification, such products remain within the scope of IEC 60825.
The maximum permissible exposure (MPE) values given in Annex A apply only to laser radiation and not to collateral radiation. However, if there is concern that accessible collateral radiation may be hazardous, the MPE values for laser radiation may be applied to conservatively evaluate this potential hazard, or the exposure limit values in IEC 62471 should be consulted.
The MPE values given in Annex A do not apply to intentional exposure of patients to laser radiation for medical or cosmetic/aesthetic treatment purposes.
Note 4: Annexes A to G contain general principles and provide typical examples. However, these annexes are not intended to be definitive or exhaustive.
The objectives of this document are as follows:
——to introduce a classification system for lasers and laser products emitting radiation in the wavelength range 180 nm to 1 mm according to their degree of optical radiation hazard, to assist in hazard evaluation and to help users determine control measures;
——to establish requirements for the manufacturer to provide information so that appropriate precautions can be adopted;
——to ensure adequate warning of hazards associated with accessible radiation from laser products through labeling and instructions;
——to reduce the probability of injury by minimizing unnecessary accessible radiation and to improve control of laser radiation hazards through protective measures.
Foreword i
Introduction iii
1 Scope
2 Normative references
3 Terms and definitions
4 Classification principles
4.1 General
4.2 Classification responsibilities
4.3 Classification rules
4.4 Laser products designed to function as conventional lamps
5 Determination of the accessible emission level and product classification
5.1 Tests
5.2 Measurement of laser radiation
5.3 Determination of the class of the laser product
5.4 Measurement and evaluation conditions
6 Engineering specifications
6.1 General and modifications
6.2 Protective housing
6.3 Access panels and safety interlocks
6.4 Remote interlock connector
6.5 Manual reset
6.6 Key control
6.7 Laser radiation emission warning
6.8 Beam stop or attenuator
6.9 Controls
6.10 Viewing optics
6.11 Scanning safeguard
6.12 Safeguard for Class 1C products
6.13 "Walk-in" access
6.14 Environmental conditions
6.15 Protection against other hazards
6.16 Power limiting circuit
7 Labeling
7.1 General
7.2 Class 1 and Class 1M
7.3 Class 1C
7.4 Class 2 and Class 2M
7.5 Class 3R
7.6 Class 3B
7.7 Class 4
7.8 Aperture label
7.9 Radiation output and standards information
7.10 Labels for access panels
7.11 Warning for invisible laser radiation
7.12 Warning for visible laser radiation
7.13 Warning for potential hazard to the skin or anterior parts of the eye
8 Other informational requirements
8.1 Information for the user
8.2 Purchasing and servicing information
9 Additional requirements for specific laser products
9.1 Other parts of the standard series IEC 60825
9.2 Medical laser products
9.3 Laser processing machines
9.4 Electric toys
9.5 Consumer electronic products
Annex A (Informative) Maximum permissible exposure values
A.1 General remarks
A.2 Limiting apertures
A.3 Repetitively pulsed or modulated lasers
A.4 Measurement conditions
A.5 Extended source lasers
Annex B (Informative) Examples of calculations
B.1 Symbols used in the examples of this annex
B.2 Classification of a laser product – Introduction
B.3 Examples
Annex C (Informative) Description of the classes and potentially associated hazards
C.1 General
C.2 Description of classes
C.3 Limitations of the classification scheme
C.4 References
Annex D (Informative) Biophysical considerations
D.1 Anatomy of the eye
D.2 The effects of laser radiation on biological tissue
D.3 MPEs and irradiance averaging
D.4 Reference documents
Annex E (Informative) MPEs and AELs expressed as radiance
E.1 Background
E.2 Radiance values
E.3 Rationale
Annex F (Informative) Summary tables
Annex G (Informative) Overview of associated parts of IEC 60825
Annex NA (Informative) Explanation of associated parts of IEC 60825
NA.1 Explanation table 1
NA.2 Explanation table 2
Bibliography
Safety of laser products - Part 1: Equipment classification and requirements
1 Scope
This document is applicable to the safety of laser radiation from laser products emitting at wavelengths between 180 nm and 1 mm.
Laser products emitting laser radiation at wavelengths below 180 nm (within the vacuum extreme ultraviolet range) are not included in the scope of this document, as the laser beam is normally enclosed in an evacuated enclosure and the potential optical radiation hazards are inherently minimal.
A laser product may consist of a single laser with or without a separate power supply, or may incorporate one or more lasers in a complex optical, electrical or mechanical system. Typically, laser products are used for demonstration of physical and optical phenomena, materials processing, data reading and storage, transmission and display of information, etc. Such systems have found use in industry, business, entertainment, research, education, medicine and consumer products.
Laser products that are sold to other manufacturers for use as system components are not subject to this document, as the final product itself will be subject to this document. However, if the laser system within the laser product is operable when removed from the end product, the removed laser system shall comply with the requirements of this document.
Note 1: An operable laser system does not require tools to prepare it for operation.
A laser product is exempt from all further requirements beyond the minimum requirements of this document if the manufacturer demonstrates, in accordance with Clauses 4 and 5, that the accessible emission level does not exceed the accessible emission limit for Class 1 under all conditions of operation, maintenance, service and failure. Such laser products are regarded as "exempt laser products".
Note 2: The above exemption is to ensure that inherently safe laser products are exempt from the requirements of Clauses 6, 7, 8 and 9.
In addition to the potential hazards resulting from exposure to laser radiation, laser equipment may also present other associated hazards, such as electric shock, chemical hazards and excessive high or low temperatures. Laser radiation may cause temporary visual impairment, such as dazzle and glare. Such effects depend on the task and ambient lighting levels and are beyond the scope of this document. The classification and other requirements of this document are intended to address only the hazards of laser radiation to the eyes and skin. Other hazards are not included within the scope of this document.
This document specifies the minimum requirements. Compliance with this document may not be sufficient to achieve the required level of product safety. Laser products may also be required to conform to the applicable performance and testing requirements of other relevant product safety standards.
Note 3: Other standards may contain additional requirements. For example, Class 3B or Class 4 laser products may not be suitable for use as consumer products.
Where a laser system forms part of equipment subject to other product safety standards, such as medical electrical equipment (IEC 60601-2-22), IT equipment (IEC 60950), audio and video equipment (IEC 60065), audio-video and IT equipment (IEC 62368-1), equipment for use in hazardous atmospheres (IEC 60079) or electric toys (IEC 62115), the equipment shall comply with those standards. This document applies to hazards arising from laser radiation in accordance with the provisions of IEC Guide 104 [1) IEC Guide 104:2010, The preparation of safety publications and the use of basic safety publications and group safety publications]1). If no applicable product safety standard exists, IEC 61010-1 shall be applied.
For ophthalmic instruments, to ensure patient safety, the requirements of ISO 15004-2 should be followed, and its principles and limits apply to laser radiation.
Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) were included in the scope of GB 7247.1-2001 and are still included in other parts of the IEC 60825 series. However, with the development of lamp safety standards, the optical radiation safety of LEDs is generally more appropriately specified in lamp safety standards. The removal of LEDs from the scope of this document does not preclude other standards from including LEDs when referring to laser products. IEC 62471 may be applied to determine the risk group of an LED or a product incorporating one or more LEDs. Other (vertical) standards of the IEC 60825-1 series may apply the measurement, classification, engineering protection and labeling provisions of this document to LED products.
Laser products designed to function as conventional lamps, with accessible radiance below that specified in 4.4 and complying with the requirements of 4.4, may alternatively be evaluated in accordance with the IEC 62471 series of standards "Photobiological safety of lamps and lamp systems". Although the above-described optical radiation emission need not be considered for safety classification, such products remain within the scope of IEC 60825.
The maximum permissible exposure (MPE) values given in Annex A apply only to laser radiation and not to collateral radiation. However, if there is concern that accessible collateral radiation may be hazardous, the MPE values for laser radiation may be applied to conservatively evaluate this potential hazard, or the exposure limit values in IEC 62471 should be consulted.
The MPE values given in Annex A do not apply to intentional exposure of patients to laser radiation for medical or cosmetic/aesthetic treatment purposes.
Note 4: Annexes A to G contain general principles and provide typical examples. However, these annexes are not intended to be definitive or exhaustive.
The objectives of this document are as follows:
——to introduce a classification system for lasers and laser products emitting radiation in the wavelength range 180 nm to 1 mm according to their degree of optical radiation hazard, to assist in hazard evaluation and to help users determine control measures;
——to establish requirements for the manufacturer to provide information so that appropriate precautions can be adopted;
——to ensure adequate warning of hazards associated with accessible radiation from laser products through labeling and instructions;
——to reduce the probability of injury by minimizing unnecessary accessible radiation and to improve control of laser radiation hazards through protective measures.
Contents of GB/T 7247.1-2024
Foreword i
Introduction iii
1 Scope
2 Normative references
3 Terms and definitions
4 Classification principles
4.1 General
4.2 Classification responsibilities
4.3 Classification rules
4.4 Laser products designed to function as conventional lamps
5 Determination of the accessible emission level and product classification
5.1 Tests
5.2 Measurement of laser radiation
5.3 Determination of the class of the laser product
5.4 Measurement and evaluation conditions
6 Engineering specifications
6.1 General and modifications
6.2 Protective housing
6.3 Access panels and safety interlocks
6.4 Remote interlock connector
6.5 Manual reset
6.6 Key control
6.7 Laser radiation emission warning
6.8 Beam stop or attenuator
6.9 Controls
6.10 Viewing optics
6.11 Scanning safeguard
6.12 Safeguard for Class 1C products
6.13 "Walk-in" access
6.14 Environmental conditions
6.15 Protection against other hazards
6.16 Power limiting circuit
7 Labeling
7.1 General
7.2 Class 1 and Class 1M
7.3 Class 1C
7.4 Class 2 and Class 2M
7.5 Class 3R
7.6 Class 3B
7.7 Class 4
7.8 Aperture label
7.9 Radiation output and standards information
7.10 Labels for access panels
7.11 Warning for invisible laser radiation
7.12 Warning for visible laser radiation
7.13 Warning for potential hazard to the skin or anterior parts of the eye
8 Other informational requirements
8.1 Information for the user
8.2 Purchasing and servicing information
9 Additional requirements for specific laser products
9.1 Other parts of the standard series IEC 60825
9.2 Medical laser products
9.3 Laser processing machines
9.4 Electric toys
9.5 Consumer electronic products
Annex A (Informative) Maximum permissible exposure values
A.1 General remarks
A.2 Limiting apertures
A.3 Repetitively pulsed or modulated lasers
A.4 Measurement conditions
A.5 Extended source lasers
Annex B (Informative) Examples of calculations
B.1 Symbols used in the examples of this annex
B.2 Classification of a laser product – Introduction
B.3 Examples
Annex C (Informative) Description of the classes and potentially associated hazards
C.1 General
C.2 Description of classes
C.3 Limitations of the classification scheme
C.4 References
Annex D (Informative) Biophysical considerations
D.1 Anatomy of the eye
D.2 The effects of laser radiation on biological tissue
D.3 MPEs and irradiance averaging
D.4 Reference documents
Annex E (Informative) MPEs and AELs expressed as radiance
E.1 Background
E.2 Radiance values
E.3 Rationale
Annex F (Informative) Summary tables
Annex G (Informative) Overview of associated parts of IEC 60825
Annex NA (Informative) Explanation of associated parts of IEC 60825
NA.1 Explanation table 1
NA.2 Explanation table 2
Bibliography
