Product Code: ILSC2007_103

Changes in the New Edition to the IEC 60825-1 Laser Safety Standard
Authors:
Robert Weiner, Weiner Associates; Manhattan Beach CA USA
Presented at ILSC 2007

The IEC TC-76 committee on laser safety has recently published Edition 2 to the IEC 60825-1 laser safety standard. This paper will briefly describe the extensive amendments that are included in the new Edition: removal of LEDs from this standard; revision of the definition of human access for better consistency with real hazards; revision of measurement criteria to increase the distance used for classification of diverging beams; simplification of measurement criteria for small sources; and application of more stringent measurement criteria for extended sources to assure that products are classified at the most restrictive location. Other changes include additions to the user manual, flexibility on product labels, revision of some engineering control measures, limitations on the level of laser radiation that can be accessible during maintenance of the lower classes of laser products, and revision and addition of definitions. This new edition also removes the user requirements from the 60825-1 standard, following publication of updated recommendations for user safety in IEC TR60825-14 in 2004.