IEC Issues Revised Laser Safety Standard

The IEC, based in Geneva, has released the second edition of the IEC-60825-1 standard Safety of Laser Products — Part 1: Equipment and Classification Requirements, replacing the first, which was published in 1993. The primary revision involves the removal of LEDs from the scope of the standard, which is used by the worldwide laser manufacturing industry (diode and nondiode), an estimated $6 billion market in 2007. The aim of the standard is to protect people from laser radiation in the 180-nm- to 1-mm-wavelength range by indicating safe working levels and by classifying lasers and related products according to their degree of hazard. The IEC prepares and publishes international standards for electrical, electronic and related technologies.