AS/NZS 2211.1:2004

Provides minimum requirements and specific guidance for the safe operation and maintenance of lasers and laser systems. The MPE (maximum permissible exposure) values of this Standard were developed for laser radiation other than for the purpose of medical treatment. Modified adoption of, and reproduced from, IEC 60825-1:2001.

IEC 60825-1 is applicable to safety of laser products. For convenience it is divided into threeseparate sections: Section One (General) and the annexes; Section Two (Manufacturing requirements); and Section Three (User's guide*).A laser product may consist of a single laser with or without a separate power supply or mayincorporate 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 andmedicine. However, laser products which are sold to other manufacturers for use as components of any system for subsequent sale are not subject to IEC 60825-1, since the final product will itself be subject to this standard.Throughout this part 1 light emitting diodes (LED) are included whenever the word "laser" is used.See also annex G which describes information which should be provided by manufacturersof LEDs.Any laser product or LED product is exempt from all further requirements of this part 1 if– classification by the manufacturer according to clauses 3, 8 and 9 shows that the emissionlevel does not exceed the AEL of Class 1 under all conditions of operation, maintenance, service and failure, and– it does not contain an embedded laser or embedded LED.In addition to the hazards resulting from laser radiation, laser equipment may also give rise toother hazards such as fire and electric shock.This part 1 describes the minimum requirements.Where a laser system forms a part of equipment which is subject to another IEC product safety standard (e.g. for medical equipment (IEC 60601-2-22) IT equipment (IEC 60950), audio and video equipment (IEC 60065), equipment for use in hazardous atmospheres), this part 1 will apply in accordance with the provisions of IEC Guide 104**, for hazards resulting from laser radiation.However, if the laser system is operable when removed from the equipment, all the requirements of this part 1 will apply to the removed unit.If no product safety standard is applicable, then IEC 61010-1 shall apply.The MPE (maximum permissible exposure) values of this part 1 were developed for laser radiation and do not apply to collateral radiation.However, if a concern exists that accessible collateral radiation might be hazardous, the laserMPE values may be applied to conservatively evaluate this risk.The MPE values shall not be applicable to patient exposure to laser radiation for the purpose of medical treatment.NOTE Annexes A to D have been included for purposes of general guidance and to illustrate many typical cases.However, the annexes must not be regarded as definitive or exhaustive and reference should always be made to the appropriate clause(s) in Sections One to Three.

First published as AS 2211-1978.
Second edition 1981.
Third edition 1991.
Jointly revised and redesignated as AS/NZS 2211.1:1997.
Second edition 2004.