M/531 - Laser products

This document provides definitions and specifies the particular requirements for consumer products
containing lasers. The objective of this document is to ensure that laser products available to consumers
are safe. This document specifies requirements that are additional to those specified in EN 60825-1.
Consumer laser products that are battery powered are included, as well as consumer laser products
powered by other means.
The requirements of this document are intended to address only the laser radiation hazards to the eyes
and skin. Other hazards are not included within its scope. Compliance with this document may not be
sufficient to conform to the applicable performance and testing requirements of other applicable product
safety standards.
The scope of this document does not include consumer laser products that are designed to project laser
radiation in the wavelength range of 380 nm to 780 nm onto the retina, with an intended daily usage
duration of potentially many hours (such as for virtual reality or augmented reality applications), because
it is currently not possible to provide emission limits that preclude any potential adverse effects for daylong usage, day after day.
NOTE 1 The level of radiation permitted by Class 1 in the visible wavelength range results in an extremely bright
image which will be dazzling and uncomfortable, and therefore such a high emission level, that reaches Class 1
limits, is not reasonably foreseeable for this type of device (see also New Work Item Proposal 76/660/NP for the
project IEC/TS 60825-20).
The scope of this document does not include products intended for professional use (non-consumer
(professional) laser products) and restrictions as specified in this document do not apply to nonconsumer laser products. For non-consumer laser products, compliance with EN 60825-1 is sufficient
to achieve the necessary level of safety.
This document also specifies which subgroups of lasers are permitted as consumer products. A
restricted group of Class 3R laser products are included. The risk of injury is low enough to be accepted
under reasonably foreseeable conditions of use (including foreseeable misuse) for compliance with the
general product safety directive (GPSD) and low voltage directive (LVD) for consumer products.
Electric toys containing lasers, which are covered by EN 62115, are excluded from the scope of this
document.
Class 1C consumer laser products are not in the scope of this document. For example, cosmetic and
beauty care Class 1C laser products are covered by prEN IEC 60335-2-113:202X1).
NOTE 2 National requirements can be more restrictive than the requirements in 6.1 and 6.2.

This document specifies the requirements for laser products intended for consumers. The scope of this document does not include products intended for professional use (non-consumer laser products) and restrictions as specified in this standard do not apply to non-consumer laser products. For non-consumer laser products, compliance with EN 60825 1 is sufficient to achieve the necessary level of safety. Electric Toys containing lasers, which are covered by EN 62115, are excluded from the scope of this document. Class 1C consumer laser products are not in the scope of this document. For example, cosmetic and beauty care Class 1C laser products are covered by FprEN 60335 2 113.