IEC 60825-4:2022

Safety of laser products - Part 4: Laser guards

IEC 60825-4:2022 deals with basic issues concerning laser guards, including human access, interlocking and labelling, and gives general guidance on the design of protective housings and enclosures for high-power lasers. Laser guards may also comply with standards for laser protective eyewear, but such compliance is not necessarily sufficient to satisfy the requirements of this document. This part of IEC 60825 specifies the requirements for laser guards, permanent and temporary (for example for service), that enclose the process zone of a laser processing machine, and specifications for proprietary laser guards. This document applies to all component parts of a guard including clear (visibly transmitting) screens and viewing windows, panels, laser curtains and walls. In addition, this document indicates
- how to assess and specify the protective properties of a laser guard, and
- how to select a laser guard.

Sécurité des appareils à laser - Part 4: Protecteurs pour lasers

L’IEC 60825-4:2022 traite de questions fondamentales concernant les protecteurs pour laser, y compris l’accès humain, les dispositifs d'interverrouillage et l’étiquetage, et fournit des recommandations générales relatives à la conception de capots et d’enceintes de protection pour les lasers de forte puissance. Les protecteurs pour laser peuvent également être conformes aux normes pour les protecteurs oculaires contre le rayonnement laser, mais une telle conformité n’est pas nécessairement suffisante pour satisfaire aux exigences du présent document. La présente partie de l’IEC 60825 spécifie les exigences relatives aux protecteurs pour laser, permanents et temporaires (par exemple, pour l’entretien), qui protègent la zone de traitement d’une machine à laser, ainsi que les spécifications pour les protecteurs d'origine pour laser. Le présent document s’applique à tous les composants d’un protecteur, y compris les écrans clairs (visiblement transmetteurs) et les fenêtres d’observation, les panneaux, les rideaux pour laser et les parois. De plus, le présent document indique
- comment évaluer et spécifier les propriétés de protection d’un protecteur pour laser, et
- comment sélectionner un protecteur pour laser.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 21-Jul-2022
• ICS: 31.260 - Optoelectronics. Laser equipment
• Technical Committee: TC 76 - Optical radiation safety and laser equipment
• Drafting Committee: WG 7 - TC 76/WG 7
• Current Stage: PPUB - Publication issued
• Start Date: 19-Aug-2022
• Completion Date: 22-Jul-2022

Relations

• Revises: IEC 60825-4:2006/AMD2:2011 - Amendment 2 - Safety of laser products - Part 4: Laser guards
• Effective Date: 05-Sep-2023
• Revises: IEC 60825-4:2006/AMD1:2008 - Amendment 1 - Safety of laser products - Part 4: Laser guards
• Effective Date: 05-Sep-2023
• Revises: IEC 60825-4:2006 - Safety of laser products - Part 4: Laser guards
• Effective Date: 05-Sep-2023

Standards Content (Sample)

IEC 60825-4 ®
Edition 3.0 2022-07
REDLINE VERSION
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
colour
inside
Safety of laser products –
Part 4: Laser guards
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form
or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without permission in writing from
either IEC or IEC's member National Committee in the country of the requester. If you have any questions about IEC
copyright or have an enquiry about obtaining additional rights to this publication, please contact the address below or
your local IEC member National Committee for further information.

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IEC 60825-4 ®
Edition 3.0 2022-07
REDLINE VERSION
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
colour
inside
Safety of laser products –
Part 4: Laser guards
INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
ICS 31.260 ISBN 978-2-8322-4407-4

– 2 – IEC 60825-4:2022 RLV © IEC 2022
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 5
INTRODUCTION . 2
1 Scope . 8
2 Normative references . 8
3 Terms and definitions . 9
4 Laser processing machines Requirements for laser guards. 12
4.1 Requirement . 12
4.2 Design requirements . 12
4.3 Performance requirements . 12
4.4 Validation . 13
4.5 User information . 13
5 Proprietary laser guards . 13
5.1 General . 13
5.2 Design requirements . 13
5.3 Performance requirements . 13
5.4 Specification requirements . 14
5.5 Test requirements . 14
5.6 Labelling requirements . 15
5.7 User information . 15
Annex A (informative) General guidance on the design and selection of laser guards . 16
A.1 Design of laser guards . 16
A.2 Selection of laser guards . 16
Annex B (informative) Assessment of foreseeable exposure limit (FEL) . 18
B.1 General . 18
B.2 Reflection of laser radiation . 19
B.3 Examples of assessment conditions . 19
B.4 Exposure duration . 22
B.5 Reference document .
Annex C (informative) Elaboration of defined terms . 25
C.1 Distinction between FEL and PEL . 25
C.2 Active guard parameters . 25
Annex D (normative) Proprietary laser guard testing . 27
D.1 General . 27
D.2 Test conditions . 27
D.3 Protection time corresponding to the specified protective exposure limit
(PEL) . 31
D.4 Information supplied by the manufacturer. 31
Annex E (informative) Guidelines on the arrangement and installation of laser guards . 33
E.1 Overview. 33
E.2 General . 33
E.3 Risk assessment . 34
E.4 Examples of risk assessment . 36
E.5 Aids to risk assessment . 39
Annex F (informative) Guideline for assessing the suitability of laser guards . 42
F.1 Identification of hazards . 42

F.2 Risk assessment and integrity . 42
F.3 General design . 45
F.4 Selection of safeguards . 46
F.5 Guard design and construction . 46
F.6 Guard construction and materials . 48
F.7 Other safety devices . 50
F.8 Interlocking considerations . 51
F.9 Environmental considerations . 55
F.10 Installation consideration – Environmental factors – Services . 56
F.11 Maintenance and service considerations . 56
Annex G (normative) Guided beam delivery systems . 67
G.1 General . 67
G.2 Terms and definitions .
G.2 General requirements . 67
G.3 Verification of safety requirements or protective measures . 70
G.4 Information for users . 70
G.5 Examples of risk assessments . 71
Bibliography . 76

Figure B.1 – Calculation of diffuse reflections . 19
Figure B.2 – Calculation of specular reflections . 19
Figure B.3 – Some examples of a foreseeable fault condition . 20
Figure B.4 – Four examples of errant laser beams that might have to be contained by a
temporary guard under service conditions . 21
Figure B.5 – Illustration of laser guard exposure during repetitive machine operation . 22
Figure B.6 – Two examples of assessed duration of exposure . 23
Figure B.7 – Assessed duration of exposure for a machine with no safety monitoring . 24
Figure C.1 – Illustration of guarding around a laser processing machine . 25
Figure C.2 – Illustration of active laser guard parameters . 26
Figure D.1 – Simplified diagram of the test arrangement . 29
Figure D.2 – Simplified diagram of the ventilation for the guard under test . 29
Figure F.1 – Damage resistance of 1 mm thick zinc coated steel sheet derived from
10 s exposure to a defocused beam during experiments using a CW CO laser . 57
Figure F.2 – Damage resistance of 1 mm thick zinc coated steel sheet derived from
100 s exposure to a defocused beam during experiments using a CW CO laser . 58
Figure F.3 – Damage resistance of 2 mm thick zinc coated steel sheet derived from 10
s exposure to a defocused beam during experiments using a CW CO laser . 58
Figure F.4 – Damage resistance of 2 mm thick zinc coated steel sheet derived from
100 s exposure to a defocused beam during experiments using a CW CO laser . 58
Figure F.5 – Damage resistance of 3 mm thick zinc coated steel sheet derived from 10
s exposure to a defocused beam during experiments using a CW CO laser . 59
Figure F.6 – Damage resistance of 3 mm thick zinc coated steel sheet derived from
100 s exposure to a defocused beam during experiments using a CW CO laser . 59
Figure F.7 – Damage resistance of 2 mm thick aluminium sheet derived from 10 s
exposure to a defocused beam during experiments using a CW CO laser . 59
– 4 – IEC 60825-4:2022 RLV © IEC 2022
Figure F.8 – Damage resistance of 2 mm thick aluminium sheet derived from 100 s
exposure to a defocused beam during experiments using a CW CO laser . 60
Figure F.9 – Damage resistance of 1 mm thick stainless steel sheet derived from 10 s
exposure to a defocused beam during experiments using a CW CO laser . 60
Figure F.10 – Damage resistance of 1 mm thick stainless steel sheet derived from 100
s exposure to a defocused beam during experiments using a CW CO laser . 60
Figure F.11 – Damage resistance of 6 mm thick polycarbonate sheet derived from 10 s
exposure to a defocused beam during experiments using a CW CO laser . 61
Figure F.12 – Damage resistance of 6 mm thick polycarbonate sheet derived from 100
s exposure to a defocused beam during experiments using a CW CO laser . 61
Figure F.13 – Damage resistance of 1 mm thick zinc coated steel sheet derived from
10 s exposure to a defocused beam during experiments using a CW Nd:YAG laser . 62
Figure F.14 – Damage resistance of 1 mm thick zinc coated steel sheet derived from
100 s exposure to a defocused beam during experiments using a CW Nd:YAG laser . 62
Figure F.15 – Damage resistance of 2 mm thick zinc coated steel sheet derived from
10 s exposure to a defocused beam during experiments using a C
...

IEC 60825-4 ®
Edition 3.0 2022-07
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
colour
inside
Safety of laser products –
Part 4: Laser guards
Sécurité des appareils à laser –
Partie 4: Protecteurs pour laser

All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form
or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without permission in writing from
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International Standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies.

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IEC 60825-4 ®
Edition 3.0 2022-07
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
colour
inside
Safety of laser products –
Part 4: Laser guards
Sécurité des appareils à laser –

Partie 4: Protecteurs pour laser

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
INTERNATIONALE
ICS 31.260 ISBN 978-2-8322-3985-8

– 2 – IEC 60825-4:2022 © IEC 2022
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 5
INTRODUCTION . 7
1 Scope . 8
2 Normative references . 8
3 Terms and definitions . 8
4 Requirements for laser guards . 11
4.1 Requirement . 11
4.2 Design requirements . 12
4.3 Performance requirements . 12
4.4 Validation . 12
4.5 User information . 13
5 Proprietary laser guards . 13
5.1 General . 13
5.2 Design requirements . 13
5.3 Performance requirements . 13
5.4 Specification requirements . 14
5.5 Test requirements . 14
5.6 Labelling requirements . 14
5.7 User information . 15
Annex A (informative) General guidance on the design and selection of laser guards . 16
A.1 Design of laser guards . 16
A.2 Selection of laser guards . 16
Annex B (informative) Assessment of foreseeable exposure limit (FEL) . 18
B.1 General . 18
B.2 Reflection of laser radiation . 19
B.3 Examples of assessment conditions . 19
B.4 Exposure duration . 22
Annex C (informative) Elaboration of defined terms . 25
C.1 Distinction between FEL and PEL . 25
C.2 Active guard parameters . 25
Annex D (normative) Proprietary laser guard testing . 27
D.1 General . 27
D.2 Test conditions . 27
D.3 Protection time corresponding to the specified protective exposure limit
(PEL) . 31
D.4 Information supplied by the manufacturer. 31
Annex E (informative) Guidelines on the arrangement and installation of laser guards . 33
E.1 Overview. 33
E.2 General . 33
E.3 Risk assessment . 34
E.4 Examples of risk assessment . 36
E.5 Aids to risk assessment . 39
Annex F (informative) Guideline for assessing the suitability of laser guards . 42
F.1 Identification of hazards . 42
F.2 Risk assessment and integrity . 42

F.3 General design . 45
F.4 Selection of safeguards . 46
F.5 Guard design and construction . 46
F.6 Guard construction and materials . 48
F.7 Other safety devices . 50
F.8 Interlocking considerations . 51
F.9 Environmental considerations . 55
F.10 Installation consideration – Environmental factors – Services . 56
F.11 Maintenance and service considerations . 56
Annex G (normative) Guided beam delivery systems . 67
G.1 General . 67
G.2 General requirements . 67
G.3 Verification of safety requirements or protective measures . 69
G.4 Information for users . 69
G.5 Examples of risk assessments . 70
Bibliography . 75

Figure B.1 – Calculation of diffuse reflections . 19
Figure B.2 – Calculation of specular reflections . 19
Figure B.3 – Some examples of a foreseeable fault condition . 20
Figure B.4 – Four examples of errant laser beams that might have to be contained by a
temporary guard under service conditions . 21
Figure B.5 – Illustration of laser guard exposure during repetitive machine operation . 22
Figure B.6 – Two examples of assessed duration of exposure . 23
Figure B.7 – Assessed duration of exposure for a machine with no safety monitoring . 24
Figure C.1 – Illustration of guarding around a laser processing machine . 25
Figure C.2 – Illustration of active laser guard parameters . 26
Figure D.1 – Simplified diagram of the test arrangement . 29
Figure D.2 – Simplified diagram of the ventilation for the guard under test . 29
Figure F.1 – Damage resistance of 1 mm thick zinc coated steel sheet derived from
10 s exposure to a defocused beam during experiments using a CW CO laser . 57
Figure F.2 – Damage resistance of 1 mm thick zinc coated stee
...