SIST EN IEC 60825-12:2026

Safety of laser products - Part 12: Safety of free space optical communication systems used for transmission of information

This document is applicable to products that emit laser radiation for the purpose of free space optical data transmission.
This document does not apply to laser products designed for the purposes of transmitting optical power for applications such as material processing or medical treatment. This document also does not apply to the use of laser products in explosive atmospheres (see IEC 60079-0). Light-emitting diodes employed by free space optical communication systems, used for the purpose of free space optical data transmission, do not fall into the scope of this document.
NOTE If the laser product incorporates an optical fibre that extends from the confinements of the enclosure, the requirements in IEC 60825-2 applies.

Sicherheit von Lasereinrichtungen - Teil 12: Sicherheit von optischen Freiraumkommunikationssystemen für die Informationsübertragung

Sécurité des appareils à laser - Partie 12 : Sécurité des systèmes de communication optiques en espace libre utilisés pour la transmission d'informations

IEC 60825-12:2022 La présente partie s'applique aux appareils qui émettent un rayonnement laser à des fins de transmission optique de données en espace libre.
Le présent document ne s'applique pas aux appareils à laser conçus dans le but de transmettre un flux énergétique optique pour des applications telles que le traitement des matériaux ou le traitement médical. Le présent document ne s'applique pas non plus à l'utilisation des appareils à laser en atmosphères explosives (voir l’IEC 60079-0). Les diodes électroluminescentes utilisées par les systèmes de communication optique en espace libre, pour la transmission optique de données en espace libre, ne relèvent pas du domaine d’application du présent document.

Varnost laserskih izdelkov - 12. del: Varnost optičnih komunikacijskih sistemov v prostem prostoru, ki se uporabljajo za prenos informacij

Ta dokument se nanaša na izdelke, ki oddajajo lasersko sevanje za namen optičnega prenosa podatkov po prostem prostoru.
Ta dokument se ne uporablja za laserske izdelke, zasnovane za prenos optične moči za aplikacije, kot so obdelava materialov ali medicinsko zdravljenje. Ta dokument se prav tako ne uporablja za uporabo laserskih izdelkov v eksplozivnih atmosferah (glej IEC 60079-0). Svetleče diode, ki jih uporabljajo sistemi za optično komunikacijo po prostem prostoru in se uporabljajo za namen optičnega prenosa podatkov po prostem prostoru, ne spadajo v področje uporabe tega dokumenta.
OPOMBA Če laserski izdelek vključuje optično vlakno, ki sega izven omejitev ohišja, se uporabljajo zahteve iz IEC 60825-2.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Public Enquiry End Date: 26-Jan-2022
• Publication Date: 22-Jun-2026
• ICS: 31.260 - Optoelectronics. Laser equipment
• ICS: 33.180.01 - Fibre optic systems in general
• Technical Committee: ISS EIT.EVL - Optical radiation safety and laser equipment
• Current Stage: 6060 - National Implementation/Publication (Adopted Project)
• Start Date: 09-Jun-2026
• Due Date: 14-Aug-2026
• Completion Date: 23-Jun-2026
• Directive: Harmonized Standard2014/35/EU - Directive 2014/35/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014 on the harmonisation of the laws of the Member States relating to the making available on the market of electrical equipment designed for use within certain voltage limits
• Directive:

  ---

  Harmonized Standard2014/53/EU - Directive 2014/53/EU of The European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 on the harmonisation of the laws of the Member States relating to the making available on the market of radio equipment and repealing Directive 1999/5/EC
• Mandate: M/511 - Mandate to CEN, CENELEC and ETSI relating to harmonised standards in the field of the Low Voltage Directive
• Mandate: M/536 - [C(2015)536] Standardisation request as regards radio equipment in support of Directive 2014/53/EU
• Ref Project: EN IEC 60825-12:2026 - Safety of laser products - Part 12: Safety of free space optical communication systems used for transmission of information

Relations

• Replaces: SIST EN IEC 60825-12:2019 - Safety of laser products - Part 12: Safety of free space optical communication systems used for transmission of information (IEC 60825-12:2019)
• Effective Date: 01-Sep-2026
• Refers: SIST EN 60825-1:2014 - Safety of laser products - Part 1: Equipment classification and requirements
• Effective Date: 05-May-2026
• Referred By: SIST EN IEC 62368-1:2024 - Audio/video, information and communication technology equipment - Part 1: Safety requirements
• Effective Date: 26-May-2026
• Referred By: SIST EN IEC 60728-113:2024 - Cable networks for television signals, sound signals and interactive services - Part 113: Optical systems for broadcast signal transmissions loaded with digital channels only (IEC 60728-113:2023)
• Effective Date: 26-May-2026
• Referred By: SIST EN IEC 62368-1:2020 - Audio/video, information and communication technology equipment - Part 1: Safety requirements
• Effective Date: 26-May-2026
• Referred By: SIST EN IEC 60728-115:2022 - Cable networks for television signals, sound signals and interactive services - Part 115: In-building optical systems for broadcast signal transmissions (IEC 60728-115:2022)
• Effective Date: 26-May-2026
• Referred By: SIST EN IEC 60728-113:2019 - Cable networks for television signals, sound signals and interactive services - Part 113: Optical systems for broadcast signal transmissions loaded with digital channels only (IEC 60728-113:2018)
• Effective Date: 26-May-2026

Overview

SIST EN IEC 60825-12:2026 defines safety requirements for products emitting laser radiation specifically designed for free space optical communication systems (FSOCS). These systems employ laser beams to transmit data through open air, both indoors and outdoors, supporting broadband communication links without the use of fiber-optic cables. This standard is essential for manufacturers, installers, and operators to ensure that free space laser communication systems are deployed and used safely, minimizing risks to people who may be exposed to optical radiation.

Notably, this standard does not address laser products used for transmitting optical power in contexts like material processing or medical applications, nor does it apply to environments involving explosive atmospheres (covered by IEC 60079-0). Systems using light-emitting diodes (LEDs) for data transmission, rather than lasers, are also outside its scope.

Key Topics

• Access Levels and Laser Classification:
  The standard introduces defined "access levels" to describe potential hazards at accessible positions in FSOCS installations. These are tied closely to the laser classification system found in IEC 60825-1, with added constraints for certain wavelengths.

  • Access levels 1, 1M, 2, 2M, 3R, 3B, and 4, reflecting increasing hazard potential.
  • Access level assignments depend on emission characteristics and reasonably foreseeable human access.

• Installation and Location Types:
  Requirements for laser safety are based on the location type where the system is installed:

  • Unrestricted locations: Publicly accessible areas with no controlled access.
  • Restricted locations: Areas with limited access, normally inaccessible to the public.
  • Controlled locations: Areas where only authorized, trained personnel may enter.
  • Inaccessible spaces: Volumes normally not occupied, such as high-elevation or remote areas.

• Engineering and Administrative Controls:
  Systems must integrate features like Automatic Power Reduction (APR) and Installation Protection Systems (IPS) that:

  • Detect human presence in hazardous areas.
  • Respond by reducing laser output to safe levels within a defined timeframe.

• Labeling and Information:
  Marking requirements ensure transmitters and hazardous areas are clearly labeled, including durability and visibility of safety warnings.

• Organizational Responsibilities:

  • Manufacturers: Required to provide clear safety instructions and ensure compliant product design.
  • Installers and Service Providers: Must follow defined procedures and ensure safe installation/servicing.
  • Operators: Responsible for maintaining system safety during operation and maintenance.

Applications

The standard is critically relevant in the following domains:

• Wireless Optical Data Links:
  Used in urban environments for building-to-building communication, where fiber installation is impractical.
• Temporary Event Networks:
  Deployed for concerts, sporting events, or emergency response where rapid setup and removal of high-speed links are needed.
• Industrial Facilities:
  Employed where electromagnetic interference (EMI) from traditional wireless can disrupt communication but optical links remain unaffected.
• Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS):
  Provides secure, high-capacity links between drones and ground stations, as outlined in Annex C.5.

By adhering to this laser product safety standard, stakeholders mitigate the risk of accidental exposure to hazardous laser radiation and ensure compliance with international best practices.

Related Standards

• IEC 60825-1: General safety for laser products, including classification and requirements for all types of laser equipment.
• IEC 60825-2: Focuses on the safety of optical fibre communication systems, relevant when fiber optics are incorporated.
• IEC 60079-0: Specifies requirements for equipment used in explosive atmospheres; FSOCS for such environments must refer to this.
• ISO/IEC 11544; ISO/IEC 11801: General guidance and infrastructure requirements for optical communication systems.

Following SIST EN IEC 60825-12:2026 ensures safe operation of free space optical communication systems, supporting efficient and secure optical data transmission across diverse sectors.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-september-2026
Nadomešča:
SIST EN IEC 60825-12:2019
Varnost laserskih izdelkov - 12. del: Varnost optičnih komunikacijskih sistemov v
prostem prostoru, ki se uporabljajo za prenos informacij
Safety of laser products - Part 12: Safety of free space optical communication systems
used for transmission of information
Sicherheit von Lasereinrichtungen - Teil 12: Sicherheit von optischen
Freiraumkommunikationssystemen für die Informationsübertragung
Sécurité des appareils à laser - Partie 12 : Sécurité des systèmes de communication
optiques en espace libre utilisés pour la transmission d'informations
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN IEC 60825-12:2026
ICS:
31.260 Optoelektronika, laserska Optoelectronics. Laser
oprema equipment
33.180.01 Sistemi z optičnimi vlakni na Fibre optic systems in
splošno general
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EUROPEAN STANDARD EN IEC 60825-12

NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM May 2026
ICS 31.260 Supersedes EN IEC 60825-12:2019
English Version
Safety of laser products - Part 12: Safety of free space optical
communication systems used for transmission of information
(IEC 60825-12:2022 + COR1:2024 + COR2:2026)
Sécurité des appareils à laser - Partie 12 : Sécurité des Sicherheit von Lasereinrichtungen - Teil 12: Sicherheit von
systèmes de communication optiques en espace libre optischen Freiraumkommunikationssystemen für die
utilisés pour la transmission d'informations Informationsübertragung
(IEC 60825-12:2022 + COR1:2024 + COR2:2026) (IEC 60825-12:2022 + COR1:2024 + COR2:2026)
This European Standard was approved by CENELEC on 2026-01-28. CENELEC members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC
Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration.
Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC
Management Centre or to any CENELEC member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation
under the responsibility of a CENELEC member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre has the
same status as the official versions.
CENELEC members are the national electrotechnical committees of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic,
Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the
Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
Türkiye and the United Kingdom.

European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization
Comité Européen de Normalisation Electrotechnique
Europäisches Komitee für Elektrotechnische Normung
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2026 CENELEC All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CENELEC Members.
Ref. No. EN IEC 60825-12:2026 E

European foreword
The text of document 76/717/FDIS, future edition 3 of IEC 60825-12 + COR1:2024 + COR2:2026,
prepared by TC 76 "Optical radiation safety and laser equipment" was submitted to the IEC-CENELEC
parallel vote and approved by CENELEC as EN IEC 60825-12:2026.
The following dates are fixed:
• latest date by which the document has to be implemented at national (dop) 2027-05-31
level by publication of an identical national standard or by endorsement
• latest date by which the national standards conflicting with the (dow) 2029-05-31
document have to be withdrawn
This document supersedes EN IEC 60825-12:2019 and all of its amendments and corrigenda (if any).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CENELEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
This document has been prepared under a standardization request addressed to CENELEC by the
European Commission. The Standing Committee of the EFTA States subsequently approves these
requests for its Member States.
Any feedback and questions on this document should be directed to the users’ national committee. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found on the CENELEC website.
Endorsement notice
The text of the International Standard IEC 60825-12:2022 + COR1:2024 + COR2:2026 was approved
by CENELEC as a European Standard without any modification.
In the official version, for Bibliography, the following notes have to be added for the standard indicated:
IEC 60079-0 NOTE Approved as EN IEC 60079-0
IEC 60812 NOTE Approved as EN IEC 60812
IEC 61508 (series) NOTE Approved as EN 61508 (series)
IEC 62368-1:2018 NOTE Approved as EN IEC 62368-1:2020 (not modified) +A11:2020
ISO 12100 NOTE Approved as EN ISO 12100
Annex ZA
(normative)
Normative references to international publications
with their corresponding European publications
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments)
applies.
NOTE 1  Where an International Publication has been modified by common modifications, indicated by (mod),
the relevant EN/HD applies.
NOTE 2  Up-to-date information on the latest versions of the European Standards listed in this annex is available
here: www.cencenelec.eu.
Publication Year Title EN/HD Year
IEC 60825-1 2014 Safety of laser products - Part 1: EN 60825-1 2014
Equipment classification and requirements
- - + A11 2021
- - EN 60825-
1:2014/AC:2017-06
IEC 60825-2 - Safety of laser products - Part 2: Safety of - -
optical fibre communication systems
(OFCSs)
IEC 60825-12 ®
Edition 3.0 2022-12
Corrected version
2026-01
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
colour
inside
Safety of laser products –
Part 12: Safety of free space optical communication systems used for

transmission of information
Sécurité des appareils à laser –

Partie 12: Sécurité des systèmes de communication optique en espace libre

utilisés pour la transmission d’informations

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
INTERNATIONALE
ICS 31.260 ISBN 978-2-8322-6195-8

– 2 – IEC 60825-12:2022 © IEC 2022
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 4
INTRODUCTION . 6
1 Scope . 7
2 Normative references . 7
3 Terms and definitions . 7
4 Assessment of access level . 12
4.1 General . 12
4.2 Determination of access level and the use of Condition 2. 13
4.3 Access level 1 and 1M . 14
4.4 Access level 2 and 2M . 15
4.5 Access level 3R . 16
4.6 Access level 3B . 16
4.7 Access level 4 . 16
4.8 Time base . 17
5 Classification and evaluation of access level . 17
5.1 General . 17
5.2 Impact of using automatic power reduction features . 18
5.3 Automatic power reduction mechanisms (APR) . 18
5.3.1 General . 18
5.3.2 APR performance requirements . 18
5.4 Installation protection systems (IPS) . 19
6 Access level and classification requirements by location type . 19
6.1 General . 19
6.2 Requirements for unrestricted locations . 22
6.2.1 General . 22
6.2.2 Use of access level 1M and access level 2M FSOCS equipment in
unrestricted locations. 24
6.2.3 Use of access level 3R FSOCS equipment in unrestricted locations . 26
6.3 Requirements for restricted locations . 26
6.3.1 General . 26
6.3.2 Use of access level 3R FSOCS equipment in restricted locations . 27
6.4 Requirements for controlled locations . 28
6.4.1 General . 28
6.4.2 Use of access level 3B and access level 4 FSOCS equipment in
controlled locations . 29
6.5 Requirements for inaccessible space . 29
6.6 Specular reflections . 29
7 Organizational requirements . 30
7.1 Requirements for manufacturers of ready-to-use FSOCS transmitter or turn
key systems . 30
7.1.1 General . 30
7.1.2 Additional manufacturer's requirements . 31
7.2 Installation and service organization requirements . 32
7.3 Operating organization requirements . 33
8 Marking . 33
8.1 General . 33
8.2 Marking of aperture for transmitter . 35

IEC 60825-12:2022 © IEC 2022 – 3 –
8.3 Durability – Indelibility requirements for safety markings . 35
8.4 Warning for invisible radiation . 35
Annex A (informative) Rationale . 36
Annex B (informative) Clarification of the meaning of "access level" . 37
B.1 General . 37
B.2 Class . 37
B.3 Access level . 37
Annex C (informative) Examples of applications and calculations. 38
C.1 Symbols used in the example of this annex . 38
C.2 Examples of NHZ and ENHZ . 38
C.2.1 General . 38
C.2.2 Example − Collimated beam access level 1M FSOCS . 38
C.2.3 Example − Diverging beam access level 1M FSOCS . 39
C.2.4 Example – Access level 3B FSOCS product . 39
C.3 Viewing a specular (mirror-like) reflection . 40
C.4 Example of divergent, diffuse IR transmitter . 41
C.5 FSOCS link between two restricted locations . 42
C.6 Unmanned (uncrewed) Aerial (aircraft) system (UAS) . 45
Annex D (informative) Methods of hazard/safety analysis . 48
Annex E (informative) Guidance for installing, servicing and operating organizations . 49
E.1 Working practices for FSOCSs . 49
E.1.1 General . 49
E.1.2 General working practices . 49
E.1.3 Additional working practices for Class/access level 1M, 2M, 3R, 3B and
4 systems . 50
E.2 Education and training . 50
Bibliography . 51

Figure 1 – Commercial structures . 20
Figure 2 – Residential areas . 21
Figure 3 – Examples of external location types . 23
Figure 4 – Access level 1M or 2M transmitter near edge of unrestricted rooftop . 25
Figure 5 – Access level 1M transmitter in unrestricted location . 25
Figure 6 – Access level 3R transmitter in restricted location . 28
Figure C.1 – Link between two widely separated locations . 42
Figure C.2 – Unmanned (uncrewed) Aerial (aircraft) System with FSOCS . 45
Figure C.3 – Grounded FSOCS installed to the ground . 46
Figure C.4 – Grounded FSOCS installed to the controlled location . 46

Table 1 – Measurement aperture diameters and distances for the default (simplified)
evaluation . 14
Table 2 – Restrictions for the use of FSOCS based on access levels . 22
Table 3 – Requirements for warning signs . 32
Table 4 – Marking requirements . 34
Table C.1 − Symbols used in the example of Annex C . 38
Table C.2 – Allowed access levels and installation requirements . 47

– 4 – IEC 60825-12:2022 © IEC 2022
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
SAFETY OF LASER PRODUCTS –
Part 12: Safety of free space optical communication systems
used for transmission of information

FOREWORD
1) The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is a worldwide organization for standardization comprising
all national electrotechnical committees (IEC National Committees). The object of IEC is to promote international
co-operation on all questions concerning standardization in the electrical and electronic fields. To this end and
in addition to other activities, IEC publishes International Standards, Technical Specifications, Technical Reports,
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preparation is entrusted to technical committees; any IEC National Committee interested in the subject dealt with
may participate in this preparatory work. International, governmental and non-governmental organizations liaising
with the IEC also participate in this preparation. IEC collaborates closely with the International Organization for
Standardization (ISO) in accordance with conditions determined by agreement between the two organizations.
2) The formal decisions or agreements of IEC on technical matters express, as nearly as possible, an international
consensus of opinion on the relevant subjects since each technical committee has representation from all
interested IEC National Committees.
3) IEC Publications have the form of recommendations for international use and are accepted by IEC National
Committees in that sense. While all reasonable efforts are made to ensure that the technical content of IEC
Publications is accurate, IEC cannot be held responsible for the way in which they are used or for any
misinterpretation by any end user.
4) In order to promote international uniformity, IEC National Committees undertake to apply IEC Publications
transparently to the maximum extent possible in their national and regional publications. Any divergence between
any IEC Publication and the corresponding national or regional publication shall be clearly indicated in the latter.
5) IEC itself does not provide any attestation of conformity. Independent certification bodies provide conformity
assessment services and, in some areas, access to IEC marks of conformity. IEC is not responsible for any
services carried out by independent certification bodies.
6) All users should ensure that they have the latest edition of this publication.
7) No liability shall attach to IEC or its directors, employees, servants or agents including individual experts and
members of its technical committees and IEC National Committees for any personal injury, property damage or
other damage of any nature whatsoever, whether direct or indirect, or for costs (including legal fees) and
expenses arising out of the publication, use of, or reliance upon, this IEC Publication or any other IEC
Publications.
8) Attention is drawn to the Normative references cited in this publication. Use of the referenced publications is
indispensable for the correct application of this publication.
9) Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this IEC Publication may be the subject of patent
rights. IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
IEC 60825-12 has been prepared by IEC technical committee 76: Optical radiation safety and
laser equipment. It is an International Standard.
This third edition cancels and replaces the second edition published in 2019. This edition
constitutes a technical revision.
This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous
edition.
a) Where relevant and appropriate, references to IEC 60825-1 have been changed to a specific
dated reference i.e. IEC 60825-1:2014.
b) Condition 2 has been changed from 7 mm aperture stop and 70 mm distance as follows,
– For wavelengths less than 1 400 nm, 3,5 mm aperture stop and 35 mm distance,
– For wavelengths equal to or greater than 1 400 nm, 3,5 mm aperture stop and 14 mm
distance.
IEC 60825-12:2022 © IEC 2022 – 5 –
c) For wavelengths between 1 200 nm and 1 400 nm, an additional limitation is required equal
to the equivalent radiant power of the skin MPE. C has therefore been revised in
accordance with IEC 60825-1:2014, but with this additional limitation related to the skin
MPE; see 4.2.
d) Additional detail added regarding time base, see 4.8.
e) Additional clarification added to Clause 8 regarding the content and formatting of labels.
f) Annex A has been added, providing a rationale for the differences in approach between this
document and IEC 60825-1:2014.
g) Annex B has been added, providing clarification of the meaning of the term "access level".
h) Worked examples have been added for a variety of scenarios; see Clauses C.2 to C.5.
i) Clause C.6 has been added on UAS, unmanned aerial systems.
The text of this International Standard is based on the following documents:
Draft Report on voting
76/717/FDIS 76/722/RVD
Full information on the voting for its approval can be found in the report on voting indicated in
the above table.
The language used for the development of this International Standard is English.
This document was drafted in accordance with ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2, and developed in
accordance with ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1 and ISO/IEC Directives, IEC Supplement, available
at www.iec.ch/members_experts/refdocs. The main document types developed by IEC are
described in greater detail at www.iec.ch/standardsdev/publications.
The list of all parts of the IEC 60825 series, published under the title Safety of laser products,
can be found on the IEC website.
The committee has decided that the contents of this document will remain unchanged until the
stability date indicated on the IEC website under webstore.iec.ch in the data related to the
specific document. At this date, the document will be
• reconfirmed,
• withdrawn,
• replaced by a revised edition, or
• amended.
IMPORTANT – The "colour inside" logo on the cover page of this document indicates that it
contains colours which are considered to be useful for the correct understanding of its
contents. Users should therefore print this document using a colour printer.

The contents of the corrigenda 1 (2024-07) and 2 (2026-01) have been included in this copy.

– 6 – IEC 60825-12:2022 © IEC 2022
INTRODUCTION
The objective of this document is to:
– protect people from hazardous optical radiation emitted by FSOCSs;
– provide safety requirements and guidance for the design, manufacture and use of laser
products or laser systems, which emit laser radiation for the purpose of free space optical
data transmission;
– provide guidance for installation, operation, maintenance and service to assure the safe
deployment and use of such laser systems.
This document only addresses the open beam portion of the laser product or laser system.
This document places the responsibility for certain product safety requirements, as well as
requirements for providing appropriate information on how to use these systems safely, on the
manufacturer of the system or the transmitters. It places the responsibility for the safe
deployment and use of these systems on the installer or the operating organization. It places
the responsibility for adherence to safety instructions during installation and service operations
on the installation and service organizations as appropriate, and during operation and
maintenance functions on the operating organization. It is recognized that the user of this
document may fall into one or more of the categories of manufacturer, installer, service
organization and/or operating organization as mentioned above.
Annex A gives a more detailed rationale for this document, and some examples are given in
Annex C.
IEC 60825-12:2022 © IEC 2022 – 7 –
SAFETY OF LASER PRODUCTS –
Part 12: Safety of free space optical communication systems
used for transmission of information

1 Scope
This part of IEC 60825 is applicable to products that emit laser radiation for the purpose of free
space optical data transmission.
This document does not apply to laser products designed for the purposes of transmitting optical
power for applications such as material processing or medical treatment. This document also
does not apply to the use of laser products in explosive atmospheres (see IEC 60079-0). Light-
emitting diodes employed by free space optical communication systems, used for the purpose
of free space optical data transmission, do not fall into the scope of this document.
NOTE If the laser product incorporates an optical fibre that extends from the confinements by a system or enclosed
space, the requirements in IEC 60825-2 apply.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies.
For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any
amendments) applies.
IEC 60825-1:2014, Safety of laser products – Part 1: Equipment classification and requirements
IEC 60825-2, Safety of laser products – Part 2: Safety of optical fibre communication systems
(OFCSs)
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in IEC 60825-1:2014 and
the following apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following
addresses:
• IEC Electropedia: available at http://www.electropedia.org/
• ISO Online browsing platform: available at http://www.iso.org/obp
3.1
access level
potential hazard at any accessible position as a result of the optical emissions from a free space
optical communication system (FSOCS) installation
Note 1 to entry: The access level is based on the level of laser radiation which could become accessible in
reasonably foreseeable circumstances, e.g. walking into an open beam path. It is closely related to the laser
classification procedure in IEC 60825-1. The meaning of access level is clarified in Annex B.
Note 2 to entry: Practically speaking, it takes two or more seconds to fully align an optical aid with a beam (which
might occur in an unrestricted location), and this delay is incorporated into the method for determining access level.

– 8 – IEC 60825-12:2022 © IEC 2022
3.2
access level 1
assigned hazard at any accessible location within a FSOCS at which, under any reasonably
foreseeable event, human access to laser radiation (accessible emission), evaluated by the
measurement conditions for access level 1 as defined in Clause 4 of this document, will not
exceed the accessible emission limits of Class 1 for the applicable wavelengths and emission
duration, with additional constraints as defined in 4.3
Note 1 to entry: The "additional constraints" mentioned above refer to additional and stricter constraints that 4.3 of
this document places on the values specified in IEC 60825-1:2014 for the accessible emission limits of Class 1 in
the wavelength range 1 200 to 1 400 nm.
3.3
access level 1M
assigned hazard at any accessible location within a FSOCS at which, under any reasonably
foreseeable event, human access to laser radiation (accessible emission), evaluated by the
measurement conditions for access level 1M as defined in Clause 4 of this document, will not
exceed the accessible emission limits of Class 1 for the applicable wavelengths and emission,
with additional constraints as defined in 4.3
Note 1 to entry: The "additional constraints" mentioned above refer to additional and stricter constraints that 4.3 of
this document places on the values specified in IEC 60825-1:2014 for the accessible emission limits of Class 1 in
the wavelength range 1 200 to 1 400 nm.
3.4
access level 2
assigned hazard at any accessible location within a FSOCS at which, under any reasonably
foreseeable event, human access to laser radiation (accessible emission), evaluated by the
measurement conditions for access level 2 as defined in Clause 4 of this document, will not
exceed the accessible emission limits of Class 2 for the applicable wavelengths and emission
duration, with additional constraints as defined in 4.4
3.5
access level 2M
assigned hazard at any accessible location within a FSOCS at which, under any reasonably
foreseeable event, human access to laser radiation (accessible emission), evaluated by the
measurement conditions for access level 2M as defined in Clause 4 of this document, will not
exceed the accessible emission limits of Class 2 for the applicable wavelengths and emission
duration, with additional constraint as defined in 4.4
3.6
access level 3R
assigned hazard at any accessible location within a FSOCS at which, under any reasonably
foreseeable event, human access to laser radiation (accessible emission), evaluated by the
measurement conditions for access level 3R as defined in Clause 4 of this document, will not
exceed the accessible emission limits of Class 3R for the applicable wavelengths and emission
duration, with additional constraints as defined in 4.5
Note 1 to entry: The "additional constraints" mentioned above refer to additional and stricter constraints that 4.5 of
this document places on the values specified in IEC 60825-1:2014 for the accessible emission limits of Class 1 in
the wavelength range 1 200 to 1 400 nm.
3.7
access level 3B
assigned hazard at any accessible location within a FSOCS at which, under any reasonably
foreseeable event, human access to laser radiation (accessible emission), evaluated by the
measurement conditions for access level 3B as defined in Clause 4 of this document, will not
exceed the accessible emission limits of Class 3B for the applicable wavelengths and emission
duration, with additional constraints as defined in 4.6

IEC 60825-12:2022 © IEC 2022 – 9 –
3.8
access level 4
assigned hazard at any accessible location within a FSOCS at which, under any reasonably
foreseeable event, human access to laser radiation (accessible emission), evaluated by the
measurement conditions for access level 4 as defined in Clause 4 of this document, will exceed
the accessible emission limits of Class 3B for the applicable wavelengths and emission
duration, with additional constraints as defined in 4.7
Note 1 to entry: This document is applicable to the conditions of operation and maintenance of FSOCS. In order to
achieve an adequate level of safety for persons who may come into contact with the optical transmission path, access
level 4 is not permitted by this document. It is permitted to use protection systems, such as automatic power reduction
(APR, see 3.10) or installation protection system (IPS: see 3.17), to achieve the required access level where the
transmitted power under any operating conditions (e.g. normal and fault operation) exceeds that permitted for a
particular location type. For instance, it is possible for accessible parts of an FSOCS to be access level 1 even
though the power transmitted down the free space under normal operating conditions is Class 4.
3.9
aperture for transmitter
the window or laser transmissive port of FSOCS through which the beam is emitted into free
space
3.10
automatic power reduction
APR
feature of a transmitter of an FSOCS, provided by the system equipment manufacturer, by which
the accessible power in the nominal hazard zone (NHZ) or extended nominal hazard zone
(ENHZ) is reduced to a specified value within a specified time
Note 1 to entry: The term "automatic power reduction" (APR) used in this document encompasses the following
terms used in the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Recommendation G.664:
• automatic laser shutdown (ALS);
• automatic power reduction (APR);
• automatic power shutdown (APSD).
3.11
beacon
optical source whose function is to aid in pointing or alignment of an FSOCS transmitter and/or
receiver
3.12
end-to-end system
FSOCS that is comprised of at least one transmitter, one receiver, and any peripheral hardware
necessary for the effective transfer of data along the transmission path from one position in
space to another
3.13
extended nominal hazard zone
ENHZ
volume of space within which, when optical aids are used, the level of eye exposure to direct,
reflected or scattered radiation exceeds the applicable maximum permissible exposure (MPE)
as defined in IEC 60825-1:2014
Note 1 to entry: Exposure levels outside the boundary of the ENHZ are below the applicable MPE when optical aids
are used.
Note 2 to entry: This volume is determined prior to activation of any IPS or APR systems unless the APR is used
for classification under the conditions of Clause 5 of this document.

– 10 – IEC 60825-12:2022 © IEC 2022
3.14
free space optical communication system
FSOCS
installed, portable, or temporarily mounted, through-the-air system typically used, intended or
promoted for voice, data or multimedia communications and/or control purposes via the use of
FSOC transmitter
Note 1 to entry: "Free space" means the volume of air into which the laser radiation is emitted.
Note 2 to entry: Emitting and detecting assemblies are sometimes separated and sometimes not be separated.
3.15
FSOC transmitter
transmitter
optical transmitter emitting radiation through the air and used in an FSOCS
3.16
installation organization
installer
organization or individual who is responsible for the installation of an FSOCS
3.17
installation protection system
IPS
feature of an installation site, provided by the installer or operating organization, that has two
functions: (1) it detects human entry into the accessible volume of either the NHZ for restricted
or controlled locations or the ENHZ for an unrestricted location, and (2) once such entry is
detected, causes reduction of the accessible power of the laser to a specified level within a
specified time
3.18
interlock
means either of preventing access to a hazardous zone until the hazard is removed, or of
automatically removing the hazardous condition when access is gained
Note 1 to entry: Interlocks should be failsafe (see 60825-1:2014 3.39), that is when the interlock is in the failure
mode does not defeat the purpose of the interlock.
3.19
location
position or site occupied or available for occupancy
Note 1 to entry: Other standards may use the same terms for location types (3.20 to 3.23) with somewhat different
definitions.
3.20
location of inaccessible space
inaccessible space
volume where a person cannot normally be located, i.e. the space that has a horizontal spacing
more than 2,5 m from any unrestricted location and is both greater than 6 m above a surface in
any unrestricted location, and more than 3 m above a surface in any restricted location
Note 1 to entry: Inaccessible space may be entered by, for example, aircraft.
Note 2 to entry: All open space that is neither an unrestricted, restricted nor controlled location.
3.21
location with controlled access
controlled location
location where an engineering and administrative control measures are present to make it
inaccessible except to authorized personnel with appropriate laser safety training

IEC 60825-12:2022 © IEC 2022 – 11 –
3.22
location with restricted access
restricted location
location that is normally inaccessible to the general public (including workers, visitors, and
residents in the immediate vicinity) by means of any administrative or engineering control
measure but that is accessible to authorized personnel (e.g. maintenance or service personnel
including window cleaners in exterior locations) who did not have laser safety training
3.23
location with unrestricted access
unrestricted location
location where access to the transmission/receiver equipment and open beam is not limited
(accessible to the general public)
3.24
manufacturer
organization or individual who makes or assembles optical devices and other components for
the construction or modification of an FSOCS
3.25
nominal hazard zone
NHZ
volume within which the level of eye exposure to direct, reflected or scattered radiation exceeds
the applicable maximum permissible exposure (MPE) as defined in IEC 60825-1:2014
Note 1 to entry: Exposure levels outside the boundary of the NHZ are below the applicable MPE.
Note 2 to entry: This volume is determined prior to activation of any IPS or APR systems unless the APR is used
for classification under the conditions of Clause 5 of this document.
3.26
operating organization
operator
organization or individual who is responsible for the operation and maintenance of an FSOCS
3.27
optically-aided
use of optical aids to view an emitting source from within the emitted beam
Note 1 to entry: It is possible that telescopic optics, including binoculars, could increase the hazard to the eye by
intrabeam viewing of a collimated beam when viewed at a distance.
Note 2 to entry: Optical aids are for example, binoculars or magnifiers.
Note 3 to entry: Prescription eyeglasses and contact lenses are not considered optical aids.
3.28
removable laser system
laser system that can be removed from its protective housing and operated by simply plugging
into electrical mains or connection to a battery
3.29
primary beam
beam that transmits the modulated data signal
3.30
reasonably foreseeable event
event (or condition) that is credible and whose likelihood of occurrence (or existence) cannot
be disregarded
– 12 – IEC 60825-12:2022 © IEC 2022
3.31
service organization
organization or individual who is responsible for the service of an FSOCS
Note 1 to entry: The term service is defined in IEC 60825-1:2014, 3.79.
3.32
special tool
tool that is not readily available at retail consumer hardware stores
Note 1 to entry: Typical tools in this category are intended for use with tamper-resistant fasteners.
3.33
spillover
beam radiant energy that propagates past the receiving terminal
3.34
time base
emission duration to be considered for determination of access level
3.35
without optical aids
optically unaided
without using magnifiers or other optical aids, as with the naked eye
Note 1 to entry: Prescription eyeglasses and contact lenses are not considered optical aids.
4 Assessment of access level
4.1 General
The FSOC transmitter shall comply with the applicable requirement of IEC 60825-1:2014.
If an FSOCS incorporates a removable laser system, that removable laser system shall comply
with the applicable requirements of IEC 60825-1.
FSOCSs have limitations imposed by this document that are dependent on the location type(s)
in which they are installed. Product classification and access level restrictions by location type
are summarized in Table 2.
For each location where emission is transmitted, crosses or is received, respective exposure
conditions shall be individually evaluated. Furthermore, potentially occupied locations along the
beam path, within the NHZ or ENHZ, shall also be evaluated for acceptable access levels
(Table 2) and appropriate controls applied. Locations which could be traversed by reflections,
actual or potential, of the beam shall also be evaluated if the emission could exceed access
level 1 or 2. At a given location, the installation and operational constraints applied from
Clause 6 shall be determined by whichever is the more hazardous: the transmitted or the
received optical radiation.
IEC 60825-12:2022 © IEC 2022 – 13 –
The correct allocation of access levels is the ultimate responsibility of the operating organization.
However, the access levels may be determined by the maintenance, installation or service
organization; or even by the manufacturer, provided the operating organisation is able to
provide the manufacturer with sufficient information regarding the precise environment in which
the particular FSOCS is to be deployed. The methods for determining compliance with an
access level are the same as those described for classification in IEC 60825-1 except for the
following.
a) The access level within a designated location shall be determined at any position relative to
an FSOCS transmitter where the access level is maximized.
NOTE The maximized access level can be driven by many factors such as windows and transmitter orientation
(in particular for transmitters with dynamic pointing).
b) The access level may depend on the activation of an IPS or APR system.
c) If an IPS or APR system is monitoring the location in question, it shall meet the performance
requirements defined in 5.3.2. Otherwise, the same method used for classification is also
used for determination of access level. For viewing conditions without optical aids refer to
the tables of MPEs in IEC 60825-1.
Verification testing of access levels shall be carried out under reasonably foreseeable fault
conditions to ensure that the APR and/or IPS, if used, is operating properly. In circumstances
where it is difficult to carry out direct measurements, an assessment of the access level based
on calculations is acceptable. Faults which result in the emission of radiation in excess of the
applicable AEL for a limited period only and for which it is not reasonably foreseeable that
human access to t
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