IEC 60825-1 is applicable to safety of laser products emitting laser radiation in the
wavelength range 180 nm to 1 mm.
A laser product may consist of a single laser with or without a separate power supply or may
incorporate 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,
medicine and consumer products.
Laser products that 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. However, if the laser system within the laser product is operable when removed
from the equipment, the requirements of this Part 1 apply to the removable unit.
Any laser product is exempt from all further requirements of this Part 1 if classification by the
manufacturer of that product according to Clauses 3, 8 and 9 shows that the emission level
does not exceed the AEL (accessible emission limit) of Class 1 under all conditions of
operation, maintenance, service and failure.
In addition to the hazards resulting from laser radiation, laser equipment may also give rise to
other hazards such as fire and electric shock.
This Part 1 describes the minimum requirements. Compliance with this Part 1 may not be
sufficient to achieve the required level of product safety. Laser products must conform to the
applicable performance and testing requirements of the applicable product safety standards.
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
(IEC 60079), or electric toys (IEC 62115)), this Part 1 will apply in accordance with the
provisions of IEC Guide 104 2) for hazards resulting from laser radiation. If no product safety
standard is applicable, then IEC 61010-1 applies.
In previous editions, LEDs were included in the scope of IEC 60825-1, and they may be still
included in other parts of the IEC 60825 series. However, with the development of lamp safety
standards, optical radiation safety of LEDs in general can be more appropriately addressed by
lamp safety standards. The removal of LEDs from the scope of this Part 1 does not preclude
other standards from including LEDs whenever they refer to lasers. CIE S009 may be applied
to determine the risk group class of an LED or product incorporating one or more LEDs.
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 laser MPE values may be applied to
conservatively evaluate this potential hazard.
The MPE values are not applicable to intentional human exposure to laser radiation for the
purpose of medical or cosmetic/aesthetic treatment.
IEC 60825-1:2007 history
2017IEC 60825-1:2014/ISH2:2017 Interpretation sheet 2 - Safety of laser products - Part 1: Equipment classification and requirements
2017IEC 60825-1:2014/ISH1:2017 Interpretation sheet 1 - Safety of laser products - Part 1: Equipment classification and requirements
2014IEC 60825-1:2014 Safety of laser products - Part 1: Equipment classification and requirements
2011IEC 60825-1:2007/ISH2:2011 Interpretation sheet 2 - Safety of laser products - Part 1: Equipment classification and requirements
2009IEC 60825-1:2007/ISH1:2009 Interpretation sheet 1 - Safety of laser products - Part 1: Equipment classification and requirements
2008IEC 60825-1:2007/COR1:2008 Safety of laser products – Part 1: Equipment classification and requirements (Edition 2.0)
2007IEC 60825-1:2007 Safety of laser products - Part 1: Equipment classification and requirements
1970IEC 60825-1:1993/AMD2:2001/COR1:2002 Corrigendum 1 to Amendment 2 - Safety of laser products - Part 1: Equipment classification, requirements and user's guide
1970IEC 60825-1:1993/AMD2:2001 Amendment 2 - Safety of laser products - Part 1: Equipment classification, requirements and user's guide
2001IEC 60825-1:2001 Safety of laser products - Part 1: Equipment classification, requirements and user's guide
1998IEC 60825-1:1998 Safety of Laser Products - Part 1: Equipment Classification@ Requirements and User's Guide (Edition 1.1; Consolidated Reprint)
1970IEC 60825-1:1993/AMD1:1997 Amendment 1 - Safety of laser products - Part 1: Equipment classification, requirements and user's guide
1970IEC 60825-1:1993/COR1:1994 Safety of laser products - Part 1: Equipment classification, requirements and user's guide
1993IEC 60825-1:1993 Safety of laser products - Part 1: Equipment classification@ requirements and user's guide (Edition 1.0)