Paper: #

INTERNATIONAL REGULATIONS FOR SAFETY OF

LASER PRODUCTS AND OF LASER PROCESSING MACHINES
- AN OVERVIEW Associazione Industriali
Vicenza, 18.03.10
Dipl.-Ing. Thomas Pster
- Safety engineer
- Pu
3 00000-30

International Regulations for

Safety of Laser Products and for
Safety of Laser Processing Machines
- An Overview Contents

Introduction

EU-Legislation
- Articles
- Directives

International Standards
- ISO, CEN, UNI
- IEC, CENELEC, CEI

Cooperation between international standardizing bodies
IEC and ISO using the example of laser safety

Approach to safety of laser processing machines
- standards directly related to laser safety
- standards related to safety of machinery

Conclusions
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International Regulations
on Safety of Laser Safety
The Jungle of Regulations
IEC 60825-1
Article 95

CEN
EN 954-1
New Approach

EN 12100
IEC

ISO

Type
A-, B-, CStandards

2006/42/EC
Article 137

ISO 11553-1
Harmonized
Standards

Article 95
Article 137
2006/42/EC
ISO 12100

ser
safe la achine
sing m
proces

ISO 13949-1

CENELEC
89/391/EEC

Safety of
Machinery

98/37/EC

EN 207

Systematic
Structure
UNI
IEC 60825-4

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European Legislation
- Technology and Safety European Directives
(according to Amsterdam Treaty, 1999)

APPROXIMATION OF LAWS
Article 95
Measures for the approximation of the
provisions laid down by law, regulation or
administrative action in Member States;
establishment and functioning of the internal
market.

Framework Directives

SOCIAL PROVISIONS

Generic Directives

Article 137

Individual Directives

Improvement in particular of the working

environment to protect workers' health
and safety

- sector specific
- concerned with specific
aspects of health and safety

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European Directives
Under Article 95
Measures for the approximation of the provisions
Framework Directive
93/465/EEC, (22nd July 1993)
concerning the modules for the various phases of the conformity assessment procedures
and the rules for the affixing and use of the CE conformity marking, which are intended to be used in
the technical harmonization directives

Single Directive
89/686/EEC, (21st December 1989)
on personal protective equipment

2001/104/EC, (7th December 2001)

on medical devices

2004/108/EC, (15th December 2004)

on electromagnetic compatibility and repealing Directive 89/336/EEC

2006/42/EC, (17th May 2006)

on safety of machinery

2006/95/EC, (12th December 2006)

on electrical equipment designed for use within certain voltage limits (low voltage)
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European Directives
Under Article 137
Safety and health of workers at work
Framework Directive
89/391/EEC, (12th June 1989)
on the introduction of measures to encourage improvements in the safety and
health of workers at work
Single Directive
98/24/EC, (7th April 1998)
on the protection of the health and safety of workers from the risks related to chemical agents at
work (chemical agents)

2003/10/EC, (6th February 2003)

on the minimum health and safety requirements regarding the exposure of workers to the risks
arising from physical agents (noise)

2004/40/EC, (29th April 2004)

on the minimum health and safety requirements regarding the exposure of workers to the risks
arising from physical agents (electromagnetic fields)

2006/25/EC, (5th April 2006)

on the minimum health and safety requirements regarding the exposure of workers to risks
arising from physical agents (artificial optical radiation)
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European Regulations related to Health and

Safety at Work
88/642/EEC: Protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to
chemical,
physical and biological agents
89/391/EEC: Measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health of
workers
Artikel 137
Directive on Physical Agents
1992 proposed /
1993 proposal withdrawn
Noise
Directive
2003/10/EC

Vibration
Directive
2002/44/EC

EMF
Directive
2004/40/EC

Optical
Radiation
Directive
2006/25/EC

Directive on
Chemical Agents
98/24/EC

Directive on
Biological Agents
2005/54/EC

Individual
Directives

Individual
Directives

National Provisions
Physical Agents (PhysV)
ArbSchLrmVibrationsV
03/2007
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International Standardization Bodies

International Level

European Level

National Level (Italy)

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Hierarchy of the European Standards

System

Basic safety standards

Type
A Standards
Design principles and
basic concepts for machines

Safety group standards

(generic standards)

Type
B Standards
B1 Standards
General safety aspects

Subject or product
safety standards

B2 Standards
Reference to special
protective devices

Typ C Standards
Specific safety requirements for
special machines or machine types

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Standards related to Laser Safety

(Examples of Type A, B und C-Standards)
EC-Directive
Machinery

Basic requirements on safety and health

Directive 89/392/EEC (consolidated by 98/37/EC, 2006/42/EC)

Type A-Standards
(Basic standards)

Basic safety requirements

Type B-Standards
(Generic standards)

Type B1 Safety aspects

ISO 13857 Safety of machinery - Safety distances to prevent hazard zones
being reached by upper and lower limbs
ISO 13849-1 Safety of machinery - Safety-related parts of control systems Part 1: General principles for design

ISO 12100 P1, P2 Safety of machinery - Basic concepts, general principles

for design

Type B2 Safety related devices

ISO 13850 Safety of machinery - Emergency stop - Principles for design
ISO 14119 Safety of machinery - Interlocking devices associated with
guards - Principles for design and selection
Type C-Standards
(Product Standard)

Detailed safety requirements for a particular machine or type of machines

ISO 11553-2 Safety of machinery - Laser processing machines - Part 2:
Safety requirements for hand-held laser processing devices
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Structuring of ISO/TC 172

Structuring of ISO/TC 172

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Structuring of IEC/TC 76

IEC/TC 76
Optical radiation safety and laser equipment

WG 1

WG 3

Optical radiation
safety

Laser radiation
measurement

WG 4
Safety of
medical laser
equipment

WG 5
Safety of
fiber optics
communications
systems

WG 7
High
power lasers

WG 8

WG 9

Development
and
Maintenance
of basic
standards

Non coherent
sources

JWG 10

IEC - List of technical committees and

subcommittees
Total number of TC/SCs

174

IEC Technical Committees

94

IEC Subcommittees

80

IEC/ISO
Safety of lasers
and
laser equipment
in an
Industrial
materials
processing
environment

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Cooperation of ISO and IEC

with regard to laser safety
Joint Working Group of ISO and IEC

ISO
TC 172
SC 9
WG 3
Safety

JWG

IEC
TC 76
WG 10
Safety

Joint
Working
Group

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Steps on the way to elaborate an

International Standard
Proposal of a
Standard

TC/SC
DIS

National
Working Group

(Draft International
Standard)

NWIP

Objections /
Comments

(New Work Item

Proposal)

Consensus

Voting
Voting
Yes/No
Yes/No

WD
(Working Draft)
Consensus between
Experts of WG

Formal Voting
Yes/No

CD
(Committee Draft)

Comments
Consensus within
TC/SC

FDIS
(Final Draft
International Standard)

Final Text of
International
Standard
Publication of
International
Standard
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Development of an International Standard

- Stages -

Reference: DIN
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Machinery Directive
2006/42/EC
ANNEX I
Essential health and safety requirements relating to the design and construction
of machinery
The essential health and safety requirements laid down in this Annex are mandatory;
1. ESSENTIAL HEALTH AND SAFETY REQUIREMENTS
1.5. RISKS DUE TO OTHER HAZARDS
1.5.12 Laser radiation
Where laser equipment is used, the following should be taken into account:

laser equipment on machinery must be designed and constructed in such a way
as to
prevent any accidental radiation,

laser equipment on machinery must be protected in such a way that effective radiation,
radiation produced by reflection or diffusion and secondary radiation do not damage
health,

optical equipment for the observation or adjustment of laser equipment on machinery
must be such that no health risk is created by laser radiation.

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Changes of new Machinery Directive

2006/42/EC (extract)

Changes are especially prevalent with the conformity assessment procedure of Annex IV Machines (exempt
from Type Examination). For the manufacturer the new directive opens up the option of self-certification without the participation of a test center, if they have a quality assurance procedure in accordance with Annex X.

The basic safety and health requirements (Annex I) will in future require a risk assessment
by the manufacturer.

In the old Machinery Directive there are different procedures for proving the safety of machinery,
exchangeable equipment, safety components, chains/ropes/belts for lifting purposes, Cardan shafts and
load-carrying equipment.
In the future the same machine regulations will also apply for these products. They will have to be distributed
in the future with CE conformity assessment, declaration of conformity and the required user information.

The requirements for "part-machines" (also referred to as "incomplete machines") have been re-formulated
in the new version of the Machinery Directive. Until now a manufacturer declaration was sufficient, but in the
future the manufacturer will also have to supply a declaration of incorporation, which must specify which
requirements of the directive apply to the part-machine and have been complied with. Installation instructions
must be provided with the machines documentation.

The delimitation of the Low Voltage Directive is no longer regulated as risk-related, but rather product-related.

Clearer delimitation of the Machinery Directive for the Low Voltage Directive.

Instead of a "hazard analysis" a risk assessment and "risk evaluation" are required.

Internal production controls for series machines (Annex VIII).

The validity of EC Type Examination certifications must be checked by the test center every 5 years.
Manufacturers and test centers are obligated to retain the relevant technical documents for 15 years.
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3-Step Procedure given in ISO 12100-1

Safety requirements
3-Step Procedure given in ISO 12100-1
Protective measures taken
by the designer
Step 1: Inherently safe design measures
Step 2: Safeguarding and
complimentary
protective measures

- complete shielding
- contact control
- safety PLC

Step 3: Information for use

- at the machine
- in the instruction handbook
Protective measures taken
by the user
- Organization
- Provision of additional safeguards
- Personal protective equipment
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Risk Assessment
DIN EN ISO 14121-1:2007 Safety of machinery - Risk assessment - Part 1: Principles

DIN EN 1050 Safety of machinery Principles of hazard analysis

Iterative process to achieve safety
Start

According to DIN EN ISO 12100-1

Determination of
machine limits
Risk
assessment

Risk
analysis

Hazard
identification
Risk estimation
Risk evaluation

Is the
machine
safe ?
no
Risk reduction

yes
End

Method of hazard analysis

and Risk assessment :
(examples)
- What-if-method
- Fault tree analysis
- FMEA*
- MOSAR*
* Failure mode and effects analysis
Method organized for systematic analysis of risks

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Standards directly related to laser safety

- Examples Responsibility of IEC

Responsibility of ISO

IEC 60825

ISO 11553

P1

Safety of laser products

Laser processing machines

Equipment classification
and requirements

P2

Safety of optical fibre

communication systems (OFCS)

P4

Laser guards

P...

Safety of machinery

P1
P2

General safety requirements

Safety requirements for
hand-held laser

processing
devices

Responsibility of CEN

IEC 60601-2-22 Medical electrical equipment

Requirements for the basic safety
and essential performance of
surgical, cosmetic, therapeutic
and laser equipment

ISO 12254

Screens for laser

working places
Safety requirements and
testing

National responsibilities
DIN 56912

Showlaser and Showlaser equipment

Safety requirements and
control
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Standards indirectly related to laser safety

- Examples EN 61040

Power and energy measuring detectors, Instruments, and

equipment for laser radiation
- standards of equipment
- standards for measuring and interpretation

EN ISO 11146

Lasers and laser-related equipment, Test methods for laser beam

widths divergence angles and beam propagation ratios
Stigmatic and simple astigmatic beams
General astigmatic beams

P1
P2
EN ISO 13694

Optics and optical instruments - Lasers and laser-related equipment,

Test methods for laser beam power (energy) density distribution

EN ISO 11145

Optics and photonics - Lasers and laser-related equipment,

Vocabulary and symbols

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Overview about the series of standards

IEC 60825
Part
No.

Type

Title and scope

Designer
of the
Product

Manufacturer
of the
Product

User of
the
Product

Manufacturer
of safetyrelated parts

Test
method

Hazard
analysis

Standard

Equipment classification and requirements

Yes

yes

yes

yes

yes

yes

Standard

Safety of optical fiber communication

systems

yes

yes

yes

yes

yes

yes

Technical
Report

Guidance for laser displays and shows

no

no

yes

no

no

yes

Standard

Laser guards

yes

yes

yes

yes

yes

yes

Technical
Report

Manufacturer's checklist for IEC 60825-1

(good for safety report)

yes

yes

no

yes

no

no

Technical
Specification

Technical
Report

Technical
Report

Guidelines for the safe use of laser beams

on humans

no

no

yes

no

no

no

Technical
Report

Compilation of maximum permissible

exposure to incoherent optical radiation

no

no

yes

no

yes

yes

10

Technical
Report

Application guidelines and explanatory notes

to IEC 60825-1

yes

yes

no

no

yes

no

12

Standard

Safety of free space optical communication

systems used for transmission of information

yes

yes

yes

no

yes

yes

14

Technical
Report

A user's guide

no

yes

yes

no

no

yes

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New regulations with regard to

artificial optical radiation
19. Single Directive 2006/25/EG on the minimum health and safety requirements regarding the exposure
National implementation until 27.04.2010

of workers to risks asing from physical agents

(artificial optical radiation)

Electromagnetic Radiation: 100 nm 1 mm

Non-coherent radiation
(each artificial optical radiation
except for laser radiation)

Exposure limits
(Time base)

Coherent radiation
LED

180nm 400nm
Single-day exposition (8h = 30.000s)
Annual exposition (value)
pulsed LED
380nm 1mm
analog
to BGV B2
Single-day exposition (value)

(Laser radiation)

Single-day exposition
Exceptions:
= vis: 0,25s
No MPE alteration
400nm: >100s
1050nm: >10s

Labeling of the area

W 09

W 10

International Standards

IEC 62471

IEC 60825-1

National Regulations
ELIA (BG)

BGV B9
BGI 5006

BGV B2
+ DA 2007
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Safety of Laser Products

IEC 60825-1:
Safety of laser products - Part 1: Equipment classification and requirements
Main parts:
- laser classification scheme
- instructions to classify a laser product
- engineering specifications
- labelling of laser products
 User
s guide in TR 60825-14
Last substantial changes regarding the laser classification concept took place in 2001 (A2)
From January 2004 for new laser products: classes 1, 1M, 2, 2M, 3R, 3B and 4.
Classification into class 1 according to IEC 60825-1 is based on strict requirements:
- Prevention of human access (above AEL class 1),
- Provision for foreseeable fault conditions,
- Coping of single-fault conditions.
Class 1 laser products must be inherently safe and the user does not need to know that a
laser product is integral part of the machine;
- laser guards:  in fault conditions (exposure of the guard) the laser radiation must be
automatically isolated,
- human access (walk in access):  the access is automatically detected followed by an
instantaneous isolation of laser radiation.
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Technical standards for screens/guards

at laser work places

Screens for laser working places

EN 12254: 2008

Laser guards
EN 60825-4: 2009

 Laser radiation
max. 100 W mean power
max. 30 J single pulse energy

 Laser radiation
no power-/ energy limitation

 intermittent/permanent
passive laser screens
- continuous surveillance  for protection against laser radiation
only (unintended exposure)
not against secondary radiation
 Testing of laser resistance:
d63 of laser beam >2 mm (>0,5 mm)
Test-duration: EN 60825-1

 intermittent/permanent
aktive and passive laser guards and
screens (applies to all elements of a
laser guard)
- also unattended automatic mode  Testing of laser resistance:
determinaton of protective exposure
limit (PEL)
EN 60825-4, Clause 3.4:
Requirements on testing

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Guarding around a
laser processing machine
Foreseeable
exposure limit
(FEL)
Maximum reasonably foreseeable
exposure at the front surface
of the laser protective guard
Laser

Protective exposure limit

(PEL)
Protective properties of the
laser protective guard
to prevent exceeding
of AEL class 1
at the rear surface
Laser protective guard
Process area

Outside the laser protective guard

Laser Class 1 (AEL)

Laser processing machine

according to IEC 60825-4
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Risk analysis to design passive laser

protective guards
Question: when will a failure be recognized?
(radiation hits the guard)
Laser-protective guard must safely protect over this time
Classification of the laser protective guards with given protection level (PEL)
Test class

Inspection interval

Recommended application

T1

30.000 s

automated production

T2

100 s

short-cycle operation with

intermittent inspection

T3

10 s

processing under continuous

surveillance
Ref.: IEC 60825-4

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Safety of Laser Processing Machines

ISO 11553-1:
Safety of machinery - Laser processing machines - Part 1: General safety requirements
Applicable for functionally complete systems
Main parts:
- hazard analysis
- risk assessment
- engineering specifications
- safety measures (for laser radiation and further standards)
- information provided to the user
Predominantly, an inherently safe machine is required
(accessible radiation should not exceed MPE)
Unauthorized access to danger zones shall be prevented by engineering measures.
The standard also permits administrative control measures and personal
protective equipment to reduce risks by laser radiation.
The machinery directive and the harmonized standards on safety of machinery require
that no hazardous laser radiation is emitted from the machine;
- laser guards:  inspection intervals by operators can be used, to terminate the time
of the laser resistance of passive laser guards in fault conditions
- human access (walk in access):  the access can be restricted by administrative means
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Control of access

Description of Locations
Location

Controlled

Restricted

People

Authorized
Personnel untrained
and trained in in laser safety but not
laser
the public
safety

Unrestricted and
uncontrolled
All, including the
public

Reference: ISO 11553-1

Corresponding measures for control of access must be provided

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Embedded laser products

- laser processing machines Interlock
Fiber
Emission connector
warning
light

Safe fiber
- temperature
- breakage

Safety
shutter

Laser
guards/
walls

Controlled area

Safety position
switch with
guard locking
(magnetic lock)

Safety door

Power
supply

Restricted
area

Power
supply
Operating
stop mode
2 Safety
1
PLC

Interlock

Control panel
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Protective measures for use of laser units

Type of safety measures for enclosed laser units

Safe according
DIN EN ISO 12100
DIN EN ISO 11553-1

Safe according
DIN EN 60825-1

safe as class 1

laser class 1

Safety must be achieved by

following measures*:

Technical measures
Administrative measures

Safety must be achieved by

following measures*:
The laser installation/unit must
be inherently safe with regard to
technic and design

Technical measures
*Laser units with restricted access

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Areas of applications of different standards

related to functional safety
Machinery
Construction and risk assessment
EN ISO 12100
Functional and safety requirements
on a safety-related control system
Design and implementation of safety-relevant electrical control system

EN ISO 13849
SRP/CS as

E/E/PES

Hydraulics

Pneumatics
Mechanics

IEC/EN 62061
SRP/CS as

E/E/PES

Electrical safety aspects

IEC/EN 60204

Process
industry
IEC/EN 61511

SRECS

IEC/EN 61508
SRP/CS as

E/E/PES
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Controls and their safety functions

Standards
EN 954-1
EN ISO 13849-1

Safety-related parts of control systems Part 1: General principles for design

EN ISO 13849-2

Safety-related parts of control systems Part 2: Validation

Sensor
Sensor
acquisition of information
- command
- detect

Programmable
Programmable
LogicControl
Control
Logic

Actuator
Actuator

processing of information
- control
- evaluate

performing of action
- actuate
- switch off

Safety function

Control Categories
? B, 1, 2, 3, 4
Laser Class 1:
Design of safety related devices
- fail-safe
- single-fault condition

Cat. 3:
Cat. 4:

a single fault in each of these parts must not

cause a loss of the safety function
an accumulation of faults must not cause the
loss of the safety function
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Iterative procedure for the design of

safety related parts of controls (SRP/CS)
Procedure of
risk reduction
ISO 12100-1

Start

Steps

Identify the required safety functions,

performed by SRP/CS

Protective measure
depends on a control

Define the safety function requirements

for each safety function
Determine the required
Performance Level PLr

Verification of PL
For a certain safety function:
PL PLr

no

yes
Design and technical realization of the safety functions:
Identification of safety related parts,
performing the safety function

Validation:
Have all demands
been achieved?

no

yes
Determine and evaluate the Performance Level PL
for the above mentioned SRP/CS with regard to:
category
MTTFd
DC
CCF
if applicable: Software

Have all safety functions

been analyzed?
yes
End

no

Procedure of
risk reduction
ISO 12100-1

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Safety functions of controls

Typical safety functions of a laser processing machine
Safety related parts of controls (SRP/CS)
requirements on SRP/CS as result of risk evaluation
(leads typically to cat. 3 acc. EN 954-1 or ISO 13849-1)

- Emergency Stop
(acc. IEC 60204-1 and ISO 13850)
- Prevention of unexpected start-up
(acc. ISO 14118)
- Start/Stop-Control: controlled start
(acc. IEC 60204-1)
- Operation control device with automatic reset facility
(acc. IEC 60204-1, EN 574)
- Enabling switch, e.g. 3-step (in danger area)
(acc. IEC 60204-1, EN 1088)

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Hazard identification and risk evaluation

Risk graph for the determination of the required
performance level (PLr)
DIN EN ISO 13849-1
Risk parameters

PLr
F1
S1
F2
1
F1
S2
F2

P1
P2
P1
P2
P1
P2
P1
P2

b
c
d
e
H

Legend
1

Point at which the evaluation

of the contribution to the risk
minimization begins
L Low contribution to risk minimization
H High contribution to risk minimization
PLr Required performance level

S Severity of potential injury

S1 Slight (normally reversible injury)
S2 Serious (normally irreversible injury or death)
F Frequency and/or exposure time to hazard
F1 Seldom to not very frequent and/or exposure
time to hazard is short
F2 Frequent to continuous and/or exposure time
to hazard is long
P Possibility of preventing the hazard or
limiting the harm
P1 Possible under certain conditions
P2 Scarcely possible

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Architecture of HLG control

- HLG-Block diagram Control parts
of the laser device
Channel 1

B1

A1

G1

Q1

Channel 2

B2

A2

G2

B3

A3

G3

further input-units
(diverse functional principle)

B4

A4

SV1

K1

Line 1

Q2

K1

Line 2

Feedback
Switch-off test

Terms:

G4

K1 signal check
- plausibility
- simultaneity

B1/B2
A1/A2
G1/G2
K1
Q1/Q2
SV1

Sensor
Amplifier
Limit switch
PLC
Safety relay
Safety shutter
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Control categories defined in EN 954-1

Cat. Summary of requirements

System behavior 1)

Principle for
achieving safety

The safety-related parts of control

systems and/ or their protective devices
and their components shall be designed,
constructed, selected and combined in
accordance with the applicable standards
in such a way that they can withstand the
expected influences and effects.

The occurrence of a fault

can cause the loss of the
safety
function.

Predominantly
characterized by
the selection of
components.

The requirements of B shall be satisfied.

Approved components and approved
safety principles must be applied.

The occurrence of a fault

can cause the loss of the
safety function, but the
probability that one will
occur is lower than in B.

Predominantly
characterized by
the selection of
components.

The requirements of B and the use of

approved safety principles shall be
ensured. The safety function shall be
checked at appropriate intervals by the
machine control system.

The occurrence of a fault

can cause the loss of the
safety function between the
test intervals. The loss of
the safety function is
detected by the test.

Predominantly
characterized by
the structure.

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Control categories defined in EN 954-1

Cat. Summary of requirements

System behavior 1)

Principle for
achieving safety

The requirements of B and the use of approved

safety principles shall be ensured. Safetyrelated parts shall be designed so that:
An single fault in each of these parts does not
cause the loss of the safety function.
The single faults are detected whenever this
is reasonably possibly.

If a single fault occurs,

Predominantly
the safety function is
characterized
always maintained.
by the structure.
Some but not all faults
are detected. An
accumulation of
undetected faults can
lead to loss of the safety
function.

The requirements of B and the use of proven

safety principles shall be ensured. Safetyrelated parts shall be designed so that:
A single fault in each of these parts does not
cause the loss of the safety function.
The single fault is detected with or before the
next request to the safety function, or if this is
not possible, an accumulation of faults may not
cause the loss of the safety function.

If faults occur the safety

function is always
maintained.

Predominantly
characterized
by the structure.

The faults are detected

in time to prevent a loss
of the safety function.

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Personal protective eyewear

Laser protection
glasses

Laser adjustment
glasses

DIN EN 207

DIN EN 208

Protection level

Protection level

L1 - L10

R1 - R5
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Laser-eye protection / Testing

European Directive 89/686/EEC; (93/95/EEC); (96/58/EC) on
the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to personal protective equipment
(PPE-Directive)
PPE and also eye-protection is categorized into 3 different risk levels for assessment :
- cat.I:
simple risk
- cat.II: intermediate risk
- cat.III: complex risk
Laser protection glasses are assigned to cat.II
Have to be marked with CE-mark
Requirements on testing acc. to cat.II:
- one-time type examination test (by independend testing laboratory)
- monitoring of manufacturing process by independend testing
laboratory is not stipulated (only by manufacturer himself)
In comparison: Reqirements of DIN GS tests*
- EU-type examination test,
- Re-examination tests periodically,
- Impartial sampling out of the manufacturing process,
- Testing of testing sets and quality assurance at the manufacturing plant.
*all tests carried out by independend testing laboratory voluntarily by the manufacturer
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Conclusions
The international and national regulations, provisions and technical standards with regard to
safety of laser products and safety of laser processing machines are very complex.

The systematic approach of the European legislation to structure all directives and harmonized
standards helps to compile relevant requirements and information.
The appreciation of European standards to international standards also improves the situation.

Manufacturers of ready-to-use laser processing machines must comply with a number of standards
on machine safety also relevant for laser safety (to declare conformity).
 Especially requirements of the control of the laser radiation have to be met in order to prevent
human access to laser radiation above the maximum permissible exposure (MPE)
- Standards on functional safety, safety controls and safety related parts of controls (SRP/CS)

Generally, regulations are based on both scientific knowledge and basic values of a community.
 Therefore, regulations are subject to continuous development and changes

Existing standards dealing with laser safety provide substantial information on how to design
a safe laser product or laser processing machine.
 Standards must cope with new developments and applications
- such as LED, SLD, HLD or high-power laser remote welding,
- this applies also to personal protective equipment (PPE) against laser radiation
and especially to protective clothing, for which requirements should be defined and
test methods should be developed.

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Thank you very much for

your attention

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