Standards Development

Scope

This TS accounts for more specific and recent LLP and may be used for the classification and labelling of LLP in lieu of a classification or labelling based on IEC 60825-1, including in lieu of subclause 4.4 of IEC 60825-1.

The application of this TS and the requirements of this TS are optional for the compliance of LLP with IEC 60825-1. If the requirements of this TS are fulfilled, the product, with respect to the radiation that is compliant with this TS, may be classified under the IEC 62471 series of standards. However, it is permitted to classify the product based on the emission of the LLP under the classification scheme of IEC 60825-1 as for any other laser product.

This TS does not apply to accessible laser emission with wavelengths below 400 nm or above 1 400 nm. The respective emission is to be considered in the classification of the product under IEC 60825-1.

Purpose

Starting roughly in 2010, more and more product groups were developed and brought onto the market that replace conventional light sources, i.e. replace lamps such as xenon lamps or LEDs by sources using laser as the primary source of light. No general group term has so far been established. We introduce the term laser lamp products (LLP) here. The early examples were car headlamps and laser illuminated projectors, for which IEC 62471-5:2015 was developed. More recent examples are laser illuminated stage lights and luminaires using white-light modules. LLP can emit broadband radiation, such as when a laser with emission in the blue wavelength range is reflected or transmitted through a phosphor. The emission can also be monochromatic, such as for effect lighting with a diffuse fibre and red laser emission, or RGB emission for a LIP. With laser pumped light modules, a high radiance source of white light has become available which can be expected to replace high-power LEDs in luminaires as ubiquitous as flash lamps.

The current IEC 60825-1:2014, including subclause 4.4, does not account for newly developed LLP and with the proposed TS, up-to-date requirements are to be defined for proper safety classification as well as labelling.