BS EN 60825-2:2004+A2:2010

Safety of laser products. Safety of optical fibre communication systems (OFCS) | Status: Current, Under review

1 Scope and object This Part 2 of IEC 60825 provides requirements and specific guidance for the safe operation and maintenance of optical fibre communication systems (OFCS). In these systems optical power may be accessible outside the confinements of transmitting equipment or at great distance from the optical source. This Part 2 requires the assessment of hazard levels at accessible locations as a replacement for classification according to IEC 60825‑1. It applies to the complete installed end-to-end OFCS, including its components and subassemblies that generate or amplify optical radiation. Individual components and subassemblies that are sold only to OEM vendors for incorporation into a complete installed end-to-end OFCS need not be assessed to this standard, since the final OFCS should itself be assessed according to this standard.

NOTE 1 The above statement is not intended to prevent manufacturers of such components and subassemblies from using this standard if they wish to do so, or are required to do so by contract.

This standard does not apply to optical fibre systems primarily designed to transmit optical power for applications such as material processing or medical treatment. In addition to the hazards resulting from laser radiation, OFCS may also give rise to other hazards, such as fire. This standard does not address safety issues associated with explosion or fire with respect to OFCS deployed in explosive atmospheres. Throughout this part of IEC 60825, a reference to ‘laser’ is taken to include light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and optical amplifiers.

NOTE 2 The optical hazard of light emerging from a fibre is determined by the wavelength and power emerging from the fibre and the optical characteristics of the fibre. (See Annex A.).

The objective of this Part 2 of IEC 60825 is to:

• – protect people from optical radiation resulting from OFCS;
• – provide requirements for manufacturers, installation organizations, service organizations and operating organizations in order to establish procedures and supply information so that proper precautions can be adopted;
• – ensure adequate warnings are provided to individuals regarding the potential hazards associated with OFCS through the use of signs, labels and instructions.

Annex A gives a more detailed rationale for this part of IEC 60825. The safety of an OFCS depends to a significant degree on the characteristics of the equipment forming that system. Depending on the characteristics of the equipment, it may be necessary to mark safety relevant information on the product or include it within the instructions for use. Where required by the level of potential hazard, it places the responsibility for the safe deployment and use of these systems on the installer or end-user / operating organization or both. This standard places the responsibility for adherence to safety instructions during installation and service operations on the installation organization and service organizations as appropriate, and operation and maintenance functions on the end-user or Operating organization. It is recognised that the user of this standard may fall into one or more of the aforementioned categories of manufacturer, installation organization, end-user or operating organization.