What is a Class 4 laser?

What is a Class 4 laser?

Class 4 lasers are the highest laser classification and are considered the most dangerous. They are characterized by having the highest power output, which can result in severe eye and skin injuries and present a significant fire hazard. These lasers have the potential to cause both direct and scattered reflections that can be harmful even at large distances from the laser source.

Key features of Class 4 lasers include:

· High Power Output: Class 4 lasers have output powers above certain thresholds, depending on the laser's wavelength. For example, for visible lasers, a Class 4 laser has an output power exceeding 500 milliwatts (mW).

· Hazardous to Eyes and Skin: Class 4 lasers can cause severe eye injuries, including permanent blindness, if direct or reflected laser beams are viewed without appropriate laser safety eyewear.

· Fire Hazard: Class 4 lasers can ignite flammable materials, posing a fire hazard if not used and handled properly.

· Safety Precautions: When working with Class 4 lasers, strict safety precautions must be followed to protect operators, bystanders, and the environment. Special laser safety eyewear and protective barriers are essential to prevent accidental exposure to the laser beam.

Due to their high power and potential risks, Class 4 lasers are typically used in specialized industrial, research, medical, and military applications where the high output power is necessary for specific tasks. It is recommended that operators and users of Class 4 lasers undergo proper training and adhere to safety guidelines to prevent accidents and injuries.

    • Related Articles

    • Buyers Guide | Laser Safety Signs and Labels

      In the article below, we discuss when signs are necessary, where to post signs, and which laser classifications require signs to adhere to proper laser safety (and ANSI compliant). Where should signs and labels be posted? Proper laser safety says ...

    • Class 4 Laser Safety: Hazards, Precautions, and Best Practices

      Lasers are categorized based on their potential hazards. The classification ranges from Class 1 to Class 4 (highly hazardous). The Laser Institute of America (the secretariat of the ANSI Z136 standards) provides laser classifications here. Key ...

    • Buyer's Guide to Laser Safety Windows

      To determine which laser safety window to buy, refer to the following criteria: 1) Wavelength of the laser. 2) Level of Protection. Determine what protection level is needed based on the laser's output. To identify the recommended Optical Density ...

    • Continuous Wave (CW) Laser vs a Pulsed Laser

      Purchasing laser safety protection is impacted by if the laser is continuous or pulsed. Below, we illustrate that although the average power of a laser may be the same, a pulsed laser has peaks that require more protection (as it becomes necessary to ...

    • Laser Beam Energy Intensity Parameters

      In computing how much laser protection you needed, you ultimately need to determine the energy intensity (Power/Area or Energy/Area) and the exposure it needs to be reduced to for that wavelength - known as Maximum Permissible Exposure (MPE). Power ...