1、 Standard Overview
GB/T 7247.1-2024 "Safety of laser products - Part 1: Equipment classification and requirements" will be officially implemented on April 1, 2025, equivalent to the international standard IEC 60825-1:2014, and adapted to the actual application of laser products in China. This standard applies to laser products with a wavelength range of 180 nm to 1 mm. As a high-power industrial laser equipment, laser clearing devices are subject to mandatory compliance.
2、 Safety level positioning of laser obstacle clearing equipment
Laser obstacle clearing devices are usually classified into Class 4 laser products based on the following characteristics:
Laser obstacle clearing equipment is used to burn off kite strings, plastic films, bird nests and other obstacles at long distances (usually 50-300 meters), requiring high laser power. Typical parameters include: laser wavelength is mostly 1064nm (near-infrared) or 1070nm (fiber laser), continuous output power is usually between 300W and 2000W or even higher, high beam quality requirements (small M ² factor), and divergence angle is controlled within 1-3 milliradians. These parameters far exceed the achievable emission limit (AEL) of Class 3B lasers, therefore they are bound to fall into Class 4.
Class 4 lasers may not only cause eye damage (retinal and corneal injury), but also burn the skin and even ignite combustible materials. For laser obstacle clearing equipment, its design purpose is to ablate foreign objects, so it has the ability to ignite itself, which further confirms its classification status as Class 4.
3、 Core testing items
3.1 Achievable Launch Limit (AEL) Test
This is the basic test for classification judgment. Testers need to measure the actual output parameters of the laser obstacle clearing device under normal working conditions in a controlled laboratory environment, including continuous wave power or pulse energy, irradiance, precise measurement of wavelength, analysis of beam divergence angle, analysis of pulse characteristics (pulse width, repetition frequency, peak power), and evaluation of cumulative thermal effects of repeated pulses for pulse light sources.
For obstacle clearing devices using scanning mode, it is also necessary to evaluate the radiation distribution in the scanning state.
3.2 Measurement of Laser Radiation Parameters
Specifically, it includes laser output power/energy density measurement, irradiance testing, precise wavelength measurement, beam divergence angle analysis, and pulse characteristic analysis (pulse width, repetition rate, peak power). The new standard dynamically adjusts measurement parameters based on pulse duration. For obstacle clearing instruments using pulse light sources (such as nanosecond pulses), the cumulative thermal effect of repeated pulses needs to be evaluated for detection, which directly affects the determination of safety level.
3.3 Classification and evaluation of security levels
Based on the measured laser wavelength, output power, pulse parameters, and other indicators, the laser clearing instrument is classified into Class 1 to Class 4 (including subcategories 1M, 2M, 3R, and 3B) according to the classification rules in the standard. The new standard also introduces the concept of 4M class evaluation.
4、 Inspection of Engineering Protection Measures
4.1 Safety Interlocking System
The standard puts forward higher requirements for safety interlocks, warning signs, etc. of laser products. The equipment must be designed with safety switches to prevent accidental triggering, ensuring that the laser output can be stopped in a timely manner in abnormal working conditions. For high-power obstacle clearing equipment, the focus is on the effectiveness of remote interlocking function and protective enclosure.
4.2 Protective shell and emergency stop
Evaluate whether the protective casing, safety interlock, emergency stop function, etc. of the equipment meet the requirements. The detection needs to confirm that the equipment has functions such as overload protection and emergency stop.
4.3 Human body sensing and tipping protection
Part of the laser obstacle clearing equipment integrates human body induction accidental laser protection and equipment tilt protection functions. When the equipment tilts, it can automatically cut off the power to prevent accidental injury to nearby personnel.
5、 Identification and instruction manual review
5.1 Graphical Warning Signs
The 2024 version of the standard extensively introduces graphical warning symbols (such as the "Beware of Laser Radiation" icon) to replace pure text warnings. Durability labels that comply with the new regulations must be affixed to the body and operating interface of the obstacle clearing device.
5.2 Compliance of the instruction manual
Check if the laser warning signs and instructions are complete and clear. The user manual should clearly indicate the laser safety level, operating precautions, protective measures, etc.
6、 Required documents for testing
Enterprises need to prepare the following documents when applying for testing:
Product technical documents: including the design principle, laser parameters, optical system description, etc. of the laser obstacle clearing device
Circuit diagram and safety design instructions: Ensure that the equipment has overload protection, emergency stop and other functions
User manual: Clearly label the laser safety level, operating precautions, protective measures, etc
Sample: Provide a complete and testable laser obstacle clearing device
Enterprise qualification documents: business license, production permit, etc. (if applicable)
7、 Testing process
Pre consultation: Confirm testing standards and plans with testing agencies
Submit application: Fill out the testing commission form, clarify the testing items and standard basis, provide product specifications, laser parameters, electrical safety design documents, protective measures instructions, product photos and structural diagrams, etc
Sample submission: mail the complete sample to the dedicated laser laboratory of the testing institution; Large industrial laser equipment that is inconvenient to move can apply for on-site inspection services
Laboratory testing: After completing the product pre evaluation, engineers conduct laser wavelength testing, output power/energy testing, pulse characteristic analysis, safety protection device verification, label and instruction manual compliance verification, etc. in sequence
Report review and issuance: After passing the test, the testing agency issues a formal GB/T 7247.1-2024 testing report
8、 Qualification requirements for testing institutions
The institutions responsible for GB/T 7247.1-2024 testing must have corresponding nationally recognized qualifications, mainly including:
CNAS qualification (China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment): ensuring the international recognition of test results
CMA qualification (China Metrology Certification): ensuring the legal validity of testing data
The inspection report is an important basis for the entry of laser obstacle clearing equipment into the market, participation in bidding, and export compliance (such as CE and FDA certification).
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