BLOG: IEC 60825 - What does it mean for lightshows?

Whether you’ve been working with laser light effects for a while or are just venturing into this field, the word IEC and the number 60825 are things that keep popping all over the place, whether looking through manufacturer’s websites, reading laser specifications, seeing the safety labelling on laser projectors, or being told all sorts of wonderful claims about being IEC or 60825 compliant, (some claims being more truthful than others!)

What does this number actually mean and why is it referenced so much for laser lighting effects? IEC stands for the International Electrotechnical Commission, which is a not-for-profit organisation representing approximately 170 countries, creating global technical and safety standards promoting the availability of consistently safe and reliable products. The IEC has published approximately 10,000 international standards relating to a wide range of different product types and services. These standards are often adopted by countries to become national or regional standards. Those with the numbers 60825 refer to the series of standards documents relating to laser product safety and use.

Product Classification and Compliance

The product safety standards published by the IEC are adopted by countries around the world so that compliance with the IEC specification becomes a legal requirement for that particular product type.

The 60825 - Part 1 document is hugely important for all laser products as it defines the specifications for all the laser classes, (i.e. what makes a laser product Class 2, Class 3R, and Class 4, and so on). It also specifies how manufacturers and test houses must determine the correct classification. And then for each classification, it lists in detail what product safety features and labelling must be present on the product for it to be considered compliant. For Class 4 laser products this includes features such as the key-switch, indicator, and start button etc. Meaning that any manufacturers or suppliers of laser products must ensure when their product is made available it includes all the prescribed safety features set out in the standard.

It is for this reason manufacturers are keen to make it known that their laser projector products are IEC 60825 compliant. Whether they actually are or not is different matter though! Laser projectors supplied by quality manufacturers tend to be fully compliant. But there are a large number of lower cost products on the market that claim ‘IEC’ compliance and will have this printed on the enclosure along with CE and RoHS marks but are clearly lacking in the required basic legally required safety features. Unfortunately, even with standards that are designed to tell manufacturers how to make standardised, safe products, we still come across and see all sorts of cheap and nasty projectors being used in the field. It is disappointing to see, because it is not that difficult to get things right.

So, IEC and 60825-1 displayed on the product, and the manufacturer’s website and specifications, should be an indication that the laser effect is compliant. We cover the main IEC features to check are present on our standard laser operator’s safety course so you can check if the manufacturer’s claims are valid.

Laser Safety Practice

The second context in which the IEC 60825 standards are referenced is with regard to Part 3, which relates to describing standardised safety practices for using lasers for laser show and display applications. This document describes how lasers should be safely used when creating laser effects. It describes standard expected procedures, the precautions that should be taken, safety documentation requirements, along with design elements to create laser shows that meet both local and international standard levels of best practice. This includes things like the standard separation distances, ways to protect audiences and performers against too much light exposure, what safety signage should be used, and when and where it should be in place.

More advanced topics such as audience scanning and scan-fail safeguards are covered to help direct users on how to ensure these types of effects follow exposure limit requirements and what precautions should be taken.

Like all standards documents the idea is to describe consistent approaches and act as an authoritative reference to producing safe laser effect installations. Laser effects providers and regulators alike can use this document to achieve greater consistency and lessen confusion over what is and is not acceptable use. Such is the amount of solid practical advice present in the 60825-3 document it has become the reference document in relation to producing laser lighting effects safely across the world as a growing number of countries refer users to it for lightshow applications.

In summary it can be seen that both IEC and 60825 play an important role in influencing the safety of laser light effects, be it through the laser product safety standard in Part 1, or through the detailed practical guidance specific to laser light show use in Part 3. For any person getting seriously involved with laser lighting effects the number 60825 soon rolls off the tongue due to it being so prevalent in underpinning the safety of laser effects use.

Laser Safety Training

LVR Optical provide in depth coverage of these two factors, equipping attendees with a good understanding of these topics essential to producing safe and exciting shows through our Professional Laser Display Safety Course: Understanding and applying the IEC 60825 laser safety. Full details of our course and when the next one is happening can be found here.

© June 2025 LVR Optical