Standard Overview
EN60825-1 is the core standard for the safety of laser products in the European Union, officially known as "Safety of Laser Products Part 1: Equipment
Classification, Requirements and User Guidelines", corresponding to the international standard IEC 60825-1. This standard is a mandatory component
of CE certification for laser marking machines exported to the European Union, aimed at controlling laser radiation risks through scientific classification
and protecting the safety of operators' eyes and skin.
Classification of laser safety levels
EN60825-1 categorizes laser products into seven levels based on their wavelength, output power, and pulse characteristics: Class 1, Class 1M, Class 2,
Class 2M, Class 3R, Class 3B, and Class 4. The vast majority of industrial laser marking machines (such as fiber laser machines, CO ₂ laser machines) are
usually classified as Class 4 (high-power lasers) due to their high power. Their direct or diffuse reflected light may cause serious harm to the human eye
and skin, and even trigger fires. Class 1 indicates safety under reasonably foreseeable conditions, including prolonged direct viewing of the beam, such
as high-power marking machines with fully enclosed designs.
Core testing content
Accurate measurement of laser radiation
Use high-precision equipment to measure parameters such as laser output power/energy, wavelength, pulse duration, repetition rate, and beam
divergence angle. These data are the basis for determining the laser level and must be judged against the achievable emission limit (AEL) specified
in the standard.
Structural and protective measures inspection
For Class 4 and other high-level equipment, the testing agency will strictly review the engineering control measures of the product:
Protective cover and safety interlock: The shell must have sufficient mechanical strength, and any openable protective cover must be equipped with
an interlock device to ensure that the laser radiation is cut off at the moment of opening
Key control: High level laser equipment must be equipped with a key switch to prevent unauthorized personnel from using it
Emergency stop device: Class 4 laser must have emergency stop function
Beam termination/attenuator: ensures that the laser beam can be effectively terminated or attenuated
Identification and instruction manual review
The product must have clear, permanent, and standard format warning labels, including laser symbol, grade, wavelength, maximum output power,
and aperture labels. The user manual must also include detailed safety operation guidelines and maintenance information. The penalties imposed
by EU regulatory agencies for "laser grade mislabeling" and "incomplete warning statements in instruction manuals" will significantly increase in 2026.
certification process
The standard EN60825-1 testing process usually includes the following steps: first, project evaluation and data preparation are carried out, and the
enterprise provides product specifications (including laser wavelength and power), circuit diagrams, instructions, and a list of key components;
Subsequently, the complete prototype will be sent to a laboratory with ISO 17025 qualifications for formal testing; After the testing is completed,
the laboratory will issue detailed laser product classification reports, radiation measurement reports, and safety compliance reports; If the initial
test fails (common problems such as insufficient attenuation of the protective cover), the enterprise needs to rectify and retest; After the final review
is approved, the test report and conformity declaration will be issued, and the manufacturer will include them in the CE technical document, sign the
EU conformity declaration (DoC), and affix the CE mark.
Required technical data
To apply for certification, the following documents need to be prepared: testing application form, product manual (English version), circuit diagram,
PCB layout diagram, component list (BOM table), laser path diagram, laser head specification sheet (including laser wavelength range), label electronic
file, quality assurance testing process diagram and production installation process diagram, complete machine testing report (such as durability testing,
vibration testing, high temperature and high humidity testing, etc.).
Related supporting standards
In addition to EN60825-1, laser marking machines exported to the European Union usually need to meet the following standards:
EN ISO 11553-1: General safety requirements for laser processing machinery
EN 60204-1: General requirements for mechanical and electrical equipment
EN ISO 12100: General Design Principles for Mechanical Safety
Low Voltage Directive (LVD) 2014/35/EU
Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive (EMC) 2014/30/EU
Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC
Compliance Trends in 2026
The new version of the EU General Product Safety Directive in 2026 has been fully implemented, and the customs inspection rate for products without
certification or with non-standard certification has significantly increased. The technical compliance threshold has been upgraded from simple "sample
testing" to "full lifecycle compliance". For intelligent marking devices involving facial recognition or driver monitoring systems, even if they are labeled
as Class 1, single fault analysis must be conducted to ensure that the radiation limit that the human eye can withstand still meets the standard under
extreme conditions such as hardware failure.
