Remember how we always thought that 21 CFR 1040.10 and 1040.11 were *the* standard for laser products here in the US? Well, guess what? 2 years ago the CDRH issued Laser Notice # 50, which allows *large* sections of 21CFR 1040.10 to be ignored in favor of the International IEC laser standard, IEC 60825-1. This is part of the CDRH's program to bring the US regs into compliance with the international standards. (Makes sense, really...)
Well, one of the big differences between 21 CFR 1040.10 and IEC 60825-1 is that the International standard doesn't require a mechanical shutter. It also doesn't require an emission delay. To a US laserist, this would seem like heresy, but really, when the whole laser might only be the size of a box of tissues, does it make sense to have an on-off switch *and* a shutter that are separated by less than 6 inches?
There are other, more subtle differences, but the main point is that there is another whole set of rules that you can use to certify your laser (or your projector) with. And these new rules will allow some very interesting things that were *not* allowed under 21 CFR 1040.
Personally, I think it's great that the US standards are moving towards something more in line with what the rest of the world uses. I only wish that I had been paying more attention to these Laser Notices coming from the CDRH...
Now tell the truth. How many of you knew this? (The only way I found out was to ask Casey Stack at Laser Compliance Inc!) I'd like to get Casy to SELEM next year to talk about this and other safety and regulatory topics, assuming there is enough interest...
Adam