The Spectral Range of Laser Protection: What You Need to Know

When working with lasers, protecting your eyes and skin from harmful laser radiation is not optional, it is essential. One of the key factors in effective laser safety is understanding the spectral range for laser protection. This article will provide insights into what spectral range means, why it is important, and how to choose the right protection for different laser wavelengths.

What is the spectral range for laser protection?

Spectral range refers to the specific wavelengths (measured in nanometers (nm)) that laser safety equipment is able to effectively block or attenuate. Laser protective gear, such as laser safety glasses, is designed to filter out harmful laser light within a specific spectral range, protecting the user from direct or scattered laser light.

Common Laser Wavelength Categories

Lasers operate over a very wide range of wavelengths. Here are the most common categories:

① Ultraviolet laser: 100-400nm

Applicable to medical, biological detection, chip processing and other fields. Exposure to ultraviolet laser can cause damage to the cornea and lens

② Visible light laser: 400-780nm

Lasers in this band appear in various colors such as purple, blue, green, yellow, and red, and are suitable for laser demonstration, teaching, marking and other fields

③ Near-infrared laser: 780-1400nm

Widely used in laser welding, laser beauty, laser ranging

④ Mid- and far-infrared laser: 1400-11000nm

Applicable to industrial cutting, communications, infrared sensing

Why the spectral range is critical to laser safety

Not all laser safety glasses or protective screens are the same. The protective effect must be exactly matched to the wavelength of the laser used. Wearing inappropriate protective equipment may not provide any protection and may even give people a false sense of security.

For example, laser safety glasses that protect against 1064 nm (Nd:YAG laser) may not protect against 532 nm (green laser) unless the laser safety glasses support multi-band protection, such as our LP-GTY laser safety glasses from LaserPair with 180 - 532nm + 900 - 1080nm composite protection, which is suitable for scenarios where multiple devices are mixed.

Key factors in choosing laser protection

To ensure safety, pay attention to the following key parameters:

① Optical density (OD): This value indicates the degree to which laser safety glasses attenuate laser energy. The higher the OD value, the stronger the protection. If you use a higher-power laser device, you need to choose safety glasses with a high OD value.

② Wavelength range: Be sure to check whether the spectral range of the safety glasses fully covers the wavelength of the laser.

③ Visible light transmittance (VLT): It is essential to balance protection and visibility in the workplace.

④ Standards and Certifications

Make sure your laser safety gear complies with the following international standards:

ANSI Z136.1 (USA)

EN 207 / EN 208 (Europe)

GB Standards (China)

These standards ensure that the gear is tested and certified for use with specific laser wavelengths and power levels.

Final Thoughts

Understanding the spectral range of laser protection is critical to maintaining a safe working environment in any laser application. Whether you are working in research, manufacturing, or healthcare, choosing protective gear that is appropriate for the actual laser wavelength you are using can prevent serious injury.