BS EN 50689:2021

What is BS EN 50689 about?  

BS EN 50689 specifies the requirements for consumer products containing lasers. The objective of this document is to ensure that laser products available to consumers are safe. This document specifies requirements that are additional to those specified in EN 60825-1. Consumer laser products that are battery powered are included, as well as consumer laser products powered by other means.  
BS EN 50689 states which subgroups of lasers are permitted as consumer products. A restricted group of Class 3R laser products are included. The risk of injury is low enough to be accepted under reasonably foreseeable conditions of use (including foreseeable misuse) for compliance with the general product safety directive (GPSD) and low voltage directive (LVD) for consumer products. 

Note: BS EN 50689 does not cover: 

• Consumer laser products that are designed to project laser radiation in the wavelength range of 380 nm to 780 nm onto the retina, with an intended daily usage duration of potentially many hours (such as for virtual reality or augmented reality applications), because it is currently not possible to provide emission limits that preclude any potential adverse effects for day-long usage, day after day 
• Products intended for professional use (non-consumer (professional) laser products) and restrictions as specified in this document do not apply to non-consumer laser products. For non-consumer laser products, compliance with EN 60825-1 is sufficient to achieve the necessary level of safety 
• Electric toys containing lasers, which are covered by EN 62115, are excluded from the scope of this document. 
• Class 1C consumer laser products are not in the scope of this document 

Note: The level of radiation permitted by Class 1 in the visible wavelength range results in an extremely bright image which will be dazzling and uncomfortable, and therefore such a high emission level, that reaches Class 1 limits, is not reasonably foreseeable for this type of device (see also New Work Item Proposal 76/660/NP for the project IEC/TS 60825-20). 

Note: National requirements can be more restrictive than the requirements in 6.1 and 6.2. 

Who is BS EN 50689 for? 

BS EN 50689 on Safety of laser products is useful for: 

• Consumers of laser products (audio, video and computer products) 
• Laser lightning shows 
• Entertainment programs for children 
• Research laboratories  
• Consumers of laser pointers  
• Consumers of Toys that contain laser device 

Why should you use BS EN 50689? 

Laser stands for Light Amplification by the Stimulated Emission of Radiation. The laser emits a mixture of visible and invisible light waves. These waves produce different types of light such as ultraviolet, blue, green, red which can be harmful to you. As laser products improve the quality, precision, accuracy, of many products but to realize the benefit, the risk of laser exposure must be managed.  

BS EN 50689 is useful for you as it helps to address the laser radiation hazardous to the eyes and skin. As laser products are used by children, which can be harmful to them. Hence BS EN 50689 helps you, by specifying the safety requirements for these laser products.