Class 4 lasers are used in a growing range of medical, clinical and research environments, from surgical and dermatology applications to ophthalmology, dentistry, veterinary medicine and laboratory research.
Where a laser system cannot be completely enclosed, facilities may need to establish a controlled laser area to limit access and reduce the risk of hazardous laser radiation reaching people outside the treatment or operating zone.
One practical option is a properly selected laser safety curtain or barrier.
What Does a Medical Laser Safety Curtain Do?
A laser safety curtain creates a physical barrier between an active laser area and the surrounding environment.
Unlike a privacy curtain, welding screen or conventional room divider, a laser barrier is designed specifically for laser radiation and is rated according to defined wavelength and exposure characteristics.
Depending on the facility and application, curtains can be used to:
- Separate an active laser area from the rest of a room
- Restrict access around Class 4 laser equipment
- Protect entrances or surrounding work areas
- Create temporary or reconfigurable laser-controlled zones
- Add containment where a permanent enclosure is impractical
This can be particularly useful in facilities where rooms serve multiple purposes or where laser equipment is moved between treatment or work areas.
Where Are Laser Safety Curtains Used?
Medical and institutional applications can include:
- Hospitals and surgical departments
- Dermatology and cosmetic laser clinics
- Ophthalmology facilities
- Dental and oral surgery practices
- Veterinary hospitals and clinics
- Medical teaching facilities
- Universities and research laboratories
- Laser equipment service and maintenance areas
The same basic containment principles also apply to industrial Class 4 laser systems used for welding, cleaning, cutting and automated processing.
Class 4 Does Not Mean Every Curtain Fits Every Laser
A Class 4 classification describes the hazard presented by the laser system. It does not mean that any curtain advertised for Class 4 applications will automatically be appropriate for every Class 4 laser.
Barrier selection should take into account factors such as:
- Laser wavelength
- Power density or irradiance
- Exposure duration
- Beam characteristics
- Distance between the laser and barrier
- Intended installation and use
Facilities should review the barrier specifications against the laser equipment being used and incorporate the curtain into the facility's overall laser safety program.
Laser curtains also do not replace appropriate eyewear, access controls, signage, training or other required safety measures.
A Flexible Alternative to Permanent Laser Enclosures
Permanent laser enclosures can provide excellent containment, but they are not appropriate for every facility.
They can require considerable floor space, installation work and capital investment. In medical, research and multi-use environments, a fixed enclosure can also reduce the flexibility of the room.
A modular laser curtain system provides another option.
Individual panels can be positioned around the laser area and multiple curtains can be used where a larger controlled zone is required. This allows facilities to create containment based on the room and equipment rather than permanently rebuilding the space around the laser.
Laser Safety Curtains Available from Canadian Stock
Crossfire Welders supplies a 5 ft wide x 8 ft high Laser Safety Curtain for industrial, medical, clinical, laboratory and institutional laser applications.
The curtain features machine-woven fiberglass construction and carries laser protection markings covering multiple wavelength ranges from 315 nm to 10,600 nm.
Because the product is stocked in Canada, Canadian facilities can also avoid some of the extended lead times associated with specialized laser safety equipment sourced internationally.
View the Laser Safety Curtain
For dimensions, wavelength protection markings, product specifications and current availability:
View the Crossfire 5 ft x 8 ft Laser Safety Curtain
For medical, clinical or laboratory applications, provide the laser wavelength and available equipment specifications when contacting Crossfire so the product information can be reviewed against the intended application.