What the standard defines
A system of classes that groups laser products by the accessible emission — the laser radiation a person can be exposed to in normal operation — together with the labels, warnings and product features each class requires. The classification applies to the product as sold: an open laser module and a fully enclosed machine built around the same module can fall into different classes, because the enclosure, its interlocks and its viewing window change what can be reached.
What it does not promise
No cutting or engraving performance. Two machines in the same class can have very different optical output, spot size and air assist. No statement about fumes, which depend on the material and need extraction whatever the class. No exemption from the maker’s instructions: doors opened during a job, maintenance and alignment are addressed in the manual, not by the class. No verdict of safety for a given room or use; this site reports the declared class and the design features the maker cites, and nothing more.
What it works with
The class sits beside the other figures a laser page reports: the wavelength in nanometres, the optical output power, and the protective eyewear marking described on the page about optical density. Enclosures, interlocks and filtered windows are the features makers most often cite when their product class differs from that of the module inside it.
Questions makers ask before buying
Who decides the laser class of a machine?
The manufacturer classifies the product under the standard and prints the class on its label and in its manual. This site reports the class as the maker publishes it.
Does a class tell me which glasses to buy?
Not on its own. Eyewear is chosen by the laser’s wavelength and the protection the laser maker’s instructions require, and the eyewear marking states what a lens covers.
Last reviewed 15 September 2026