Because your organization is in the construction mode for a lab building, I advise that installation of curtains is only one of many are other necessary architectural/engineering topics that need to be addressed -- e.g., interlocks for room access doors and optical shielding devices/enclosures, the location of seated work stations relative to the anticipated level of the beams, width of doors for transfer of laser tables with minimal disassembly, location for storage of protective eye wear, ventilation for heat loading (especially with the presence of curtains), non-relective wall surfaces, presence or absence of windows to the exterior, etc.

Therefore, I believe it would be prudent to purchase the 2012 (most recent) edition of the ANSI standard for Safe Use of Lasers in Research, Development and Testing (ANSI Z136.8-2012), available at http://webstore.ansi.org/RecordDetail.aspx?sku=ANSI+Z136.8-2012#.UZTkUCvcqxo. (BTW, there are other commercial sources of the ANSI standards.)

The text describing Z136.8-2012 concludes with the statement: "The standard is designed to be used in conjunction with the ANSI Z136.1."

ANSI's minimalist description of Z136.1 leads me to TENTATIVELY conclude that the difference between the two standards is the wavelength of the laser beam. I recommend that you acquire clarification from an ANSI representative, and be certain that the lab design is suitable for the full range of anticipated wavelengths (from UV to visible, and perhaps infrared). If you need both standards, ANSI offers the two as a set.

David Haugen

Retired in Illinois.

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From: "Wayne Phan" <Wayne.Phan**At_Symbol_Here**POMONA.EDU>
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
Sent: Wednesday, May 15, 2013 5:38:08 PM
Subject: [DCHAS-L]

Hello all,

We are in the processing of constructing a new lab building. We will be using class IV and class III lasers. Does anyone have standard regarding the outfitting of the lab (with safety curtains to divide the rooms)? Where can I find the standard.

Thanks,

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