LVR have the following blogs available:
Projector Masking and Masking Fadeout
Masking is an essential technique used to reduce the likelihood of high-power laser beams and effects inadvertently projecting into areas they shouldn’t be, reducing unnecessary risk for people and equipment that could be on the receiving end of wayward beams.....
Low Risk Class 4 Laser - A Misnomer
In 2007 when the O2 Arena in London opened, it was common for a typical laser show installation to comprise of a 5W centrepiece laser flanked by two 3W lasers. The effects worked well in a sympathetically lit environment. Back then all the beams were bright green of course.....
Outdoor Laser Use : Update for 2022
As festival season approaches with lasers being used outdoors, James Stewart provides an overview of changes to the UK Civil Aviation Authority’s notification process that laser effects providers will come across as submissions are made.....
The Control of Artificial Optical Radiation at Work Regulation 2010 – in a nutshell
The Control of Artificial Optical Radiation at Work Regulations 2010 comprise of 7 regulations. Of these, it’s regulations 3 to 5 that state the key obligations that must be followed. These can be summarised as follows....
Laser use and Brexit
With the UK about to exit from the European Union, James Stewart takes a brief look at how any changes might affect the regulations relating to the safe use of lasers....
Pangolin's FB4 Scan-fail Safeguard
Inside Pangolin’s built-in FB4 scan-fail safeguard - Users of Pangolin’s FB4 laser control interface or a laser projector with an FB4 built in may be familiar with seeing a menu option titled ‘Scanguard’. This article discusses what this feature is, how works, and how it can be used by those interested in understanding more about laser effects safety...
Scan-fail safeguard
A scan-fail safeguard is a feature a scanning laser projector may have that is intended to protect people against hazardous emissions occurring. Scan-fail safeguards are an essential hardware feature for audience scanning...
Laser Illuminated Luminaire - Updated
In recent months Italian luminaire manufacturer Claypaky have been promoting their ‘Laser Revolution in Beam Moving Lights’, with a fixture called the XTYLOS. The luminaire is claimed to used a tailor-made laser source, that is described as being enclosed in a safe and fully sealed module. So what does this mean for user safety?...
MPE - How much laser light is safe?
Laser safety expert, James Stewart, gives an overview of how much laser light is safe to view, and why how much light is considered safe varies on who a person is....
Audience Scanning - Myths and Truths
The purpose of this article is to tackle some of the common questions and misconceptions that exist in relation to the ever-popular subject of audience scanning laser effects, for which there is a lot of passion with many providers to use this type of laser effect...
Laser Video Projector Safety
As an increasing number of video projectors start to use lasers as their light source, more people have been asking us about the safety implications in using these devices...
UK Laser Display Safety Guidance 2017
Since its publication in 1996, the Health and Safety Executive’s HS(G)95, The Radiation Safety of Lasers for Display Purposes, has been the mainstay of accessible guidance for using lasers in entertainment applications, referenced by users, venue operators, and enforcement bodies alike...
EN 60825-1:2014 ~ What does it mean?
This is a reference that appears frequently when a person is working with laser products, but what exactly does it mean? It is a number that should appear in the product’s sales literature, in the user manual, and on the product itself...
Hazard Distance and Hazard Zone
In this article we are going to talk about the importance of knowing a laser’s hazard distance or, to give it the full name, Nominal Ocular Hazard Distance (NOHD). This is the distance at which direct eye exposure to the beam is considered not to be a risk for accidental exposure; the accidental exposure time being 0.25s...
Laser Product Classification
Any product that uses a laser, and is sold or used in the UK or Europe must meet the criteria for CE declaration, which usually mean that the device must show compliancy with the Laser Product Safety Standard EN 60825-1:2014, which has been adopted across all European member states...
Colour: Differences & Similarities
A rather obvious statement, for of course, red is completely different to green. Likewise, blue differs to pink. The use of dissimilar colours can make objects and scenes appear completely different from an aesthetic perspective. But when considering laser exposure, what difference does colour make from a safety perspective?...
Lighting Product Risk Groups
With the classification scheme for laser products quite well established and known, James writes about how a similar system for non-laser light sources works in an article he wrote for the Entertainment Services & Technology Association (ESTA)...
Laser Effects: Movement and Colour
Falling costs and improvements to the technology used in laser show projectors have enabled the special effect lighting to become far more accessible to users than could have ever been imagined, even just a few years ago. It’s now possible to purchase multi-watt projectors that can be held in one hand, making them very easy to install...
Audience Scanning in the UK : Legal Status
Audience scanning can be an emotive topic and sometimes controversial with polarised views on whether it should be allowed or not, and confusion over the legal status. In this article I’ll explain the current status of using lasers to perform audience scanning at events...
Sharpys and Lasers
Since its introduction in 2010 the Clay Paky Sharpy has grabbed the attention of lighting designers eager to use its distinctive near parallel beam of light for a wide range of production applications. In this time the Sharpy and the effect it produces have become a standard sight at stage and television events...
Laser Pulses; emissions and exposure
This article explains the importance of laser pulses in the context of laser show applications, and is intended to clear up some of the confusion that exists when considering exposure levels. It’s a topic I've decided to write about due to frequent number of times I meet people, many of which are seasoned laser show operators...
Changes to Laser MPE Limits
ICNIRP has published updated guidance for the exposure limits relating to laser radiation. ICNIRP is responsible for periodically reviewing the exposure limits it publishes, which through the acceptance of ongoing research and evidence, can lead to changes in the understanding of how laser light interacts...
Laser Show Safety Tips
As part of series on Laser Show Safety Tips, expert James Stewart delves into the whys and wherefores of physical masking, and how this often-neglected tool can be used to good effect to increase show safety assurance, and meet HSG95 requirements. Physical Masking: Why, How and When...
EN 60825-1:2007 - Push The Button
When you buy a laser projector, it will no doubt make a reference to a series numbers ‘60825’, and make some kind of statement that the product ‘complies’ or ‘conforms’ to this safety standard. But what exactly do these numbers mean? And what are the legal implications of the safety standard?...
Safe Laser Exposure for Laser Shows
We are often asked what is a safe amount of laser light to perform audience scanning with, and over the years we have seen rumours of what is safe creep up slowly as the availability of higher power lasers at lower costs has increased. Ten years ago, for instance, rumours were rife that 20mW lasers were ok to crowd scan with...