Z136.1 Subcommittee Chairs, Pat Roach and Ben Rockwell, led the efforts culminating in a Draft Standard by the end of 1998 which revised and updated ANSI Z136.1- 1993. This is now the fifth revision since 1973.
This Draft Standard considers several major changes to revise laser hazard evaluation methods and laser classification for extended sources. For collimated laser diode systems additional factors needed to be considered in order to maintain a fair margin of safety between the MPE and actual injury thresholds for circular sources - with and without optically aided viewing. New data on ultrashort laser-pulses (sub-nanosecond) changed the MPE’s that were based on “constant power” criteria at 1 ns, while demonstrating new effects adversely impacting laser safety eye-wear. Signs and labels are now more in accord with the latest IEC and ANSI Z535 recommendations.