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Testing and Certification for Lasers in Data Centers

Testing and certification services for laser safety in data center optical systems, including CPO architectures and ELSFP modules.
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Data centers are increasingly dependent on photonics-based technologies, from traditional optical transceivers to next-generation co-packaged optics (CPO) architectures, which may use external laser source modules such as External Laser Small Form-Factor Pluggable (ELSFP) modules.  

These technologies help provide the bandwidth, reliability and efficiency needed to support rapidly growing data demands. 

While enabling high-performance data transmission, laser radiation from these devices can present potential eye and skin hazards, depending on the optical power levels involved. Under normal operating conditions, laser radiation is typically contained within equipment enclosures and fiber-optic cables. When the devices are properly installed, this containment can help support a Class 1 laser product condition, meaning the system is generally considered safe during routine use. 

However, potential hazards may arise during maintenance, servicing or fault conditions. For example, fiber-optic cables may be intentionally disconnected or inadvertently damaged. In these scenarios, previously contained laser radiation can become accessible.  

Because these systems generally operate in the infrared wavelength range, where radiation is not visible, the hazard may not be immediately apparent. Furthermore, internal laser sources may reach Class 3B or Class 4 levels, representing higher hazard classifications and posing potential risks of eye injury and, in certain cases, skin exposure.

To address these risks in optical fiber communication systems (OFCSs) used in data centers, several key safety standards apply:

  • IEC 60825-1

    The foundational international laser safety standard that establishes requirements for laser product classification, labeling, design requirements and user information  

  • EN 60825-1+A11

    The European adoption of IEC 60825-1, with some differences depending on the product and configuration 

  • IEC 60825-2

    A complementary standard focused on OFCSs, addressing hazard levels, automatic power reduction (APR) and additional labeling requirements 

  • FDA 21 CFR 1040

    U.S. laser product regulations that apply to laser products introduced into U.S. commerce, sharing the same safety objectives as IEC 60825-1 

Compliance with these standards helps support the implementation of safeguards intended to reduce the potential for hazardous laser radiation exposure during normal operation, foreseeable maintenance and service activities, and fault conditions. 

Evaluation to these standards typically includes: 

  • Laser measurement and classification to determine emission levels (Class 1 through Class 4) 
  • Access analysis to identify potential exposure to laser radiation during operation, maintenance and service activities 
  • Hazard level determination at various system points, including scenarios involving fiber disconnection or breakage 
  • Automatic power reduction (APR) evaluation to determine whether laser output is reduced or terminated within required timeframes 
  • Review of safety labeling to confirm appropriate markings based on identified hazard levels 
  • Assessment of user documentation, including installation and operating instructions related to safety 

UL Solutions offers testing and product evaluations to help manufacturers and integrators demonstrate compliance with applicable laser safety requirements. These services can be applied at both the complete data center system level and the subassembly level, including servers, optical transceivers and external laser source modules used in CPO-based architectures, such as ELSFP modules. 

Through our global network of testing laboratories participating in the IECEE CB Scheme, UL Solutions offers technical expertise and certification services to help organizations demonstrate compliance with applicable requirements, address potential risks and support market access. 

At UL Solutions, we continuously monitor product and industry trends and develop relevant services to support manufacturers. 

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FAQ

Yes. Modern data centers rely on laser-based optical communication to transmit data through fiber optics. These lasers are found in components such as optical transceivers, switches, and emerging technologies like co-packaged optics (CPO) and External Laser Small Form-factor Pluggable (ELSFP) modules.

Lasers enable the high-speed, high-bandwidth communication required to support cloud computing, AI workloads and large-scale data transmission.

Not typically under normal operating conditions. Most systems are designed as Class 1 laser products, meaning laser radiation is fully contained within enclosures and fiber-optic cables and generally considered safe during routine use. 

However, hazards can arise during: 

  • Maintenance or servicing 
  • Fiber-optic cable disconnection 
  • Equipment faults or fiber breaks

Laser radiation can cause damage to the eyes and skin. Also, most data center lasers operate in the infrared spectrum, which is invisible to the human eye. This means: 

  • There is no natural blink response. 
  • Eye exposure may go unnoticed, increasing the potential for injury.

Internal laser sources can reach Class 3B or Class 4 (higher radiation levels than accessible emission during normal operation). 

These levels may present: 

  • Eye injury risk 
  • Potential skin exposure risk in certain scenarios

Risk is generally highest when the system is not operating under normal conditions, such as: 

  • Fiber disconnect during maintenance or service 
  • Accidental fiber breakage 
  • Fault conditions

Key standards include: 

  • IEC 60825-1: General laser safety (classification, labeling, construction, and user and service information) 
  • EN 60825-1+A11: European version of IEC 60825-1 (with additional European requirements) 
  • IEC 60825-2: Optical fiber communication systems (hazard levels, power reduction) 
  • FDA 21 CFR 1040: U.S. regulatory requirements similar in intent to IEC 60825-1

IEC 60825-2 specifically addresses optical fiber communication systems (OFCSs), including those used in data centers. 

 It focuses on: 

  • Hazard analysis during fiber disconnects or breaks 
  • Automatic power reduction (APR) to reduce or terminate laser power 
  • Requirements more suitable for OFCSs where radiation is contained under normal operation 

Not necessarily. Even if individual components (e.g., optical transceivers, external laser source modules in CPO-based architectures, etc.) are compliant: 

  • System integration can introduce new access conditions or exposure scenarios. 
  • Fiber routing, connector locations and access points can change risk profiles. 
  • System-level evaluation may be needed depending on the final system design, installation and conditions of use.

Emerging architectures: 

  • May introduce new maintenance, service and access conditions 
  • May involve external laser source modules that may not fit traditional optical fiber laser safety assumptions 
  • Can change how laser radiation may become accessible during service or fault conditions 

This may require additional evaluation and interpretation of applicable standards.

Typical evaluation includes: 

  • Measuring and classifying laser emissions 
  • Assessing access during operation, maintenance and service 
  • Analyzing fiber disconnect and fault scenarios 
  • Assessing automatic power reduction (APR) performance 
  • Reviewing labeling and safety documentation

APR systems: 

  • Detect fiber disconnects or faults 
  • Reduce or shut off laser power quickly 

This is a critical safety mechanism required by standards like IEC 60825-2, depending on the system configuration and hazard level.

Operators should: 

  • Follow established fiber handling procedures 
  • Have trained personnel perform maintenance 
  • Use properly labeled and compliant equipment 
  • Understand risks during procedures other than normal operation

Responsibility can be shared across: 

  • Component manufacturers 
  • System integrators 
  • Data center operators 

Each plays a role in managing laser safety throughout deployment and operation.

UL Solutions offers: 

  • Laser classification and testing 
  • OFCS hazard level analysis (IEC 60825-2) 
  • APR evaluation 
  • Labeling and documentation review 
  • System-level and component-level evaluations
  • Optical component manufacturers (optical transceivers, and external laser source modules used in CPO architectures, such as ELSFP modules) 
  • Network equipment OEMs 
  • Data center integrators 
  • Hyperscale data center operators