Always consult your on-site Laser Safety Officer (LSO) for specific guidance. Required optical density (OD) and laser safety personal protective equipment (PPE) are determined based on worst-case scenarios and require professional judgment. All laser safety equipment provided is intended for diffused beam viewing only.
The color of a laser safety window should not be used to determine whether the window provides appropriate laser protection.
Window color is primarily a visual characteristic of the filter material. What matters for laser safety is the window's rated wavelength range and optical density (OD) for the specific laser application.
For a CO₂ laser, first verify the laser's actual operating wavelength. Many CO₂ lasers operate near 10,600 nm (10.6 µm), but some operate at other wavelengths. The window's protection range must include the actual laser wavelength, and its OD must be sufficient for the reasonably foreseeable worst-case exposure at the window.
Do not assume that a darker, more strongly colored, or less transparent window provides greater laser protection. Likewise, a clear window should not be assumed to provide less protection simply because it appears clear.
We offer several window colors and visible light transmission (VLT) options. Once the required wavelength protection and OD have been established, color and VLT can be considered based on viewing preference and the application.
We have three different colors for CO₂ lasers - what matters is if per US ANSI standards the window is rated to protect against a CO₂ laser.
The four most economical options are with at least an OD of 5+:
Something to note is that we've have customer feedback that colored windows are often taken more seriously from safety precaution then the clear window option - and we don't up charge for this additional feature.
If you have more questions or would like discuss further about your particular use case, please feel free to give us a call at 952-405-6947.