The difference between 200W and 300W rated products is the addition of an extra layer of material, providing higher maximum irradiance protection:
Maximum Irradiance: All of our products are tested to withstand 200W/cm² or 300W/cm² with a beam size of 5mm for up to 100 seconds. These tests simulate a direct hit under controlled conditions.
Addressing a Common Misconception
A common misunderstanding is that a 1500W laser always requires a 1500W-rated barrier or curtain. While each application is unique, this assumption is generally not accurate. In practice, our laser safety barriers and curtains are specifically designed to contain diffused laser energy—not direct laser hits.
To clarify, consider the following illustration demonstrating the critical difference between direct-hit protection and diffused radiation containment:
Although our barriers and curtains are tested to withstand a direct laser hit (up to 100 seconds), their primary practical purpose is containing scattered or diffused laser radiation. To effectively ensure laser safety, it's essential to combine physical protection with proper engineering and administrative controls. For more guidance, please see our Class 4 Laser Safety Guide.
Additional Context: Energy Diffusion and Irradiance Decrease
Diffused laser energy quickly spreads and loses intensity after interacting with most surfaces. The illustration below visually demonstrates this rapid reduction in irradiance, clearly showing how quickly laser intensity decreases as you move away from the initial point of interaction. This highlights why diffused laser energy typically requires significantly lower protection ratings compared to direct-hit scenarios:
Laser Energy Diffusion Over Distance
For a detailed explanation and assumptions about laser energy diffusion and how irradiance decreases over distance, please refer to our dedicated Knowledge Base article: