I believe that this decision is a job for the local LSO or even 
manufacturer recomendation.  Class 4 lasers vary too much in their 
output to create a blamket rule for fire control.  An excimer laser for 
refractive surgery is a class 4 laser just as an 80 watt surgical 
co2/Yag etc.

Clearly, a fire extinguisher is desireable in the proximity of use ioof 
it is determined that a fire hazard exists for a given installation and 
pattern of use.  ALso, if energy levels make a fire hazard highlyt 
unlikely ( most eye systems), then an extinguisher would not be 
necessary.  This is my personal opinion only.

steven trokel

Al Crawford wrote:

>Hi,
>
>We're having a bit of trouble with a new fire officer here, and could do
>with some help!
>
>Basically I was wondering if there's any recommendation anywhere about the
>need to have a fire extinguisher in a room or theatre when there's a Class 4
>laser in use. The only bits of advice I can find in writing on this are from
>a 2003 document by the National Care Standards Commission (as was) saying
>that "there should be an appropriate fire extinguisher in the near vicinity
>of a laser" plus of course the 1995 MDA Guidance document which says that
>"there should be easy access to an appropriate fire extinguisher".
>
>For many years we've insisted that there be a CO2 extinguisher mounted
>inside a laser room or theatre, and in our rules we say that laser users
>should know where the extinguisher is and how to use it in the event of any
>incident.
>
>This new fire officer is saying that he doesn't see the need to have an
>extinguisher in the room, since there is one nearby (actually down the
>corridor and round the corner - I have visions of people rushing frantically
>in all directions trying to find the wretched thing!). He would, however,
>concede the use of a fire blanket within the room or theatre.
>
>Does anyone know of any concrete advice or recommendation that we could
>throw at him on this one, or indeed any consensus view among LPAs (if such a
>thing is possible!) on this topic? Or should we just go along with what he's
>saying?
>
>Thanks in advance for any help you can give!
>
>
>Al.
>
>  
>