Gerard,
I would agree that your assessment of the function of window blinds (and I would include door aperture blinds too) is necessary and sufficient. It's easy to overlook the need to be fire-resistant, since the energy being stopped in an accidental strike could be considerable. Perhaps the fancy blinds have the equivalent of an 'L' number rating, rather than the 'OD' rating that we might assume for ordinary black-out blinds, and have higher resistance to physical damage under laser strike conditions. If any claim to that effect is made by the manufacturer, it could have an influence on the hazard assessment made for the controlled area, but a prolonged strike at a window blind is so unlikely that the assessment should take that into account.
If in doubt, you could deliberately strike the blinds with a laser beam (after checking what would be in line if the blind gives way) and see for yourself. I think I might be inclined to do the same even for a fancy 'laser-resistant' blind and see if it behaves any differently.
I should add that in all the years I spent as LPA, I never experienced any problems with window blinds, or more accurately, none was ever reported to me.
______________________________________________________________________
David Taylor, MA CPhys MInstP MIPEM - Consultant Medical Physicist ([log in to unmask])
(previously Head of Non-ionising Radiation Physics / Laser Protection Adviser)
Medical Physics Department, Leadon House
Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, Great Western Road
GLOUCESTER, GL1 3NN, UK
Tel: +44 (0)300 422 5976
Fax: +44 (0)300 422 6489
Past Secretary/Treasurer - British Photodermatology Group (www.BPG.org.uk)
______________________________________________________________________
-----Original Message-----
From: British Medical Laser Association on behalf of Boyle, Gerard (MPBE)
Sent: Thu 10-Sep-15 13:44
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: laser blinds...
On the subject of laser blinds (I know, it's a favourite!), what
are views on 'special' laser proof blinds? Not talking
about fancy glass ones, just the black-out, pull down type
blinds for covering windows.
There are 'proper' laser proof blinds ones available, complete
with standard and CE marking. But am wondering....what's
wrong with just ordinary (and cheaper) fire proof blinds?
I'd see the function of blinds as stopping a brief and accidental
reflection back into the room and blocking brief and accidental
escape of the light from the room. Presumably ordinary and visibly
opaque fire proof blinds are adequate for any imaginable scenario
that could happen in a clinical set up? If someone is firing at a blind long
enough to puncture a hole in, I'd imagine have a bigger problem
than just blind construction...
Thoughts??
Regards,
Gerard
Principal Physicist,
Dept. of Medical Physics & Bioengineering,
St. James's Hospital,
Dublin.
01-4162769
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