Projector Placement: What you need to know about the safe zone

By considering the safe zone and the hazard distance for projector placement, you can ensure that you comply with the new safety standards... and keep your patrons safe.

YOU CAN BE FORGIVEN if you missed a technical standard that was published by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) providing guidelines for the evaluation of optical radiation hazards associated with artificial light sources...! And if that’s not enough of a mouthful, the guidelines themselves might also set you on a confused path. Omnex’s Geoff Newitt has put together this overview to help you understand what the update means to you.

THE IEC EN 62471-5 OPTICAL RADIATION STANDARD, which came into effect on 20th December 2020, applies to all new projectors on the market. Its primary purpose is to protect individuals from any excessive optical radiation that could potentially harm their eyes if they were to look directly into the lens from a close distance. While this standard previously only applied to laser light source projectors, it now applies to all new projectors that are available on the market.

TO COMPLY with this standard, you will need to ensure there is a safe zone in front of the projector where viewers cannot see directly into the projection beam. This safe zone is determined by a calculated hazard distance, which takes into account the lens installed in the projector location. A longer throw lens or zoom used will require a larger safe zone distance away from the lens compared with a short, wider-angle lens or zoom, as the image will be larger and faster once it exits the lens, thereby reducing the intensity of the light.

FOR NEW BUILD VENUES the projector location must be considered, and the calculated hazard distance must be in place.

FOR EXISTING EQUIPMENT and installations, there is no need to change anything, but it should be considered, if possible, to reduce risk.

FOR SECOND-HAND EQUIPMENT being installed, the safety rules should be considered, and the hazard distance and safe zone should be calculated [Omnex is able to support] depending on the auditorium design and the type of projector.

Compliance with the standard is crucial in order to protect your viewers from potential harm. As an integrator, Omnex can help calculate the hazard distance and the safe zone for your cinema’s projector location, and ensure that your technology is up to date and compliant with this important standard.

For more information on this standard, you can contact any of us at Omnex, plus there are additional resources available, for example from the European Digital Cinema Forum (EDCF). It is important to keep up with industry standards and regulations that ensure the safety of your viewers — and the longevity of your cinema’s technology.

Omnex can help calculate the hazard distance and safe zone for your cinema’s projector location,