Annex 3

(Art. 12–16)

Events involving laser radiation

1 Requirements

1.1 Requirements for an event with no laser radiation in the audience zone

1.1.1 During the scheduled performance of the event or even in the case of malfunction, the laser radiation must not attain the audience area. This requires that the laser device is appropriately positioned or that physical or electronic devices contain or switch off the laser radiation. 1.1.2 Laser radiation must not strike reflective surfaces or objects in an uncontrolled manner. 1.1.3 Laser devices, mirrors and targets must be securely mounted and capable of withstanding shocks, vibrations and wind forces. 1.1.4 Laser radiation must neither endanger performers nor event staff. This requires that the event is appropriately planned, and the persons in question, if necessary, must wear protective glasses or protective clothing. 1.1.5 The laser radiation must not endanger third parties. 1.1.6 Compliance with Numbers 1.1.1–1.1.5 must be successfully tested before the event.

1.2 Requirements for an event involving laser radiation in the audience zone

1.2.1 During the scheduled performance of the event as well as in the case of malfunction, the laser radiation that attains the audience area:

1. must not exceed the maximum permissible exposure (MPE) for the cornea, as specified in SN EN 60825–1:2014¹,«Safety of laser products – Part 1: Equipment classification and requirements»;
2. must not exceed the level of 0.02 x MPE for the cornea, if the organiser cannot ensure that no instruments such as binoculars are used by the audience.

1.2.2 Laser radiation must not strike reflective surfaces or objects in an uncontrolled manner.

1.2.3 Laser devices, mirrors and targets must be securely mounted and capable of withstanding shocks, vibrations and wind forces.

1.2.4 The person with a certificate of competence or the person instructed by him/her with a certificate of expertise must ensure visual contact with all laser devices at all times and be able at all times to interrupt the laser event.

1.2.5 Laser radiation must neither endanger performers nor event staff. This requires that the event is appropriately planned, and the persons in question, if necessary, must wear protective glasses or protective clothing.

1.2.6 The laser radiation must not endanger third parties.

1.2.7 Compliance with Numbers 1.2.1–1.2.6 and the emergency procedures must be successfully tested before the event.

2 Notifications

2.1 Contents of notifications

Each notification must include the following information: 2.1.1 Details of the organiser: name, address, contact information (telephone number and e-mail address); 2.1.2 Details of the competent person: name, address, contact information (telephone number and e-mail address), certificate of competence or certificate of expertise; 2.1.3 Details of the event: venue, type, date of a single event/dates of series of events, beginning and duration, plan of the event location with marked laser device; 2.1.4 Details for testing the laser device: date and time; 2.1.5 Indication of whether the laser device will project into airspace.

2.2 Supplementary notification content for events with no laser radiation in the audience zone

The notification must include the following details in addition to those of Number 2.1: 2.2.1 Confirmation that the event does not involve laser radiation in the audience zone, and that the requirements specified in Annex 3 Number 1.1 will be complied with.

2.3 Supplementary notification contents for events involving laser radiation in the audience zone

The notification must include the following details in addition to those of Number 2.1:

2.3.1 Specifications for each individual laser device:

1. manufacturer and type designation,
2. precise description of the planned laser figures,
3. wavelengths,
4. beam diameter at the output port of the laser product,
5. minimum beam divergence,
6. peak output power for exposure of the audience zone,
7. energy distribution within the laser beam,
8. repetition rate of the laser beam (repetition rate of pulsed or modulated lasers and frame repetition rate),
9. minimum beam velocities,
10. maximum laser-pulse exposure duration for the audience,
11. shortest distance to the audience zone,
12. output power of the laser beam,
13. in the event of failure: maximum reaction time of automatic shutdown, or reference to manual shutdown,
14. calculated maximum irradiance in the audience zone and comparison with MPE,
15. emergency procedures;

2.3.2 Confirmation that the requirements specified in Annex 3 Number 1.2 will be complied with.

3 Training curriculum and examination contents for obtaining the level of competence

Training and examinations shall comprise the following modules:

3.1 Laser technology and safety:

1. principle and structure of a laser product,
2. laser classes and the associated precautions and safety signs,
3. optimum laser power level in relation to room dimensions and beam divergence,
4. risks of reflective surfaces,
5. secure installation,
6. protective measures and clothing;

3.2 Health effects:

1. eye and skin injury,
2. dazzling,
3. hazards for third parties and persons performing safety-critical activities;

3.3 Legal foundations:

Explanation of legal foundations, in particular the requirements for:

1. events involving laser radiation, in accordance with Annex 3 Number 1,
2. notifications of events involving laser radiation, in accordance with Annex 3 Number 2;

3.4 Theoretical and practical foundations:

a. Laser show programming,

b. Calculating MPE.

Annex 4^²^

(Art. 20 and 21 para. 1)

Events involving sound

1 Notifications

1.1 Notifications must include the following information:

1. venue, type, date, beginning and duration of the event;
2. name and address of the organiser;
3. a declaration that, for events involving electroacoustically amplified sound, the maximum average sound level will be less than or equal to 96 dB(A), or less than or equal to 100 dB(A);
4. the measurement and determination point, as specified in Annex 4 Number 5.1, for events involving electroacoustically amplified sound.

1.2 In addition, for events as specified in Article 20 paragraph 1 letter c number 2, a plan of the event venue must be submitted, indicating the location, size and marking of the respite area.

2 Events with an average sound level greater than 93 dB(A) and less than or equal to 96 dB(A)

Any person who organises an event involving electroacoustically amplified sound with an average sound level greater than 93 dB(A) and less than or equal to 96 dB(A) must ensure that:

2.1 sound emissions are limited to such an extent that exposures do not exceed the average sound level of 96 dB(A);

2.2 notices are prominently displayed at the entrance to the event, informing the audience of the risk of hearing impairment associated with high sound levels;

2.3 hearing protectors complying with SN EN 352–2:2002³,«Hearing protectors – General requirements – Part 2: Ear-plugs»are available free of charge;

2.4 the average sound level is monitored during the event with a sound level meter, as specified in Number 5.2;

2.5 the measuring equipment is operated with the settings specified under Number 5.4.

3 Events with an average sound level greater than 96 dB(A) and less than or equal to 100 dB(A)

3.1 Exposure for no longer than 3 hours

Any person who organises an event involving electroacoustically amplified sound with an average sound level greater than 96 dB(A) and less than or equal to 100 dB(A) that lasts for no longer than 3 hours must:3.1.1 comply with Numbers 2.2–2.5;3.1.2 ensure that sound emissions are limited to such an extent that exposures do not exceed the average sound level of 100 dB(A).

3.2 Exposure for more than 3 hours

Any person who organises an event involving electroacoustically amplified sound with an average sound level greater than 96 dB(A) and less than or equal to 100 dB(A) that lasts for more than 3 hours must:

3.2.1 comply with Numbers 2.2–2.5 and 3.1.2;

3.2.2 record the sound level during the whole event in accordance with Number 5.3;

3.2.3 retain the data on the recorded sound level as well as the information in accordance with Number 5.1 on the measurement location, place of determination and level difference for a period of six months, and submit the data when requested by the cantonal enforcement body;

3.2.4 make available to the audience one or more audition respite areas:

1. in which the average sound level must not exceed 85 dB(A),
2. which make up at least 10 per cent of the total area provided for the audience at the event,
3. which must be clearly marked and readily accessible to members of the audience throughout the event and, pursuant to the Ordinance of 28 October 2009⁴on Protection against Passive Smoking, include a smoke-free zone of adequate size.

4 Events not involving electroacoustically amplified sound

Any person who organises an event involving sound that is not electroacoustically amplified with an average sound level greater than 93 dB(A) must:

4.1 inform the audience of the risk of hearing impairment associated with high sound levels;

4.2 make available to the audience, free of charge, hearing protectors complying with SN EN 352–2:2002,«Hearing protectors – General requirements – Part 2: Ear-plugs».

5 Measurements and calculations

5.1 Measurement and determination point

5.1.1 Sound exposures shall be determined at ear level at the point where the audience is exposed to the highest sound levels (determination point).

5.1.2 In the case of measurements made at the determination point, the limit applicable for the event is deemed to be complied with if the reading is less than or equal to the limit.

5.1.3 If the measurement point is not the same as the determination point, the exposures must be corrected accordingly, taking the following into account:

1. the difference in sound level between the measurement point and the determination point is calculated by means of a defined wide band signal (pink noise/programme simulation noise in accordance with IEC 60268–1:1985⁵,«Sound system equipment – Part 1: General») or by an equivalent method;
2. the determination point and sound level difference, and the method used, is recorded in writing;

c. in the case of measurements not performed at the determination point, the limit applicable for the event is deemed to be complied with if the reading at the measurement point plus the sound level difference is less than or equal to the limit.

5.2 Measuring instruments

5.2.1 For the cantonal enforcement bodies, the requirements for measuring instruments and for the accuracy classes of sound level meters are based on the FDJP Ordinance of 24 September 2010⁶on Instruments for Sound Measurement.

5.2.2 The measuring instruments of the organisers must be capable of:

1. measuring the A-weighted sound level LA;
2. the direct or indirect determination of the equivalent continuous sound level LAeqand the settings in accordance with Number 5.4;
3. for events in accordance with Number 3.2, recording a sound level in accordance with Number 5.3.

5.3 Sound level recording

The sound level recording must meet the following requirements:

5.3.1 The equivalent continuous sound level averaged over a period of 5 minutes LAeq5minmust be recorded at least every 5 minutes during the event.

5.3.2 The measurement data, together with the exact time of measurement, must be recorded in electronic form.

5.4 Measuring instrument settings

The measuring equipment used to measure the sound level shall be operated with the following settings:

1. frequency weighting A;
2. time weighting Fast (F) (time constant t = 125 ms for the determination of the maximum sound level).

Footnotes

1. This standard can be consulted free of charge and purchased from the Swiss Association for Standardization, Sulzerallee 70, 8404 Winterthur, www.snv.ch ↩

2. The correction of31 Aug. 2022 concerns the French text only (AS 2022 478). ↩

3. This standard can be consulted free of charge and purchased from the Swiss Association for Standardization, Sulzerallee 70, 8404 Winterthur, www.snv.ch ↩

4. SR 818.311 ↩

5. This standard, available in English and French, can be purchased from Electrosuisse, Luppmenstrasse 1, CH-8320 Fehraltorf, www.electrosuisse.ch, or consulted free of charge at the Federal Office of Public Health, Schwarzenburgstrasse 157, CH-3097 Liebefeld. ↩

6. SR 941.210.1 ↩