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# Guide on Lasers for Surveying, Leveling and Aligning
- URL: https://www.fdaweb.com/guide-on-lasers-for-surveying-leveling-and-aligning/
- Published: 2023-01-30T12:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-14T18:13:48.000Z
- Author: David McFarland
- Tags: Devices, #legacy-id-D5153650

FDA has posted a [final guidance](https://www.fda.gov/media/88325/download?ref=fdaweb.com) entitled “Surveying, Leveling, and Alignment Laser Products.” The document says that such laser products are used for “determining and delineating the form, extent, or position of a point, body, or area by taking angular measurement; positioning or adjusting parts in proper relation to one another; and defining a plane, level, elevation, or straight line.” The guidance addresses radiation safety product performance standards that must be met by manufacturers for such laser products to be legally sold in the U.S.

The agency says that SLA laser products are “designed to transmit laser radiation through open space for measuring and positioning purposes” and their product class limits are intended to “impose appropriate upper limits on the accessible laser emission from such products consistent with their intended function and the generally unrestricted environments in which they are used.” The guidance further considers transmission through open space as “transmission through any space where a person may be exposed directly or indirectly to the laser radiation. Transmission of laser radiation outside of a protective housing or optical fiber would be considered as transmission through open space.”