What criteria must clothing meet when protecting against Class IV lasers?

When choosing clothing to protect against Class IV lasers, it is essential that the materials used are flame retardant. Class IV lasers are high-powered devices that can potentially cause severe burns and ignite flammable materials. Therefore, clothing made from flame-retardant materials can help prevent serious injuries by resisting ignition and limiting the spread of fire in the event of an accident involving laser exposure. This characteristic is critical for maintaining safety in environments where Class IV lasers are used, where the risk of fire or burns is significantly heightened.

Other criteria, such as breathability, color, and fiber type, may play a role in comfort and visibility but do not primarily address the specific hazards associated with Class IV lasers. While breathable material might be important for comfort, brightly colored clothing could enhance visibility, and synthetic fibers might provide some benefits in terms of durability, they do not offer the same level of critical protection against potential fire hazards posed by high-energy laser use. Therefore, flame retardancy is the key requirement in selecting appropriate clothing for working safely in environments with Class IV lasers.