DAFI 91-401: DIRECTED ENERGY SYSTEM SAFETY

DAFI 91-401 — index record

Number	DAFI 91-401
Title	DIRECTED ENERGY SYSTEM SAFETY
Published	April 18, 2024
Certified current	April 18, 2024
Office of primary responsibility	AF/SE
Issued by	Headquarters, Department of the Air Force
Status on the index	Current
Last index action	Correction, November 6, 2024
Source index	Air Force e-Publishing
Index last read	October 20, 2026

Copied from Air Force e-Publishing (index). The publication itself is the authority; this page does not summarize or interpret it. Verify the current edition on the index before acting.

From the publication itself

Text below is lifted mechanically from the official PDF (48 pages, read October 20, 2026) with no editing or interpretation. Quote the document, not this page.

Purpose, in the publication’s words

1.1.1. This Instruction establishes the safety review and certification process for military specific directed energy systems. This instruction incorporates guidance and criteria for the safe use of lasers and laser systems as defined in the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Z136.1, Safe Use of Lasers, and ANSI Z136.6, Safe Use of Lasers Outdoors. 1.1.2. ANSI Z136.1 classifies lasers according to the type of hazards they present and according to the extent of safety controls required. Classes range from the least hazardous, Class 1, through the most hazardous, Class 4. For Class 1 and Class 2 lasers, the letter M after the number refers to viewing the laser with optical aids so that the laser is magnified. Class 3 is divided into subcategories of Class 3R and Class 3B. The older ANSI designation for Class 3 was Class 3A and Class 3B. ANSI changed Class 3A to Class 3R with the R designating reduced risk. For reference, Table 1.1 below provides a general, but not all encompassing, description of the classes. All mandatory requirements are in this DAFI.

Summary of changes, as printed

This document has been substantially revised and must be completely reviewed. Major changes include changing this publication to a Department of the Air Force Instruction (DAFI) and including USSF applicability, revising certification processes for commercially available off-the- shelf items, the directed energy systems safety certification process, and the incorporation of the military specific Laser System Safety Review Board certification from AFI 48-139, Laser and Optical Radiation Protection Program, into the Directed Energy System Safety Program.

Chapter 1—INTRODUCTIONp. 5
Chapter 2—ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIESp. 8
Chapter 5—DIRECTED ENERGY WEAPONS SAFETY BOARDp. 21
Chapter 7—SAFETY STUDIES AND REVIEWSp. 35
Chapter 8—INCORPORATION OF DESIGN SAFETYp. 39
Attachment 1—GLOSSARY OF REFERENCES AND SUPPORTING INFORMATIONp. 40
Attachment 3—APPROVED STANDARDS AND SPECIFICATIONSp. 51
Attachment 4—DIRECTED ENERGY SYSTEM CERTIFICATION FLOWCHARTSp. 53
Attachment 5—SAFETY EVALUATION GUIDANCEp. 57

All 51 contents entries

Chapter 1—INTRODUCTIONp. 5
1.1. Purposep. 5
1.2. Overviewp. 5
Chapter 2—ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIESp. 8
2.2. Department of the Air Force Chief of Safety (AF/SE)p. 8
2.3. Air Force Safety Center Weapons Safety Division (AFSEC/SEW)p. 8
2.4. Air Force Surgeon General (AF/SG)p. 9
2.5. Chief, Operational Training Infrastructure Division (AF/A3TI)p. 9
2.7. Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) and Space System Command (SSC)p. 10
2.8. Program Managers and Acquiring Activitiesp. 11
2.9. Commanders or Directorsp. 12
2.10. Range Safety Officersp. 13
3.1. Administrative Proceduresp. 14
3.2. Protocolp. 15
3.3. Presentationsp. 15
3.4. Board Requirementsp. 15
3.5. Meeting Minutes, Studies, and Board Actionsp. 15
3.6. Partnering Staff Agenciesp. 17
4.1. Establishment of Laser Safety Review Requirementsp. 18
4.2. DAF LSSWGp. 19
4.3. DAF LSSWG Approval and DoD Exemption Processp. 19
Chapter 5—DIRECTED ENERGY WEAPONS SAFETY BOARDp. 21
5.1. Directed Energy Weapons Safety Board Missionp. 21
5.2. General Directed Energy Safety Board Directive Guidancep. 22
5.3. Chairperson and Member Dutiesp. 23
5.4. Technical Safety Functionsp. 25
5.5. Executive Secretary Dutiesp. 26
6.1. Overviewp. 29
6.2. Administrative Certification Eligibilityp. 29
6.3. Non-Administrative Certification for Lower-Risk Systemsp. 30
6.4. Non-Administrative Certification for Serious-Risk Systemsp. 31
6.5. Non-Administrative Certification for Weapons and High-Risk Systemsp. 31
6.6. Systems and Components to be Evaluatedp. 32
6.7. Test Evaluation Functionsp. 32
6.8. Safety Standards and Functionsp. 33
6.9. Non-AF Use of Directed Energy Systems in the Joint Safety Review Processp. 33
6.10. Temporary Approval for Emergency Operational Capability (EOC)p. 34
Chapter 7—SAFETY STUDIES AND REVIEWSp. 35
7.1. Overviewp. 35
7.2. Directed Energy System Safety Study and Review Processp. 35
7.3. Preparing a Directed Energy Weapon Technical Safety Studyp. 36
7.4. Preparing a Test Hazards Assessment Reviewp. 36
7.5. Preparing a Supporting System Safety Analysisp. 37
7.6. Preparing a Risk Assessmentp. 38
Chapter 8—INCORPORATION OF DESIGN SAFETYp. 39
8.1. Directed Energy System Design Safety Standards and Criteriap. 39
8.2. Directed Energy System Design Safety Deviationsp. 39
Attachment 1—GLOSSARY OF REFERENCES AND SUPPORTING INFORMATIONp. 40
Attachment 3—APPROVED STANDARDS AND SPECIFICATIONSp. 51
Attachment 4—DIRECTED ENERGY SYSTEM CERTIFICATION FLOWCHARTSp. 53
Attachment 5—SAFETY EVALUATION GUIDANCEp. 57

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DAFI 91-401

DAFI 91-401 — index record

From the publication itself

Purpose, in the publication’s words

Summary of changes, as printed

Contents

Other DAFI publications nearby in the series