What is infrared (IR) light and how safe is it?
Infrared light is an electromagnetic radiation which has a wavelength greater than the visible light. Its wavelenght ranges from 700nm to 1mm. It is not visible to the human eyes but can be detected by the cctv cameras. A property of IR light is that it can see through the dark and therefore, it acts as a source of illumination for the security cameras at the night time. It possesses very few dangers to the body and therefore, can be used in the cameras as infrared illuminators.
Infrared is one of the many forms of light on the electromagnetic spectrum that are not visible to the human eye. The electromagnetic spectrum includes gamma rays, X-rays, ultraviolet, visible, infrared, microwaves, and radio waves. Infrared light waves are longer than visible light waves, and shorter than microwaves. An independent study was conducted in August 2000 by the United States Department of Health and Human Services regarding the safety of infrared light. The study found the same kind of IR pulse emitted from a Versus badge “shows no hazards to the eye.” A copy of the two-page report is available upon request. Furthermore, the infrared signal transmitted by the Versus badge is similar in duration and power to the infrared signals transmitted by ordinary remote controls that operate TVs and VCRs, signals which have never demonstrated any danger to humans during decades of use.
