Product category:
Machinery/plant guarding and protection
News Release from: Pilz Automation Technology | Subject: ESPE certification
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 07 March 2008
Have you inspected your safety light
curtains?
The UK Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER 98) state that any safety-related equipment must be inspected to ensure it is 'suitable and sufficient' for the intended purpose
PUWER 98 also states that any equipment that might degrade over time should be inspected regularly While safety light curtains may appear to be fit-and-forget devices, with no moving or contacting parts to wear, most suppliers state in their documentation that light curtains should be inspected regularly
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 28 Jul 2008 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
Pilz relays measure electricity/temperature
Pilz's PMDsigma range of electronic monitoring relays measure voltage, current, temperature, phase sequence, true power and similar variables.
Pilz offers support for installing safety systems
Pilz Automation Technology will assist with installing and commissioning machinery, ensuring that safety-related control systems are properly implemented and tested.
In this context, 'regularly' is normally interpreted as 'annually'.
If a light curtain is not inspected and its performance has deteriorated, it could result in an unsafe situation arising.
In extreme cases, this could lead to a major injury being sustained.
Further reading
Power press safety standards reviewed
It may be no surprise that there are numerous standards and guidance documents devoted to press safety and knowing one's way around this literature is important.
Operator terminals give intuitive diagnostics
Human machine interfaces range from a compact diagnostic unit for use with Pilz safety-related control systems, to large, powerful units compatible with leading models of PLC.
Latest UK standard for safety distances explained
Pilz Automation Technology said that a new UK safety standard relates to reach distances for lower limbs and explains the significance of the standard's requirements.
ESPE (electrosensitive protective equipment) certification involves an inspection to ensure that the light curtain cannot be defeated and that it is correctly positioned in relation to the mechanical hazards.
Note that sometimes people refer to AOPD (active opto-electronic protective device) certification, which is the same as ESPE certification.
A typical machine with a single safety light curtain would take about one hour to inspect and a little more time to complete the documentation.
Further information about the requirements for ESPE assessments are contained in IEC 62046 (Technical Specification, Safety of machinery - Application of protective equipment to detect the presence of persons).
Inspections are relatively straightforward to perform, though the inspector must have the appropriate competence and use specialist equipment.
First the height of the hazard window is checked, together with the size of the light guard and its type, to ensure the guard adequately covers the hazard window.
Then a stop time performance monitor is mounted on the machine to measure accurately how long it takes for the moving parts to come to a standstill from the moment the light barrier is triggered.
This figure is used to calculate the required distance between the hazard and the light guard as per BS EN 999:1999 (Safety of machinery: The positioning of protective equipment in respect of approach speeds of parts of the human body).
Next the actual distance is measured so that it can be compared with the calculated figure to ensure the light guard is mounted in the correct position.
The light guard is then checked to ensure it is correctly integrated within a suitable safety-related control system.
A written report is prepared for every machine inspected.
Provided all the tests are passed satisfactorily, a label is applied to the machine to show that it is certified and that it is due for inspection again in 12 months time.
Pilz Automation Technology in the UK has Notified Body status for carrying out ESPE inspections, which is granted through the formal recognition of Pilz in Germany as an Inspection Body for this work.
Five engineers in the UK have undergone the necessary training against EN ISO 17020 (General criteria for the operation of various types of bodies performing inspection) and are therefore qualified and competent to perform ESPE certifications for UK customers.
Please contact Pilz to request more information about ESPE certification.
• Pilz Automation Technology: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Manufacturingtalk email newsletter
• Manufacturingtalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
