Safety of Machinery - Electro-sensitive Protective Equipment - Part 1: General Requirements and Tests
Also Known As:
IEC 61496-1:2020 is a standard that provides general requirements and tests for electro-sensitive protective equipment (ESPE) used in machinery safety. This standard focuses on non-contact ESPEs that are designed to detect persons or parts of a person as part of a safety-related system. It specifies functional and design requirements to ensure the safety-related performance of the ESPE. Optional safety-related functions are also addressed in Annex A of the standard.
The document emphasizes that it is intended to be used in conjunction with a subsequent part of IEC 61496, which provides specific requirements based on the sensing technology used in the ESPE. In cases where a part covering the sensing technology does not exist, another standard, IEC TS 62998-1, can be used.
IEC 61496-1:2020 does not provide specifications for the dimensions or configuration of the detection zone in relation to hazards in a particular application. Its scope is limited to the functioning of the ESPE and its interface with the machine. The standard also does not provide specific requirements for controlling optional safety-related functions through a data interface. Requirements for these functions can be determined by referring to other standards such as IEC 61508, IEC TS 62046, IEC 62061, and ISO 13849-1.
Furthermore, the standard acknowledges that it can be applicable to applications beyond protecting persons, such as protecting machinery or products from mechanical damage. Different requirements may be appropriate in these cases, especially when the properties of the materials being sensed differ from those of persons.
The standard does not cover requirements for ESPE functions unrelated to the protection of persons or electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) emission requirements. It replaces the third edition published in 2012 and includes several technical changes, including clarifications on the inclusion of sensing technology-dependent requirements in subsequent parts of IEC 61496, consolidation of environmental protection requirements, expansion of test procedures, and harmonization with new generic machine safety standards.
| Edition | 4.0 |
| ICS Codes | 13.110 - Safety of machinery 29.260.99 - Other electrical equipment for working in special conditions |
| Language(s) | English + French |
| File Size | 2.7 MB |
