Within industrial environments, sight is operators’ first natural defense tool. Adequate visibility of automated areas allows potentially dangerous situations to be identified before they turn into accidents.
The visibility of the protected area also influences:
– Production cycle supervision
– Anomaly identification
– Operation control
and is therefore an aspect that directly impacts production efficiency, protecting it from the risk of unexpected interruptions.
For this reason, machinery Modular Steel Fences must ensure maximum protection without compromising the visibility of the protected area.
Visibility: A Multi-Standard Approach
The EN ISO 12100 Standard establishes Risk Assessment principles, including visibility among the factors to be considered. Visibility through Industrial Guards is actually regulated by an integrated system of harmonized Standards according to the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC and the New Machinery Regulation 2023/1230:
- EN ISO 14120, which establishes General Requirements for the design and construction of fixed and movable Guards
- EN ISO 13857, which defines Safety distances for Guards
- EN 614-1, which provides additional guidance on the use of colors in industrial environments, emphasizing how chromatic choices affect space perception and operational Safety
This regulatory system establishes that Guards must:
- Allow adequate process observation
- Ensure clear vision of hazardous areas and movements
- Avoid removal necessity for inspections
- Avoid distortions that could mask dangerous situations
- Maintain visual properties over time
EN ISO 14120 defines visibility as a paramount element for Operator Safety and provides precise requirements that Industrial Guards must satisfy.
How Does Visual Perception Work?
Sight is one of the main defense tools. The ability to visually perceive the surrounding environment allows us to identify potential threats, orient ourselves in space, and quickly make decisions for our safety. It’s a protection system that works through complex biological mechanisms: the eye transforms light into nerve signals, which convert images into information processed by the brain.
Visual information is classified based on various factors, including the orientation of objects being observed. Vertical barriers are more compatible with the arrangement of receptor cells in the retina compared to horizontal ones.
Looking carefully at an object through a grid, you’ll notice increased visual fatigue when viewing through horizontally arranged grid lines.
Chromatic contrast also influences sight perception: objects of distinctly different colors are immediately recognizable as such. Conversely, shades that are too similar hinder the precise recognition of shapes.
Wire Mesh Features
Our wire mesh Panels integrated into Modular Guards feature vertical openings that significantly minimize visual interference compared to horizontal patterns. This design ensures clearer visibility of processes while reducing eye strain during long shifts.
For instance, in a robotic cell protected by our Perimeter Guards, the vertical mesh pattern enables operators to monitor pick & place operations with exceptional clarity, maintaining optimal visibility even during extended observation periods.
Contrast and Color Selection
The human brain processes visual information most efficiently when there’s a strong contrast between elements. In industrial environments, the chromatic contrast between machinery and Guards is paramount for Safety. Proper color differentiation enables operators to clearly track machinery movements and quickly spot irregularities, ensuring effective visual monitoring.
Take our automated packaging line installation, where black Steel Safety Fences surrounding light-colored conveyor belts enhance visibility and make anomalies immediately apparent.
Positioning and Lighting
Another element to consider when defining a production layout is the arrangement of lights. Proper positioning must avoid creating shadow zones that could interfere with machinery visibility, prevent reflections that could mask hazards, and maintain uniform visibility of the protected area.
Visibility: Some Industrial Applications
Mesh orientation, color contrast, and lighting all determine the correct monitoring of production processes for many industrial machines through Industrial Guards. In addition to robotic cells and packaging lines, we can mention:
- Bottling plants, to verify correct filling and bottle closure
- Packaging systems, to supervise product flow and avoid damage or unwanted accumulation
- Machine tools, to control mechanical processing
- Hydraulic presses, to observe correct positioning of molds and workpieces
- Textile industry machines, to identify possible defects or breaks in fabrics during production
What We Can Do For You: Solutions for All Visibility Requirements
Industrial Guards Visibility — Frequently Asked Questions
What factors determine the visual adequacy of a Guard?
Production process specifications, supervision requirements, and Risk Analysis guidelines according to EN ISO 12100 all define the visibility requirements for Industrial Guards.
How do you select the most suitable Panel type for visibility needs?
The choice depends on the type of observation required: Panels with vertical mesh orientation offer general area visibility, while Transparent Sheet Panels or mixed material Panels are used for areas that require complete process visibility.
Why is visibility considered a Safety element?
A clear view of the protected area allows constant process supervision and timely identification of irregular situations such as product accumulation or malfunctions.
Which Standards regulate industrial Guard visibility?
The EN ISO 14120 Standard specifies that Guards must allow adequate observation of hazardous areas and the production process without compromising operator safety.
What are the ergonomic advantages of high-visibility Guards?
High quality Guards reduce operators’ visual stress, improve environmental perception, and allow effective supervision even during extended shifts.
What role does color contrast play in machinery visibility?
A well-designed contrast between Guards and machinery helps clearly distinguish movements and anomalies, improving operational safety.
Can Perimeter Guards be any color?
While we can manufacture Machine Guards in any RAL color, the color choice must comply with EN ISO 14120 Standard guidelines and be validated by the machine-specific Risk Assessment. The Guard must create effective contrast with the machinery to highlight movements and potential hazards, avoiding camouflage effects that could mask dangerous situations.
My production area contains yellow and orange robots. What color should the Perimeter Protection around these areas be?
Point 5.9 of EN ISO 14120 Standard prescribes the use of «materials darker than the area observed» to improve process visibility. For yellow and orange robots, black wire mesh Guards provide ideal color contrast for monitoring machinery movements.
For welding cells, however, FullSteel sheet metal Guards equipped with specific EN ISO 25980 certified Polycarbonate windows provide both the necessary protection and visibility of the production area.
Can different types of Panels be combined to optimize visibility at specific points of the perimeter?
Yes. The cross-modularity of Satech Systems allows for the integration of Panels with different visibility characteristics within the same perimeter. For example, you can combine:
- Framed mesh Panels and frameless mesh Panels for general visibility of protected areas
- Transparent Sheet Panels (also known as "Polycarbonate Panels") for areas requiring maximum visibility
- FullSteel Panels in areas where preventing the projection of processing waste is a priority
Safety Through Guards Visibility
Visibility through industrial Guards prevents accidents. Attention to materials, finishes, and colors actively contributes to the Safety of your work environment.
