EU and International Directives estabilish the obligation to protect machinery with fences complying with specific construction and safety distance requirements. Without these Guards, machinery can't be operated.
For example, Perimeter Guarding must:
- Be designed and built so as to prevent climbing EN ISO 14120-5.18
- Be equipped with retained fasteners when disassembled EN ISO 14120-5.19
- Ensure adequate viewing of production processes EN ISO 14120-5.2.4
- Be placed at a specific distance from the danger zone EN ISO 13857
EN ISO 14120 (excerpts)
General requirements for the design and construction of fixed and movable guards
Removal
EN ISO 14120-5.3.9
Demountable fixed parts of Guards shall only be removable with the use of a tool. Fixed Guards shall be designed to prevent easy removal.
Rigidity
EN ISO 14120-5.4.3
(...) Guard frames (...) and infill materials shall be selected and arranged to provide a rigid and stable structure and to resist deformation.
Machine viewing
EN ISO 14120-5.9
Where viewing of machine operation is required through the Guard, materials shall be selected with suitable properties. If (...) wire mesh is used, this should be of adequate open area and suitable colour to permit viewing. Viewing will be enhanced if the perforate material is darker than the area observed.
Anti-climbing
EN ISO 14120-5.18
Climbing on guards shall, as far as practicable, be inhibited by design. Considerations shall be given to this possibility in their construction and the selection of materials and shapes. For example, by eliminating horizontal structural members and the horizontal component of mesh fabric from the outside surface of the guard, climbing is made more difficult.
Reaching over protective structures
EN ISO 13857, 4.2.2
Reaching through regular openings
EN ISO 13857, 4.2.4.1
The dimension of the opening “e” corresponds to the side of a square opening, the diameter of a round opening and the narrowest dimension of a slot opening. For openings larger than 120 mm, safety distances in accordance with point 4.2.2 shall be used.
* If the length of the slot opening is ≤ 65 mm, the thumb acts as a stop and the safety distance for protective structures can be reduced to 200 mm, resulting in great space saving.
- BASIC
- STRONG
- FastGuard
- AdaptaGuard
- BlueGuard
Minimum safety distance 120mm
Minimumsafety distance 200mm
Reduced distances, more space saved
The Satech mesh slot (both for framed and frameless Systems) is designed to allow Machine Guards installation at a reduced distance from hazard, so that you can enjoy more floor space for your machinery.
Safety distances to prevent access by lower limbs
EN ISO 13857, 4.3
When it is not possible to foresee upper limb access through the opening, it is possible to use the values given in this Table to determine safety distances for the lower limbs.
“e” refers to the same types of opening as in chapter 4.2.4.1.
* If the narrower slot width is ≤ 75 mm, distance can be reduced to ≥ 50 mm.
* * Slot openings with e > 180 mm as well as square or round openings with e > 240 mm allow access with the whole body.
