A Guide to Implementing Safety Measures in Machinery Design ISO 13849

ISO 13849 is a globally recognized safety standard that offers recommendations for creating and integrating safety-related control systems in machinery. Emphasizing risk evaluation, safety functions, and validation, ISO 13849 is essential for safeguarding the well-being of operators and users. Alongside ISO 13849, various associated standards exist to enhance and uphold its goals. This piece delves into ISO 13849 while briefly touching upon a selection of these related standards.

ISO 13849 highlights the importance of taking a methodical approach to safety when designing machinery. It offers recommendations for evaluating the risks linked to machinery, defining safety functions, and confirming the effectiveness of safety-related control systems. Adhering to ISO 13849 enables manufacturers to significantly minimize the likelihood of accidents and harm, thereby safeguarding the well-being of operators and users.

Key Principles of ISO 13849 Safety for machinery design

1. Risk Assessment:

ISO 13849 emphasizes the significance of performing a comprehensive risk assessment to recognize possible hazards linked to machinery. This process enables manufacturers to grasp the risks at hand and apply suitable safety precautions accordingly.

2. Safety Functions:

The standard highlights the importance of defining safety functions according to the recognized risks. These safety functions are intended to avoid or lessen hazards and lower the risk to a satisfactory level.

3. Performance Levels (PL):

ISO 13849 introduces Performance Levels as a way to classify safety functions according to their reliability and effectiveness. This enables manufacturers to establish the necessary performance level for each safety function by assessing the identified risks.

4. Validation and Verification:

In order to guarantee that safety-related control systems achieve the necessary Performance Levels, ISO 13849 underlines the importance of validation and verification procedures. Manufacturers are obligated to validate the design through testing and analyzing safety functions, confirm the components utilized, and record the outcomes.

Related Standards:

While the primary focus of ISO 13849 is safety-related control systems of machinery, there are various related standards that support its goals and enhance a comprehensive safety approach in the design of machinery. Among these standards are:

1. ISO 12100: Safety of Machinery - General Principles for Design:

ISO 12100 establishes fundamental guidelines for machinery design, encompassing risk assessment, risk mitigation strategies, and protective measures. It serves as a cornerstone for ISO 13849, fostering a holistic approach to ensuring machinery safety. For more information about ISO 12100, you can check "Risk assessment for machinery and ISO 12100" article.

2. ISO 13850: Emergency Stop Function:

ISO 13850 outlines the criteria for emergency stop functions on machinery. It offers instructions on designing and installing emergency stop mechanisms to guarantee they are easily reachable and can promptly halt the machinery in emergencies.

3. ISO 13851: Two-Hand Control Devices:

ISO 13851 follows the design and application of two-hand control devices that necessitate operators to use both hands to start a potentially dangerous operation. These devices enhance safety measures by averting inadvertent or unintentional activation of machinery.

4. ISO 13855: Positioning of Safeguarding Devices:

ISO 13855 provides guidelines for the positioning and distance of safeguarding devices, such as light curtains and safety fences, to ensure effective protection of operators.

ISO 13849 and its related standards play a crucial role in ensuring the safety for machinery. By adhering to ISO 13849 and complementing it with standards such as ISO 12100, ISO 13850, ISO 13851, and ISO 13855, manufacturers can effectively optimize their safety control systems to minimize risks. This comprehensive strategy not only enhances operational safety but also fosters a secure and improved work environment for operators and users.Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions concerning the safety of your machinery project or any other technical specifications. Also do not forget to follow us to see upcoming trainings.

Emrah Demirezen

Metal Forming Expert & Press Designer

emrahdmrzn@gmail.com