What is BS EN IEC 61496‑1 about ? 
BS EN IEC 61496‑1 is a multi-part series of European standard which discusses about the safety of machinery with electrosensitive protective equipment.
BS EN IEC 61496‑1 specifies general requirements for the design, construction and testing of non-contact electro-sensitive protective equipment (ESPE) designed specifically to detect persons or part of a person as part of a safety-related system. Special attention is directed to functional and design requirements that ensure an appropriate safety-related performance is achieved.
BS EN IEC 61496‑1 is intended to be used that provides particular requirements based on the sensing technology.
Note 1: BS EN IEC 61496‑1 does not specify the dimension or configuration of the detection zone and its disposition in relation to hazards in any particular application, nor what constitutes a hazardous state of any machine. It is restricted to be functioning of the ESPE and how it interfaces with the machine.
Note 2: BS EN IEC 61496‑1 does not deal with electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) emission requirements.
Who is BS EN IEC 61496‑1 for ?
BS EN IEC 61496‑1 on electrosensitive protective equipment for safety of machinery is applicable in:
- Manufacturing of electrosensitive protective components
- Companies dealing with safety procedures producing electrosensitive protective component
- Retailers and suppliers of electrosensitive protective devices
Why should you use BS EN IEC 61496‑1 ?
An electro-sensitive protective equipment (ESPE) is applied to machinery presenting a risk of personal injury. It provides protection by causing the machine to revert to a safe condition before a person can be placed in a hazardous situation.
BS EN IEC 61496‑1 provides general design and performance requirements of ESPEs for use over a broad range of applications.
Essential features of equipment meeting the requirements of BS EN IEC 61496‑1 ensures appropriate level of safety-related performance provided and the built-in periodic functional checks/self-checks that are specified to ensure that this level of performance is maintained.
BS EN IEC 61496‑1 provides guidance on electro-sensitive equipment (ESPE) which is applied to machinery presenting a risk of personal injury. It also helps ensure the protection by causing the machines to revert to a safe condition before its placed in a hazardous situation.
What’s changed since the last update ?
BS EN IEC 61496‑1:2020 supersedes BS EN 61496‑1:2013, which is withdrawn. It includes:
- It has been clarified that some requirements for ESPEs that are dependent on sensing technology are not included in BS EN IEC 61496-1. They are provided in a subsequent part of BS EN IEC 61496
- Requirements for protection against environmental influences from subsequent parts of BS EN IEC 61496 that are common to all ESPEs have been consolidated into BS EN IEC 61496-1
- Some test procedures in BS EN IEC 61496-1 were incomplete. They have been expanded with more detail and step by step procedures
- Some requirements and procedures in BS EN IEC 61496-1 are now covered by new generic machine safety standards. The requirements in BS EN IEC 61496-1 have been harmonized with references to the new generic standards
