What is BS EN ISO 13855 Safety of machinery – Positioning of safeguards about?
Classed as a type-B1 standard (a machine safety standard that deals with one particular safety aspect and can be used across a wide range of machinery), BS EN ISO 13855:2024 defines human approach speeds and the effective positioning of safeguards to protect machinery users.
Who is BS EN ISO 13855 Safety of machinery – Positioning of safeguards for?
- machine manufacturers (small, medium and large enterprises);
- health and safety bodies (regulators, accident prevention organizations, market surveillance).
- Other potential users can be affected by machinery safety, including:
- machine users/employers (small, medium and large enterprises);
- machine users/employees (eg: trade unions, organizations for people with special needs);
- service providers, eg: for maintenance (small, medium and large enterprises); and
- consumers (in case of machinery intended for use by consumers.
What does BS EN ISO 13855:2024 - Safety of machinery. Positioning of safeguards cover?
It specifies requirements for the positioning and dimensioning of safeguards with respect to the approach of the human body or its parts towards hazard(s) within the intended span-of-control as follows:
- the position and dimension of the detection zone(s) of ESPE (electro-sensitive protective equipment) and pressure-sensitive mats and floors;
- the position of two-hand control devices and single control devices;
- the position of interlocking guards; and
- the dimension of pressure-sensitive edges and bumpers.
BS EN ISO 13855 also specifies requirements for the positioning of safety-related manual control devices (SRMCD) with respect to the approach of the human body or its parts from within the safeguard space relative to:
- the position and dimension of the detection zone(s) of ESPE and pressure-sensitive mats and floors, and
- the position and dimension of interlocking guards.
When evaluating the ability of the human body or its parts to access SRMCD from within the intended safeguarded space, the requirements of this document also determine the dimensions of safeguards.
NOTE: Approaches such as running, jumping or falling, are not considered in this document.
Why should you use BS EN ISO 13855:2024 - Safety of machinery. Positioning of safeguards?
This document gives clear guidance on the positioning of safeguards in relation to the approach speeds of parts of the human body. As such, BS EN ISO 13855:
promotes a safer working environment and supports employee well-being;
- provides a framework for employers to help them ensure employee well-being;
- strengthens risk management and compliance;
- fosters and demonstrates a strong safety culture; and
- contributes to improved operational efficiency and productivity.
What has changed?
BS EN ISO 13855:2024 supersedes BS EN ISO 13855:2010. The main changes compared to the previous edition are:
a) document expanded for applicable cases and partly revised to be state-of-the-art;
b) figures revised for clarity and better understanding;
c) scope wording improved to better focus on the document’s content;
d) Clause 4 (Methodology) improved for better explanation of the methodology;
e) document restructured from Clause 5;
f) calculation of reaching distances separated for those applications which are initiating a safety function and those which are not initiating a safety function;
g) dynamic separation distance calculation included for mobile applications with unknown human direction of approach;
h) improvements for better distinction of different paths of approach;
i) requirements for single control devices (hand- and foot-operated), and interlocking guards added;
j) annexes revised in order to match with the body text of this document; and
k) Annexes D to G added.
