Safety light curtains, as key protective equipment in modern industrial safety, form an invisible protective barrier using infrared beams. They can promptly issue a stop signal when personnel approach hazardous areas, effectively preventing accidents. However, many companies often overlook the most important factor when selecting and using safety light curtains—compliance with domestic and international safety standards.
01 International Mainstream Safety Standards System
International standards for safety light curtains are primarily developed by ISO (International Organization for Standardization) and IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission), forming a basic global safety framework.
ISO 13855: Standard for Safety Distance This standard clarifies the principles for calculating safe distances that must be followed when installing safety light curtains, ensuring that the equipment can completely stop before any part of personnel enters the hazardous area.
The formula for calculating the safe distance specified in the standard is: S = K × T + C
S represents the minimum safe distance, K is the approach speed of a person or body part, T is the stopping time of the entire system, and C is an additional distance based on the detection capability of the light curtain.
IEC 61496 Series: Standards for Electrically Sensitive Protective Equipment
This series of standards specifically addresses the technical requirements and performance specifications for electrically sensitive protective equipment such as safety light curtains. IEC 61496-1 specifies general requirements, while IEC 61496-2 specifically addresses the specific technical requirements for photoelectric protection equipment.
The standard requires safety light curtains to operate stably under various industrial environmental conditions, including challenging environments such as temperature variations, humidity, and electromagnetic interference.
ISO 13849-1: Performance Level Standard This standard specifies the safety performance level (PL) of control systems, divided into five levels from low to high: a, b, c, d, and e. High-level safety light curtains typically need to meet PL e, which is the highest level requirement for mechanical safety functions.
02 European Standards and Certification Requirements
The European market has stringent standards for safety light curtains, with CE certification being mandatory for products entering the European market.
Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC
This directive stipulates the essential health and safety requirements that machinery sold within the EU must meet. Safety light curtains, as a component of machinery safety, must comply with this directive.
EN ISO 13849-1: Performance Class Standard
This is the European version of ISO 13849-1, providing detailed design and verification requirements for the control system of safety light curtains.
CE Certification Process
CE certification requires manufacturers to conduct a risk assessment, establish technical documentation, and sign a declaration of conformity. Only safety light curtains with CE certification can circulate freely in the EU market.
03 North American Market Standards Requirements
The North American market has a unique standards system, and understanding these standards is crucial for exporting companies.
UL 61496 Series Standards
UL standards, developed by Underwriters Laboratories, are safety standards for photoelectric protection equipment. UL certification is a significant hurdle for products entering the North American market.
ANSI B11.19 Machinery Safety Standards
Machinery safety standards developed by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) specify requirements for the application of safety light curtains.
OSHA Relevant Regulations
While the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations do not directly certify products, they have clear legal requirements for safety equipment used in the workplace.
EFP series no dead zone type 4 safety light curtains strictly adhere to top international safety standards such as IEC 61496 (Type 4) and ISO 13849-1 (Cat.4/PL e), and are fully certified. Their built-in redundant design and periodic self-checking mechanism ensure that the product is always at the highest safety level, providing you with fully compliant and reliable safety protection.
Whether it's international standards or domestic regulations, the core objective is to ensure the reliability and effectiveness of safety light curtains through unified technical requirements. When purchasing and using safety light curtains, enterprises must ensure that the products meet applicable standard requirements and install, maintain, and verify them according to those standards to truly realize the protective function of the safety light curtains and build a solid safety barrier for industrial production.
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