EN 13856-2 - Safety of machinery - Pressure-sensitive devices, Part 2 General design and testing principles for sensitive edges and bumpers
EN ISO 13856-2 sets out the general requirements for the design, construction and testing of pressure-sensitive protective devices used to detect the presence or physical contact in hazardous areas of machines, gates and motorised doors, in particular:
- safety edges,
- safety bumpers.
Aim
Ensure that pressure-activated devices:
- correctly detect contact with a person or obstacle;
- reliably interrupt dangerous movement;
- maintain their effectiveness under practical conditions of use (impacts, weather, wear and tear).
Scope of Application
It applies to:
- Motorised doors (e.g. sliding gates or sectional doors),
- Automatic systems with risk of crushing or impact,
- Industrial and residential installations requiring tactile safety devices.
It does not apply to pressure-sensitive mats (covered by Part 1 of the standard: EN ISO 13856-1).
Main contents
Requirements for:
- pressure sensitivity,
- response and stopping time,
- mechanical and environmental resistance (dust, water, temperature, chemicals);
Technical verifications:
- Functional and endurance tests:
- Activation point tolerances,
- Compatibility with safety circuits (e.g. EN 13849-1);
- Requirements for technical documentation, operating and maintenance instructions.
In practice, this standard is crucial for designers and installers who have to ensure active safety through sensitive edges, for example:
- in gates with linear or swing movement,
- in garage doors where the risk cannot be eliminated with photocells alone,
- in systems with close presence of people.