SAI Guide: ISO 13855 - Safety Distances & Approach Speed

Next up in our European Compliance guide is the introduction of a Type B2 standard, ISO 13855. “ISO 13855: Positioning of safeguards with respect to the approach speeds of parts of the human body” looks at the placement of safeguards around a machine and ensures that they provide adequate safety when facing a hazard. If you are designing a machine that requires interlock guards or light curtains to prevent access to a hazard, you need to adhere to ISO 13855's design rules.

The standard's focus is to ensure all safeguards are placed in the correct location from the hazard. For example, if the entry into a robotic cell is safeguarded by a light curtain, someone may be able to enter the hazardous area prior to the robot or machine completely stopping, posing a risk of injury. ISO 13855 looks at the approach speed of the individual, the stopping time of the hazard, and the distance between the safeguard and the hazard. In a simple calculation, you can easily determine the minimum distance required between the safeguard and the hazard. Additionally, the standard gives you a general approach speed to use in your calculation, as this is a variable you may not have measured.