PLANT & MACHINERY SAFETY RED ALERT


Paul Taylor, General Manager for Machinery Safety at TÜV


SÜD Product Service, asks how manufacturers can ensure the reliability of their wireless safety controls whilst protecting the personal safety of the machinery end-user.


Given the benefits of faster response times and a more flexible installation approach, the wireless safety control systems in machinery are growing in popularity. For example, wireless safety foot controls are now available on the market and offer distinct advantages as they are flexible to position and easy to mount - wherever the operator can monitor the process most easily.


Machine builders and end-users should ensure that wireless systems are installed as per the manufacturer’s specific instructions. For example, when equipment is installed, the wireless device should be mounted on an even surface, and the radio device or receiver must be installed by strictly following the mounting and wiring instructions.


Whilst wireless technology affords a great deal of flexibility in terms of how equipment can be deployed across a site, it does have limitations, which is a concern for safety systems where 100% reliability is required.


“MANUFACTURERS MUST KEEP ABREAST OF HARMONISED STANDARDS IF THEY ARE TO


CONTINUE PLACING PRODUCTS ON THE EU MARKET.”


One such limitation is the sensing range between receiver and transmitter, the strength of which will depend on the local conditions. The radio signal can be strongly affected by conductive materials, as well as other sources of radio interference, and can sometimes lead to a dead spot for wireless connectivity. This can be caused by metal parts, such as wall armour, insulation and metal foils, which are known to reduce the penetration of radio waves to 0-10%.


RADIO REGULATIONS Economic operators (manufacturer, importer, distributor, authorised representative), which import, market or sell radio equipment and devices in the EU must comply with the Radio Equipment Directive 2014/53/EC (RED). Products which fit within the following definition are subject to the RED:


“Radio equipment – an electrical or electronic product which intentionally emits and/or receives radio waves for the purpose of radio communication and/or


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radiodetermination, or an electrical or electronic product which must be completed with an accessory (such as an antenna) so as to intentionally emit and/or receive radio waves for the purpose of radio communication and/or radiodetermination.”


In order to reduce both costs and time to market for new equipment, many machinery manufacturers may be relying on the use of wireless modules that already meet some or all of the RED’s essential requirements. However, once these modules are integrated into another product, the regulatory requirements change as the entire host machine falls within the scope of the RED.


Under the RED, the manufacturer must take account of reasonably foreseeable conditions such as the use of the product outside of its intended use. They must also document the risk analysis and assessment process, to determine their compliance strategy and the measures taken to reduce the compliance risks, for example by compliance with the relevant essential requirements and the application of appropriate standards/tests.


The most common method of demonstrating compliance with the RED essential requirements would be by using ‘Harmonised Standards’. These are written and published under an EU mandate, and provide a ‘presumption of conformity’ (or compliance), provided they are applied in full. Harmonised Standards are always evolving, so manufacturers must keep abreast of them if they are to continue placing products on the EU market.


The manufacturer of the final product is responsible for its overall compliance and must therefore take responsibility for the wireless module compliance, as well as for the final host product. Ideally, the manufacturer of the wireless module should provide clear instructions to the machinery manufacturer about the correct integration of the module, including details of how to comply with the wireless regulations. The market surveillance authorities can come down hard on manufacturers that supply non- compliant equipment to the market.


www.tuv-sud.co.uk/uk-en www.tomorrowshs.com


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