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Ensuring your machine guarding is compliant with international standards is not just about ticking a box; it’s about creating a fundamentally safe environment. ISO 13857 provides the essential framework for calculating safety distances, a critical step in designing any industrielle Schutzzäune solution. Understanding and correctly applying this standard is key to protecting personnel and high-value assets.
Understanding the Core of ISO 13857: Safety of Machinery
ISO 13857 is the international standard that specifies safety distances to prevent hazard zones from being reached by upper and lower limbs. Its purpose is to provide designers and system integrators with clear, data-driven guidelines for positioning physical guards, such as Maschinenschutzzaunfelder. The standard assumes that if a hazard can be reached, it will be reached. Therefore, the calculation is not a suggestion but a mandatory step in risk assessment and mitigation for automated systems, especially in high-risk applications like robot safety fencing systems.
Calculating Safety Distances When Reaching Over Protective Structures
One of the most common scenarios in industrial settings is the risk of a person reaching over a safety fence. ISO 13857 provides a clear methodology to determine the minimum horizontal distance required based on the height of the fence and the height of the hazard.
Key Variables for Calculation
To correctly apply the standard, you must identify three critical dimensions:
- hS (Height of the Protective Structure): This is the vertical height of your safety fence from the ground level where the operator stands.
- hH (Height of the Hazard Zone): This is the vertical height of the lowest point of the hazard from the same ground level.
- sH (Horizontal Safety Distance): This is the value you need to calculate—the minimum horizontal distance from the fence to the hazard zone.
Using the ISO 13857 Reference Table
The standard provides a reference table that correlates these variables. For low-risk situations (where injury is unlikely), the calculation is straightforward. The table below is a simplified representation for determining safety distances when reaching over a protective structure.
| Height of Protective Structure (hS) in mm | Required Horizontal Safety Distance (sH) in mm |
| 2,500 or more | 0 (Hazard cannot be reached) |
| 2,000 | 200 |
| 1,800 | 300 |
| 1,600 | 500 |
| 1,400 | 900 |
| 1,200 | 1,100 |
| 1,000 | 1,200 |
For example, if you install a 2,000mm high Mdfence system, the nearest hazard inside the cell must be at least 200mm away horizontally from the inner face of the fence. This calculation is fundamental for laying out robot work cells and automated production lines.
Why Structural Integrity is Non-Negotiable
A calculated safety distance is only valid if the protective structure maintains its position and integrity under foreseeable conditions, including impact. A flimsy fence that deforms upon impact can breach the calculated safety distance, rendering the calculation useless and creating a severe hazard. This is why material choice and construction are critical.
Systems built from high-strength Q235 carbon steel with robust 60x60mm posts and fully welded framed panels provide the necessary rigidity. A TUV-certified Schlagfestigkeit ensures that the fence will withstand significant force, thereby upholding the safety distance you meticulously calculated and ensuring compliance with standards like ISO 14120.
Addressing Risk from Reaching Through Openings
ISO 13857 also provides guidance on preventing access through openings in the guard, such as the mesh of a wire panel. The permissible size of an opening is directly related to its distance from the hazard. The smaller the opening, the closer the guard can be placed to the machine.
A standard 20x100mm mesh spacing is specifically designed to prevent fingers and hands from reaching hazardous parts, allowing for more compact and space-efficient machine layouts. This is a crucial consideration in modern facilities where floor space is at a premium.
Practical Implementation for System Integrators
For a system integrator, translating safety calculations from a CAD drawing to a physical installation must be precise and efficient. A modular industrial perimeter guarding system is essential for this process. The ability to specify exact panel widths, post heights, and door configurations allows you to build a barrier that perfectly matches the calculated safety distances for even the most complex robotics layouts.
This precision eliminates the need for on-site modifications like cutting or welding, which can compromise the structural integrity and protective coatings of the system. It ensures that the final installation is not only compliant but also robust and durable, meeting the stringent requirements of global standards from ISO to OSHA.
Ultimately, calculating the minimum safety distance is the first step. The second, equally critical step is implementing that calculation with a physical barrier engineered to uphold it without fail. This combination of intelligent design and structural strength is the foundation of a truly safe industrial environment.
Häufig gestellte Fragen
1. What is the main purpose of ISO 13857?
ISO 13857 is a safety standard designed to provide specific measurements for safety distances. Its primary goal is to prevent individuals from reaching hazardous areas of machinery with their upper and lower limbs by specifying the required height and distance of physical guards.
2. Does a higher fence always mean it’s safer?
Not necessarily on its own. While a higher fence increases the difficulty of reaching over, its effectiveness is determined by its horizontal distance from the hazard, as defined in the standard’s tables. A very high fence placed too close to a hazard may still be non-compliant. The combination of height and distance is what creates safety.
3. Why is the material of the safety fence important for safety distance calculations?
The calculations in ISO 13857 assume the safety barrier is a rigid, immovable object. If a fence made of weak materials deforms or breaks upon impact, it can encroach upon the calculated safe zone, rendering the initial calculation invalid. High-strength materials like Q235 carbon steel ensure the fence maintains its position and integrity, thus upholding the safety distance.
4. Can I place my fence closer if I use a solid panel instead of a mesh panel?
Yes, in terms of “reaching through.” A solid panel has no openings, eliminating the risk of reaching through it. This means the only calculation you need to consider is for reaching over the top. Using a panel with small mesh openings, as defined by ISO 13857, also allows for closer placement than a panel with large openings.
5. How does ISO 13857 relate to other standards like ISO 14120?
They work together. ISO 14120 specifies the general requirements for the design and construction of fixed and movable guards (the physical properties of the fence itself, like impact resistance). ISO 13857 provides the specific calculations for where to place those guards relative to the hazard. A fully compliant system must satisfy the requirements of both standards.
