The “intended use” is key for the evaluation of safety in this context. This is also understandable, since different safety requirements are placed into test set-ups for research purposes by experts than for a production plant which may also be used by untrained personnel. In principle, the application determines the necessary level of security. The more we know about your application, the better we are able to find the right solution.
In principle, we assume that our systems are installed in such a way that they are inaccessible to people and thus there is no risk to life nor limb. If this is not the case, then please discuss the accessibility and necessary safety equipment with the product consultant.
If a system is made accessible to the user, then there is a range of possible safeguards:
- The system is intrinsically safe, thus no additional protective measures are necessary for this application. In this case, the forces generated by the system are either very small or the speeds are very slow.
- The system is monitored in its access and e.g. stopped and safely switched off when a door is opened. The access is monitored electronically e.g. using a light curtain and the system goes into safe mode when the light curtain is triggered.
- For safety-critical applications, a dual-circuit safety architecture is possible in which one safety circuit is monitored by another one. For this purpose, a detailed project coordination is necessary.
Please also note that components necessary for safe switching are tested and certified according to strict standards. Therefore, such devices are correspondingly expensive. And it is all the more important to agree safety at the start of the project. The goal is always to create a solution that is sufficiently secure and cost-effective. We are happy to assist you here.