Current standards on plant and mechanical engineering
Humans and Machines
When plants and machines hum, the economy flourishes. Not a single industry world-wide, however, can - and never will - do without humans. European and international standardisers reflect much on how to ensure that these installations remain safe for humans and the environment.
Around 600 standards are used to ensure the safety of plants and machinery in Austria. These minimum requirements are currently under review because there is a new legal basis for them at the Europe-wide level: the completely revised European Machinery Directive (2006/42/EC).
Effective since June 2006 in the European Union, this Directive is the foundation of all machinery standards. The Austrian legislator transposed it into national law by adopting the Machinery Safety Ordinance. By 29 December 2009, the Directive has to be fully implement. As a result, all the relevant standards will be reviewed and, if necessary, adapted by that time.
Basic standards on machinery safety
- Credit: ASI prm
Building on the Machinery Directive - both in the old and new version -, standards do not provide engineering guidelines, but address the issues from a different angle. When a machine or plant is operated, safety is the main issue. To prevent accident risks, protect human health and minimise damage to property, several basic standards were drawn up.
Basic standards on machinery safety (examples):
ÖNORM EN ISO 12100: Basic concepts, general principles (two parts)
ÖNORM EN ISO 13849: Safety-related parts of control systems
ÖNORM EN ISO 13857: Safety distances to prevent hazard zones being reached by upper and lower limbs
ÖNORM EN ISO 14121: Risk assessment
ÖNORM CR 954-100: Safety-related parts of control systems - guide
Standards are oriented to humans
- Credit: ASI prm
At some point in any production process, people come close to plants and machinery. Their accident risk and hazards to their health have to be kept as low as possible. Likewise, damage to property has to be minimised. Therefore, machinery and plant standards are oriented to humans.
Basic standards on machinery safety with a human dimension (examples):
ÖNORM EN 349: Minimum gaps to avoid crushing of parts of the human body
ÖNORM EN 547: Human body measurements
ÖNORM EN 614: Ergonomic design principles
ÖNORM EN 999: The positioning of protective equipment in respect of approach speeds of parts of the human body
Agricultural machines
- Credit: ASI prm
In Austria agriculture is important. Tractors and other agricultural machines roll across farmed land. Compliance with international regulations, such as the European Machinery and Machinery Safety Directives, is a matter of course.
Moreover, international standards also apply to this field - with a few small additions as steep mountains and traditional practices are reflected in standardisation.
Agricultural machinery - special cases:
ÖNORM L 5233: Parking brake tests for vehicles and machines used in mountainous regions
ÖNORM M 9619: Testing of agricultural grab machines
The new version of the European Machinery Directive
- Credit: ASI prm
The new version of the European Machinery Directive was published in June 2006. All European countries - including Austria - have been given a specific period for implementing the Directive. The deadline is 29 December 2009. By then, all standards on machinery safety have to be aligned with the Directive.
As tool intended to support plant designers, producers and enterprises, the Austrian Standards Institute offers a document that actually has the volume of a book:
Machinery Directive - old and new:
The new Machinery Directive in German, English and French (ON-V 29)
Safety worldwide
- Credit: ASI prm
Industry thinks and acts globally. National standards that only apply in Austria do not exist. And with regard to safety, all people are of equal value in all countries.
