IEC 62046:2018

Overview

IEC 62046:2018 - Safety of machinery: Application of protective equipment to detect the presence of persons specifies requirements for selecting, positioning, configuring and commissioning protective equipment that detects the momentary or continued presence of people to protect them from dangerous machine parts in industrial settings. It covers the application of electro-sensitive protective equipment (ESPE) (per IEC 61496) and pressure-sensitive mats and floors (per ISO 13856-1), and addresses machine, environmental and human factors for persons aged 14 and older. This first edition replaces IEC TS 62046:2008 and includes significant technical updates (muting and vision annexes, updated muting/blanking, alignment to IEC 61496 Types and integration with IEC 62061 / ISO 13849-1 safety levels).

Key Topics and Requirements

• Selection & positioning of protective devices to ensure reliable detection of persons and prevention of access to hazardous parts.
• Types of protective equipment covered: ESPE (light curtains, through-beam, retro-reflective), AOPDDRs, vision-based devices (VBPDs), and pressure-sensitive mats/floors.
• Functional roles: trip devices, presence-sensing devices, and combined trip/presence configurations.
• Integration with safety-related control systems, including requirements for stopping performance monitoring (SPM), external device monitoring (EDM), start/restart interlocks, and reinitiation controls.
• Muting and blanking: updated requirements and practical configuration guidance (annexes) for allowing material flow or personnel access without compromising safety.
• Performance classification and alignment with safety integrity/performance levels (IEC 62061 / ISO 13849-1).
• Inspection, testing and documentation: functional checks, periodic and initial tests, and information for safe use.
• Informative annexes with application examples (perimeter guarding, conveyor muting, AGV use cases, vision system examples) to illustrate integration principles.

Practical Applications

• Machinery guarding and perimeter protection on production lines.
• Conveyor and pallet-handling systems requiring muting for material transfer.
• Robots, automated cells and AGVs where presence detection prevents collisions or access to danger zones.
• Retrofit and OEM machine design to meet current machine safety regulations and certification requirements.

Who Uses This Standard

• Machine designers, safety engineers, and system integrators implementing presence-sensing protective measures.
• OEMs and manufacturers specifying ESPEs, pressure mats, and vision-based safety systems.
• Safety assessors, notified bodies and certification agencies verifying compliance with machine safety requirements.
• Maintenance teams and commissioning engineers performing inspections and functional tests.

Related Standards

• IEC 61496 (ESPE series)
• ISO 13856-1 (pressure-sensitive mats and floors)
• IEC 62061 and ISO 13849-1 (safety-related control system performance/SIL and PL alignment)

Keywords: IEC 62046:2018, safety of machinery, presence sensing, ESPE, pressure sensitive mats, muting, blanking, machine safety standards.