ISO 13856-1:2013

Overview

ISO 13856-1:2013 - Safety of machinery - Pressure-sensitive protective devices - Part 1 - defines general principles for the design and testing of pressure-sensitive mats and pressure-sensitive floors used to protect persons from hazardous machinery. It sets minimum requirements for performance, marking and documentation and applies to mats/floors actuated by the feet and designed to detect persons weighing more than 35 kg, and persons (e.g. children) weighing more than 20 kg. It is not applicable for detection of persons under 20 kg.

Key topics and technical requirements

This standard addresses the essential design and test criteria for pressure-sensitive protective devices, including:

• Design principles for sensors and interfaces with machine controls (SRP/CSs).
• Performance requirements such as actuating force, response time and static loading.
• Durability: number of operations and resistance to environmental conditions.
• Signal and output behaviour: output state, response of switching devices and reset/trip characteristics.
• Safety-related aspects: minimum performance provisions for SRP/CSs (informed by ISO 13849-1).
• Mechanical and electrical requirements: enclosure, power supply, connections and electrical equipment.
• Installation and maintenance: access, adjustments and documentation requirements.
• Surface safety: slip-resistance, additional top-surface coverings and failure modes (blocking/wedging).
• Marking and information for use: labeling of sensors, control units and user instructions.

ISO 13856-1 also specifies a comprehensive test program (e.g., tests for actuating force, response time, static loading, slip-resistance and environmental conditioning) to verify compliance.

Note: the standard does not prescribe sensing-area dimensions, when mats/floors are appropriate for a given application, or full performance levels (PLs) beyond minimum requirements - these are application-specific and addressed via risk assessment.

Applications and typical users

ISO 13856-1 is intended for:

• Machine builders and OEMs integrating pressure-sensitive mats/floors as safeguards.
• Safety engineers and system integrators designing SRP/CSs around presence-detection zones.
• Installers and maintenance teams ensuring correct siting, commissioning and testing.
• Test laboratories and certification bodies that evaluate device compliance. Common applications include perimeter guarding for presses, robotic cells, conveyors, access zones around hazardous machinery and any area where foot-actuated detection is required.

Related standards

• ISO 12100 (risk assessment & risk reduction)
• ISO 13849-1 / ISO 13849-2 (safety-related parts of control systems)
• ISO 13856 Parts 2 and 3 (pressure-sensitive edges, bars, bumpers etc.)
• IEC 61496 (electro-sensitive protective equipment) - for comparison with other protective technologies

ISO 13856-1 is a practical, type-B2 standard guiding safe selection, design, testing and documentation of pressure-sensitive mats and floors in machinery safety applications.