Overview - IEC TR 62998-2:2020 (Safety of machinery - Part 2: Examples of application)
IEC TR 62998-2:2020 is a Technical Report from the IEC that provides practical guidance for applying IEC TS 62998-1:2019. It focuses on the real-world use of safety-related sensors (SRS) and safety-related sensor systems (SRSS) for the protection of people around machinery. Rather than defining new normative requirements, this report supplies worked examples, application scenarios and recommended information for use to help manufacturers, integrators and safety engineers implement compliant and effective sensor-based safety solutions.
Key topics and technical requirements highlighted
- Application examples demonstrating where SRS/SRSS are relevant (e.g., mobile robots and container‑handling equipment).
- Fusion of SRS into SRSS: guidance on combining multiple sensors to improve coverage and create coherent safety-related zones.
- SRS/SRSS performance considerations: performance class determination, SRS limits of use, and how fusion affects SRSS performance.
- Safety-related functions and zones: defining sensing zones, safety-related zones and mapping between sensor outputs and required safety functions.
- Environmental and dependability factors: guidance on environmental limits, influence of weather/lighting (e.g., MOR), and robustness requirements.
- Verification, validation and information for use: test/validation approaches, confidence data, and the operational/maintenance information that must be provided to users.
- Referenced normative material: meant to be used in conjunction with IEC TS 62998-1:2019 and takes into account robot classifications such as ISO 13482:2014.
Practical applications and who uses this standard
This TR is practical for:
- Sensor manufacturers designing safety LiDAR, TOF, camera or other SRS products and documenting limits of use.
- System integrators and OEMs integrating multiple sensors into an SRSS for mobile robots (mail transport, cleaning robots) or heavy equipment (container‑handling equipment in ports).
- Safety engineers and compliance teams assessing performance classes, conducting verification/validation and preparing safety documentation.
- Facility operators and service teams who need the “information for use” (installation, limitations, maintenance) to keep safety systems effective.
Benefits include clearer guidance for sensor fusion, improved risk reduction through better-defined sensing/safety zones, and practical templates for verification and user information.
Related standards
- IEC TS 62998-1:2019 - Primary normative specification for safety-related sensors used for protection of persons (use this TR alongside TS 62998-1).
- ISO 13482:2014 - Robot classification referenced for mobile robot intended use.
Keywords: IEC TR 62998-2:2020, safety of machinery, safety-related sensors, SRSS fusion, mobile robot safety, container-handling equipment safety, IEC TS 62998-1:2019.