IEC 61496-1:2020

IEC 61496-1:2020 specifies general requirements for the design, construction and testing of non-contact electro-sensitive protective equipment (ESPE) designed specifically to detect persons or part of a person as part of a safety-related system. Special attention is directed to functional and design requirements that ensure an appropriate safety-related performance is achieved. An ESPE can include optional safety-related functions, the requirements for which are given in Annex A.
This document is intended to be used with a subsequent part of IEC 61496 that provides particular requirements based on the sensing technology.
Where a part covering the sensing technology does not exist, IEC TS 62998-1 is used.
Where the IEC 61496 series does not contain all necessary provisions, IEC TS 62998-1 is used.
It is an additional possibility to combine those aspects covered by the IEC 61496 series in addition to IEC TS 62998-1.
This document does not specify the dimensions or configuration of the detection zone and its disposition in relation to hazards in any particular application, nor what constitutes a hazardous state of any machine. It is restricted to the functioning of the ESPE and how it interfaces with the machine.
While a data interface can be used to control optional safety-related ESPE functions (Annex A), this document does not provide specific requirements. Requirements for these safety-related functions can be determined by consulting other standards (for example, IEC 61508 (all parts), IEC TS 62046, IEC 62061, and ISO 13849-1).
This document can be relevant to applications other than those for the protection of persons, for example for the protection of machinery or products from mechanical damage. In those applications, different requirements can be appropriate, for example when the materials that have to be recognized by the sensing function have different properties from those of persons.
This document does not deal with requirements for ESPE functions not related to the protection of persons (e.g. using sensing unit data for navigation).
This document does not deal with electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) emission requirements.
IEC 61496-1:2020 cancels and replaces the third edition published in 2012. This edition constitutes a technical revision.
This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:
a) It has been clarified that some requirements for ESPEs that are dependent on sensing technology are not included in IEC 61496-1. They are provided in a subsequent part of IEC 61496.
b) Requirements for protection against environmental influences from subsequent parts of IEC 61496 that are common to all ESPEs have been consolidated into IEC 61496-1.
c) Some test procedures in IEC 61496-1 were incomplete. They have been expanded with more detail and step by step procedures.
d) Some requirements and procedures in IEC 61496-1 are now covered by new generic machine safety standards. The requirements in IEC 61496-1 have been harmonized with references to the new generic standards.