Machine builders and OEMs supplying the European market should prepare for changes to ‘fundamental and familiar standards’ relating to machine safety, warns safety and compliance consultant Laidler Associates.
The standards affected are EN ISO 12100-1:2003, Safety of machinery - Basic concepts, general principles for design - Basic terminology, methodology; EN ISO 12100-2:2003, Safety of machinery - Basic concepts, general principles for design - Part 2: Technical principles; and EN ISO 14121-1:2007, safety of machinery - Risk assessment - Part 1: Principles. Those standards are being superseded and replaced by a new standard, which is designated ISO 12100:2010, Safety of machinery - General principles for design - Risk assessment and risk reduction. Further changes to other standards will follow.
The relevant Type A standards underpin the design of all machines that are intended to be supplied and used in Europe.
The requirements of the three existing standards are being consolidated into one new standard, with no changes to the requirements themselves. Documentation for machines already in use, which refers to the existing standards, will not need to be revised. But documentation for all machines supplied after the change has taken place must refer to the latest standard.
“Since the requirements themselves are not changing, it might seem that machine builders and OEMs don’t need to concern themselves about the introduction of ISO EN 12100:2010, but that’s not quite true,” says Paul Laidler of Laidler Associates, “Though the requirements won’t change, the numbering relating to them certainly will, which means that any documentation that refers to individual requirements will have to be revised accordingly, if it is to be supplied with new machines.”
“This will particularly affect companies with machines in series production, and companies that are currently designing machines that will not be supplied until after the new standard comes into force,” adds Mr Laidler.
The publication of ISO EN 12100:2010 in the UK is said to be ‘imminent’.
