Safety Mats

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Overview

Standards

The MatGuard mat system has been designed to conform with the latest European Standard EN 1760-1 “Safety of machinery—Pressure sensitive devices; mats and floors.”

This standard contains requirements for all aspects of design. Some of the most important points are as follows: (From 4.2.2) Where an effective sensing area is built up from more than one sensor (mat) it shall have no dead zone.

The standard gives details of the size, force and positioning of test pieces for testing the mat sensitivity.

(From 4.5.1) A single sensor (mat) shall still perform its function after one million actuations by a mass of 75 kg.

(From 4.7) When the actuating force is applied the output signal switching device(s) shall change from an ON state to an OFF state. It shall remain in the OFF state for at least as long as the actuating force is applied.

(From 4.7.1) Device with reset – b) After the actuating force has been removed, the output signal switching device(s) shall only change to the ON state after the application of a reset signal.

(From 4.7.2) Device without reset—For a pressure sensitive mat without reset the output signal switching device(s) shall change to an ON state at power ON and after the actuating force has been removed.

(From 4.15) The pressure sensitive mats shall meet the requirements of the category for which they are specified...

Note:  The MatGuard mat system features an “active” mat and a dual channel monitoring control unit. This means that a single electrical fault in the mat, wiring or control unit will be detected and the control unit will go to a safe (OFF) condition.

(From informative annex B.1.1) The top (mat) surface should be of a material which will withstand the operating duty.....The top surface should not present a risk through becoming slippery due to wear or the effects of liquids....

(From informative annex B.1.7) In some situations, heavy loads (such as fork lift trucks) can be applied to the sensor (mat)..... If this is required the user should identify the need to the mat manufacturer.

Note:  The standard MatGuard mat can be successfully used with fork lift trucks. The MatGuard Mat System should be installed in accordance with the requirements of EN 999, “The positioning of protective equipment in respect of approach speeds of parts of the human body.”

The MatGuard Safety Mat system is also designed to meet the U.S. standards ANSI/RIA R15.06-1999 Safety Requirements for Industrial Robots and Robot Systems and ANSI B11.19 Performance Criteria for Safeguarding.

These two U.S. standards have many similar requirements and provide performance criteria for design, installation and use. Excerpts from these standards include:

From RIA R15.06

(From 11.7) Safety mat systems shall be designed, constructed and applied such that any single component failure shall not prevent the stopping action of the robot.

(From 5.3.4) Safety mats shall have a minimum object sensitivity which detects 30 kg (66 lb,) weight of an 80 mm (3.125 in) diameter circular disk anywhere on the mat sensing surface; provide a means to retain minimum object sensitivity at the area where mats joined together.

From ANSI B11.19

(From 11.1.1.4) The safety mat device shall have a maximum response time that is not affected by object sensitivity adjustments or environmental changes.

(From 11.1.1.5) When a component, module, device or system failure occurs, the safety related function shall prevent initiation of the hazardous machine motion, initiate an immediate stop command and prevent re-initiation of the hazardous machine motion.

From AS 4024.5

The MatGuard Safety Mat system is designed to meet the Australian Standard AS 4024.5, which has many similarities to the European Standard EN1760-1. Excerpts from this standard include:

(From 3.2.2) Where an effective sensing area is built up of more than one sensor, it shall have no dead zone.

(From 3.7) When the actuating force is applied the output signal switching device (s) shall change from an 'on' state to an 'off' state. It shall remain in the 'off' state for at least as long as the actuating force is applied.

(From 3.8) The sensor shall be provided with a means for fixed permanent location.

(From 3.10) Provisions shall be made on the top surface of the sensor to minimize slipping under the expected operating conditions.