scope:

This technical specification is to be read in conjunction with EN 61496-1:1997. It specifies requirements for the design, construction and testing of electro-sensitive protective equipment (ESPE) for the safeguarding of machinery, employing passive infra-red protective devices (PIPDs) for the sensing function. Special attention is directed to features that ensure an appropriate safety-related performance is achieved. An ESPE may include optional afetyrelated functions, the requirements for which are given in Annex A of EN 61496-1. This technical specification does not specify the different means of thermal radiation detection nor the dimensions or configurations of the detection zone and its disposition in relation to hazardous parts for 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. PIPDs are devices that have a detection zone specified in three dimensions wherein persons or parts of persons are detected as a result of their thermal radiation. Excluded from this part are PIPDs operating at wavelengths outside the range 6 µm to 14 µm. This technical specification may be relevant to applications other than those for the protection of persons, for example the protection of machinery or products from mechanical damage. In those applications additional requirements may be necessary, for example when materials that are not intended to be recognized by the sensing function have similar properties to those of persons.