Feature

Are you up to speed with new machinery electrical safety requirements?

Safety is one of the most significant issues facing machinery owners today, and the electrical element is an essential consideration for keeping machine operators and maintenance personnel safe. The key standard for machinery electrical safety in Europe is EN 60204:2018, which replaced EN 60204:2006 and was finally published across every European Member States in March this year (published in the UK September 2018).

02/09/2019 14:28:41

EN 60204:2018 is a complex standard and there are a multitude of changes between the old and new standards, of which I have highlighted a few key ones below.

While the content of Clause 4.4.2 (EMC) has been reduced, a detailed informative Annex H has been added, which should help machine builders. However, detailed guidance is also contained in the specific EMC standards e.g. IEC 61000.

Clause 5.2 now requires that the terminal for the external protective conductor shall be in the same compartment as the incoming supply instead of “in the vicinity”. Also, for the breaking capacity of the supply disconnecting device, the calculation should now consider motors supplied by converters or similar devices. The new standard also allows for the operating means for a supply disconnecting device, that is not intended for emergency operations, to have a supplementary cover or door for protection against environmental conditions.

Read the full article in the September issue of DPA.

Written By Sophia Bell

Sophia Bell is the Group Editor of DPA, Connectivity, and PBSI. She joined the team in 2020 as Assistant Editor after achieving a First-Class Honours BA in English Literature and Film Studies from the University of East Anglia. In her current role, she leads the editorial strategy, driving digital growth and ensuring each title continues to deliver trusted, relevant insight for engineering and manufacturing professionals.