Pressure-sensitive mats and floors

Status:

completed 12/1997

Aims:

More and more pressure-sensitive mats and floors are used in industry to secure dangerous areas. Safety characteristics of these systems were insufficiently known, test requirements non-existent. The project was aimed to obtain safety-technical information about pressure-sensitive mats and floors and to make recommendations for standardisation. The project was initiated and supported through consultations by the expert commitee Iron and Metal II.

Activities/Methods:

Special test facilities were developed to investigate pressure- sensitive mats and floors from different manufacturers. The tests concerned the function and technical equipment of the systems, their behaviour in the case of long-term operation and malfunction as well as under special operating and environmental conditions. The results were included in national and European standards.

Results:

The project results and the test criteria derived from them allow a reliable assessment of the safety behaviour of pressure-sensitive mats and plates. Testing of these systems was first conducted in accordance with draft standard DIN 31006, Part 1 "Safety of machinery; Pressure-sensitive mats, pressure-sensitive floors; Safety requirements, testing". As a result of the European harmonisation the tests are now based on DIN EN 1760-1 "Safety of machinery - Pressure-sensitive protective devices - General principles for the design and testing of pressure-sensitive mats and pressure-sensitive floors". Tested and certified pressure-sensitive mats from several German and foreign manufacturers are available. There are many cases where these systems can be used to secure dangerous working areas.

Further informations:

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