Technical data

Safety Integrated Functions
8.1 Standards and regulations
Function Manual
320 Function Manual, 06/2012, 6SL3097-4AB10-0BP4
Type B standards/group standards
B standards cover all safety-related standards for various different machine types. B
standards are aimed primarily at the bodies responsible for setting C standards. They can
also be useful for manufacturers during the machine design and construction phases,
however, if no applicable C standards have been defined.
A further sub-division has been made for B standards:
● Type B1 standards for higher-level safety aspects (e.g. ergonomic principles, safety
clearances from sources of danger, minimum clearances to prevent parts of the body
from being crushed).
● Type B2 standards for protective safety devices are defined for different machine types
(e.g. EMERGENCY STOP devices, two-hand operating circuits, interlocking elements,
contactless protective devices, safety-related parts of controls).
Type C standards/product standards
C standards are product-specific standards (e.g. for machine tools, woodworking machines,
elevators, packaging machines, printing machines etc.). Product standards cover machine-
specific requirements. The requirements can, under certain circumstances, deviate from the
basic and group standards. Type C/product standards have the highest priority for machine
manufacturers who can assume that it fulfills the basic requirements of Annex I of the
Machinery Directive (automatic presumption of compliance). If no product standard has been
defined for a particular machine, type B standards can be applied when the machine is
constructed.
A complete list of the standards specified and the mandated draft standards are available on
the Internet at the following address:
http://www.newapproach.org/
Recommendation: Due to the rapid pace of technical development and the associated
changes in machine concepts, the standards (and C standards in particular) should be
checked to ensure that they are up to date. Please note that the application of a particular
standard may not be mandatory provided that all the safety requirements of the applicable
EU directives are fulfilled.