New edition: IEC 60204-1 machinery safety standard
An
IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team
Dec 1, 2005
IEC has published the fifth edition of IEC 60204-1 'Safety of machinery, Electrical equipment of machines, Part 1: General requirements'.
Safety is a powerful word; it appeals to our basic survival instinct and, over the past five years, IEC 60204-1 'Safety of machinery, Electrical equipment of machines, Part 1: General requirements' has remained consistently among the most popular of all IEC standards.
The fifth edition, published in October 2005, is expected to do the same.
Indeed, growing interest in Asia and North America may even increase sales.
Certainly machine operators appreciate knowing the electrical components in them are safe to use.
It might only be a simple machine, such as an inexpensive drill press, or it could be a large, complex one like a steel rolling mill or a dragline excavator, but, regardless of size, it is reassuring to know that pre-determined safety requirements have been respected.
New technologies now emerge almost daily and are quickly taken up around the world.
In globalising markets this means there is a growing need for international standards that are used worldwide.
As a best seller, IEC 60204-1 demonstrates there is growing international acceptance of IEC standards for safety.
This has not always been the case.
Around the world, approaches to safety can be quite different, as witnessed by varying mortality rates from industrially related accidents.
However, more recently, it is increasingly being seen that it is important to adopt uniform procedures that ensure machinery is safe to operate.
Help in preparing the fifth edition of IEC 60204-1 notably increased from Asia and North America and again illustrates growing global interest in adherence to safety.
The standard benefits machine builders and component manufacturers, as well as machine users; all can rely on commonly agreed tests, which attests to a truly universal recognition of the importance of safety.
The IEC has been creating standards for 99 years.
Just prior to the IEC's founding, electricity was perceived as a new source of energy, but one that could be dangerous.
One of the first tasks for the IEC was to establish a terminology that would be understood by all.
The next logical step was to then reassure manufacturers and end users of the safe application of what was then emerging technology.
Not what you're looking for? Search the site.
Google Ads
Contact IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission)
Related Stories
- ESAB releases latest edition of Svetsaren journal
- McGraw-Hill offers guide to power supply design
- Geoinformation announces UK mapping programme
- ERI announces shipboard electronics course
- ERI head hosts vibration testing course
Articles by product category
- Consultancy and Services (903)
- Machine Building (4,517)
-
Engineering Design Software (6,179)
- Engineering Design Software (12)
- 2D CAD software (200)
- 3D CAD software (1,157)
- FEA and structural analysis software (369)
- Fluid, thermal, noise, vibration software (334)
- Simulation, modelling, validation software (914)
- Rendering, visualisation, styling software (196)
- Materials design and moulding design software (151)
- Process, instrumentation, automation software (258)
- Electrical design software (164)
- Publishing and documentation software (229)
- Maths, charting, statistics, QA software (317)
- Data, document management software (310)
- CAM, CNC, production management software (568)
- File conversion software, data capture (351)
- PLM and collaboration software (649)
-
Drives, Motors and Controls (3,361)
- Drives, Motors and Controls (1)
- Precision Motors and Gears (411)
- Industrial Drives/Controls (1,276)
- Linear Drives and Motors (114)
- Industrial Motors (497)
- Stepper and Servo Drives, Motors, Controls (1,060)
- Small Mechanical Components, Joining, Tools (1,975)
-
Control and Instrumentation (5,028)
- Plantwide control (1,324)
- Plant- and Machine-Wide Communications (1,174)
- Smaller-Sized PLCs (387)
- CNC and Motion Controllers (184)
- Mid-range and Large PLCs (201)
- Power Supplies, Uninterruptible Power (562)
- HMIs/Operator Interfaces (294)
- Logic Controllers, Timers and Relays (96)
- Cabling, Conduit, Signal Conditioning (806)
-
Monitoring, Measurement and Quality (5,459)
- Monitoring, Measurement and Quality (1)
- Data acquisition Software and Communications (494)
- Data Acquisition Hardware and PC I/O Boards (472)
- Electrical and Electronic Testing, PAT Equipment (630)
- Form/co-ordinate, optical, vision instruments (703)
- Gauges, Indicators and Instruments (440)
- Data loggers (422)
- Materials testing equipment (421)
- Telecomms/network test equipment, software etc (154)
- Testing and Calibration Services and Information (500)
- Testing, analysing and monitoring equipment (1,222)
-
Electrical and Electronic Equipment Design (4,160)
- Batteries, chargers and circuit protection (555)
- Connectors, Terminals, Busbars, Slip Rings (679)
- Enclosures and Equipment Cooling Fans (709)
- Knobs, Handles and Enclosure Hardware (420)
- PCs and Embedded Systems (798)
- Electrical and Electronic Subassemblies (369)
- Electrical and Electronic Components (630)
-
Materials and Processing (2,963)
- Materials and Processing (5)
- Materials and components (2,215)
- Rapid Prototyping (458)
- Materials processing and testing (285)
-
Engineering Industry News, Resources (6,093)
- Engineering Industry News, Resources (4)
- Engineering Business News, Views (388)
- Engineering Exhibitions, Events (562)
- Engineering Conferences (425)
- Engineering Seminars (400)
- Engineering Industry Developments, Awards (633)
- Engineering Guides, Newsletters (349)
- Engineering Recruitment, Employment (219)
- Engineering Training Courses (433)
- Engineering Education, Resources, Standards (838)
- Engineering Industry Reports, Surveys (597)
- Electronic Resources for Engineers (278)
- Health and Safety Legislation (402)
- Health and Safety Strategy, Risk Assessment (113)
- Health and Safety Consultancy, Software (175)
- Health and Safety Events, Training, News (277)
-
Powertrain Design (3,598)
- Powertrain Design (2)
- Bearings (939)
- Chains and belts (326)
- Gears, brakes, couplings and engines (1,441)
- Hydraulic Components (471)
- Lubricants (418)
-
Capital Equipment (3,387)
- Capital Equipment (1)
- Manufacturing Machinery and Plant Equipment (468)
- Production line blowers and fans (62)
- Compressors and Air Treatment (510)
- Electronics Manufacturing, Tools, Instruments (192)
- Electrical hardware (131)
- Machinery and Production Equipment (1,093)
- Robotics, Handling and Storage (930)
-
Sensors (7,080)
- Sensors (8)
- Accelerometers and Vibration Sensors (427)
- Loadcells, Force Sensors, Torque Sensors (699)
- Pressure sensors (621)
- Flowmeters and Flow Sensors (618)
- Level Sensors and Leak Detectors (527)
- Linear Position Sensors (399)
- Rotary Position, Tilt and Angular Sensors (546)
- Proximity Sensors (700)
- Gas, Chemical, Radiation, Magnetic Sensors (284)
- Humidity and Environmental Sensors (152)
- Temperature sensors (612)
- Vision and Colour Sensors (1,384)
- Barcode Sensors (103)
- Valves, Pumps, Process Hardware (3,623)
