Performance Level is the five-step scale in EN ISO 13849-1, from PL a up to PL e, for how reliably a safety function performs when called on.
The achieved PL comes from the system’s architecture, component reliability and diagnostics, and it must meet or beat the required level set by risk assessment. PL e sits at the top, for functions protecting against the most serious and most frequent exposures.
EN ISO 13855 sets where to position light curtains, scanners, mats and other protective devices, using human approach speed and the machine’s stopping time.
Due diligence is the process an end user follows to satisfy themselves that machinery is genuinely CE/UKCA compliant, starting with checking the Declaration of Conformity.
Proof load testing applies a load above the rated working load to demonstrate that a lifting accessory or fabrication performs safely under the required conditions.
For nearly two decades, the Machinery Directive (2006/42/EC) has been the backbone of machinery safety compliance across Europe.
Introduction Machinery is now software-defined, connected, and increasingly autonomous. The Machinery Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 treats software failures as
A question we hear regularly from clients is which assessment do they actually need for their machinery —
Speak to a Knox Thomas engineer about compliance, risk assessment and safeguarding for your machinery.
