ANSI B11 (machine safety). The B11 series of safety standards is about to gain two new standards in its sizeable portfolio.
ANSI B11.25 on large machines is a type-B standard addressing the unique safety requirements for machines that have an axis of travel greater than two cubic meters and ANSI B11.26 (Functional Safety: Design principles and the Practical Application of ISO 13849-1) that began development using the 2010 B11.TR6 document as a template. Along the way, it has undergone substantial revision to become a more usable applications guide for ISO 13846. It represents a compendium of a large number of example electrical, hydraulic and pneumatic circuit well-tried diagrams.
Final submission:
ANSI B11.16 (metal powder compacting presses) was finally submitted to ANSI for approval after a very protracted negative voting and comment resolution process.
Two key standards in the B11 series are (or will be undergoing) revision:
ANSI B11.0-2010 (general safety & risk assessment) began a revision cycle of this type-A standard in early September, with a second meeting held in mid-November and a third at the end of January in conjunction with the B11 ASC meeting, which is being hosted by the American Welding Society in Miami. Even though this revision is a substantial one, it is likely the document will be processed for commenting/voting after the January meeting. Look for this standard to be available in the 1st or 2nd quarter of this year.
ANSI B11.19-2010 (safeguarding) is slated to begin a revision sometime in 2015 after B11.0 is mostly complete so as to harmonize well with changes in that important standard. The revision of this type-B standard is also a substantive one, but is well organized and will be able to dovetail off of the work within B11.0.
Revisions are also expected to begin sometime this year on the following B11 standards:
ANSI B11.20-2004 (type-B) Integrated Manufacturing Systems
ANSI B11.4-2003 (type-C) Shears
ANSI B11.5-1988 (type-C) Ironworkers
ANSI B11.18-2006 (type-C) Machines Processing or Slitting Coiled or Non-coiled Metal
Other standards activity:
- ANSI Z244.1-2001 (control of hazardous energy [lockout]). This type-B standard began a long-awaited revision last July with a very large committee, with substantial participation from the B11 community this time. Several work groups were formed and their products are currently being compiled and combined by the committee leadership into a draft for distribution to the work group chairs initial for review and then out to the committee at large. It is thought that one more meeting by the committee at large will be sufficient, but if not, then perhaps after a second one it will be. Of most significance is how OSHA will regard a very modern and updated standard that goes well beyond their 25-year-old regulatory standard. One of the biggest contentions between the OSHA and ANSI standards is in the area of alternative methods of hazardous energy control, and it is expected that this updated ANSI standard will impose increasing pressure on OSHA to modernize and harmonize with real-world scenarios and technology.
- ANSI B155.1-2011 (packaging machinery). This very current type-A/type-B standard underwent revision from the 2006 standard by including additional supplier requirements, allowing deviations based on supplier risk assessment, including informative references to international functional safety standards, and the inclusion of informative annexes on machine design and the correlation between ISO and EU standards. It will likely undergo a minimal revision after ANSI B11.0-(2015) is finalized, in order to harmonize with that standard. Perhaps beginning mid to late 2015.
- ANSI B151 (plastics machinery). This series has all been very recently revised and updated, and has benefited from the participation of the B11 standards community in a number of areas that have already undergone extensive vetting and reached consensus resolutions in that community. Their cores standards on injection molding, extrusion and blow molding machines have all been revised. Current activity concerns merging the horizontal and vertical injection molding machines into a single standard (which should be completed in the first half of this year). The single most important issue to resolve is what to do with the mechanical device. Currently, both the SPI/ANSI IMM standards and the State of Michigan OSH IMM standard requires the use of this device (also known as a drop bar or jam bar). Yet most of the rest of the world does not. A risk assessment was commissioned by SPI to try and quantify the need for this device and at press time, the results had not been released but preliminary indications are that it is not needed at least for horizontal machines. And MIOSHA appears inclined to withdraw their regulatory standard. A decision by the SPI IMM Committee revising their standard will likely be reached at their February meeting.
- ANSI RIA 15.06 (robotics safety). In 2012, the RIA abandoned the ongoing revision of their 1999 standard and instead, simply did a national adoption of the ISO 10218 standard. In 2014, they approved three technical reports which are designed to help the standards user be able to interpret the new RIA 15.06 document. The one on risk assessment will be going into immediate revision to try and address a number of concerns and issues with the document.
Status of selected Electrical Standards:
NFPA 70 National Electrical Code (NEC):
- Purpose: The purpose of this Code is the practical safeguarding of persons and property from hazards arising from the use of electricity.
- Current Edition: 2014 Effective date: Aug. 21, 2013 ANSI approval date: Aug. 21, 2013; adoption will vary by locality (City & State).
- General Requirements: Article 110.16 permits the manufacturer to apply Arc Flash Label at time of build. Article 110.21(B) has new requirements for words & color used on safety labels (ref ANSI Z535.4). Industrial Control Panels Article 409.1 raises operating voltage from 600 to 1000 volts in Articles’ scope. No significant changes to the Industrial Machinery Article 670.
- Next Edition: 2017
- Proposal Closing: Online Submissions – Nov. 7, 2014 Paper Submissions (mail/fax) – Oct. 3, 2014
NFPA 79 Electrical Standard for Industrial Machinery:
- Purpose: This standard provides detailed information for the application of electrical/electronic equipment, apparatus, or systems supplied as part of industrial machines that will promote safety to life and property.
- Current Edition: 2015 Effective date: May 19, 2014 ANSI approval date: May 19, 2014. No NITMAMs were submitted by the Feb. 7, 2014 closing date, so it became a consent document.
- The document still aligns with IEC 60204-1, but is now more intuitive and informative. Two definitions have been added: Industrial Control Panel & Overcurrent Protective Device, Branch Circuit. Seven definitions have been deleted: Cable Trunking Systems, Duct, Earth, Positive Opening Operation, Protective Bonding Circuit, Protective Conductor, and Subassembly. Clarification has been added on 79’s Working Space Requirements vs the NEC Requirements. They rejected bringing back the ability of machine structure for use as grounding conductor.
- “Protection Against Arc Flash” section was changed to “Arc Flash Hazard Warning” (matches NEC 2014).
- The list of covered machinery now includes conveyors, conveying machines and material handling machines.
- Next Edition: 2018
- First Draft – Public Input Closing: TBD
- Second Draft – Public Comment Closing: TBD
NFPA 70E Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace:
- Purpose: The purpose of this standard is to provide a practical safe working area for employees relative to the hazards arising from the use of electricity.
- Current Edition: 2012 Effective date: Aug. 31, 2011 ANSI approval date: Aug. 31, 2011
- Next Edition: 2015
- First Draft – Public Input Closing: June 22, 2012
- Total Public Proposals: 450
- Second Draft – Public Comment Closing: May 3, 2013
- Submitted Public Comments: 250
- Risk assessment requirements have been added throughout the document; Prohibited Approach Boundary has been eliminated; Tables for HRC have been revised for easier use; Elimination of Category 0. One NITMAM was filed, however it was withdrawn just prior to the June NFPA membership meeting.
- Future Edition: 2018
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