In manufacturing environments, sight serves as operators' primary natural defense. Proper visibility of automated areas allows workers to identify potentially hazardous situations before they escalate into accidents.
The visibility of the protected area also impacts:
– Production cycle oversight
– Problem identification
– Operation monitoring
and is therefore an aspect that directly affects production efficiency, safeguarding it from unexpected downtime risks.
For this reason, Modular Steel Fencing for machinery must provide maximum protection without sacrificing visibility of the protected area.
Visibility: An Integrated Standards Approach
The EN ISO 12100 Standard establishes Risk Assessment principles, including visibility among the factors that require consideration. Visibility through Industrial Guards is regulated by an integrated System of harmonized Standards according to the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC and the New Machinery Regulation 2023/1230:
- EN ISO 14120 (ANSI/RIA R15.06), which establishes General Requirements for the design and construction of fixed and movable Guards
- EN ISO 13857, which defines Safety distances for Guards
- EN 614-1, which provides additional guidance on the use of colors in industrial environments, highlighting how color choices affect space perception and workplace Safety
This regulatory framework establishes that Guards must:
- Enable adequate process observation
- Ensure clear views of hazardous areas and movements
- Eliminate the need for removal during inspections
- Prevent distortions that could mask dangerous situations
- Maintain visual properties throughout their service life
EN ISO 14120 (ANSI/RIA R15.06) defines visibility as a crucial element for Operator Safety and provides specific requirements that Industrial Guards must meet.
Understanding Visual Perception
Sight is one of our primary defense mechanisms. The ability to visually perceive our surroundings allows us to identify potential threats, navigate spaces, and make quick safety decisions. It functions through complex biological mechanisms: the eye converts light into nerve signals, which transform images into information processed by the brain.
Visual information is classified based on various factors, including the orientation of objects being observed. Vertical barriers align better with the arrangement of receptor cells in the retina compared to horizontal ones.
When examining an object through a grid, you’ll notice increased eye strain when viewing through horizontally arranged grid lines.
Color contrast also influences visual perception: objects with distinctly different colors are immediately distinguishable. Conversely, similar shades make precise shape recognition more difficult.
Wire Mesh: Features
Our wire mesh panels integrated into Modular Guards feature vertical openings that significantly reduce visual interference compared to horizontal patterns. This design ensures clearer process visibility while minimizing eye fatigue during extended shifts.
For example, in a robotic cell protected by our Machine Fences, the vertical mesh pattern allows operators to monitor pick & place operations with exceptional clarity, maintaining optimal visibility even during prolonged observation periods.
Contrast and Choice of Color
The human brain processes visual information most efficiently with strong contrast between elements. In manufacturing environments, the color contrast between machinery and Guards is essential for Safety. Proper color differentiation enables operators to clearly track machinery movements and quickly identify irregularities, ensuring effective visual monitoring.
Consider our automated packaging line installation, where black Modular Steel Fencing surrounding light-colored conveyor belts enhances visibility and makes anomalies immediately noticeable.
Placement and Lighting
Another factor to consider when designing a production layout is the arrangement of lights. The correct positioning should avoid creating shadow areas that might interfere with machinery visibility, prevent reflections that might mask hazards, and maintain uniform visibility throughout the protected area.
Visibility: Key Industrial Applications
Mesh orientation, color contrast, and lighting all determine the proper monitoring of production processes for many industrial machines through Industrial Guards. Beyond robotic cells and packaging lines, examples include:
- Bottling facilities, to verify correct filling and bottle sealing
- Packaging Systems, to monitor product flow and prevent damage or unwanted accumulation
- Machine tools, to monitor mechanical processing
- Hydraulic presses, to observe correct positioning of molds and workpieces
- Textile machinery, to identify possible defects or tears in fabrics during production
What We Can Do For You: Solutions That fit Any Visibility Requirement
Industrial Guards Visibility — Most Frequently Asked Questions
Which factors are most important when determining if a Guard provides adequate visibility?
The specific requirements of the production process, supervision needs, and guidelines from the Risk Analysis conducted according to EN ISO 12100 collectively determine the visibility standards Industrial Guards must meet.
How should I choose the right panel type to meet my visibility requirements?
Your selection should be based on your specific observation needs: Panels featuring vertical mesh orientation provide excellent general area visibility, while polycarbonate panels or combination material panels are better suited for zones where complete process visibility is essential.
In what ways does visibility contribute to workplace Safety?
Enhanced visibility of protected areas allows for continuous process monitoring and quick detection of irregular conditions like unexpected product buildup or equipment malfunctions before they become safety hazards.
What are the primary Standards that address industrial Guard visibility?
The EN ISO 14120 (ANSI/RIA R15.06) Standard is the main reference, specifying that Guards must provide sufficient visibility of hazardous zones and production processes while maintaining operator protection.
What ergonomic advantages do high-visibility Guards offer in manufacturing settings?
Well-designed Guards significantly decrease visual fatigue among operators, enhance spatial awareness, and support effective oversight during long production shifts.
How does color contrast between machinery and Guards affect workplace safety?
Strategic color contrast helps operators clearly identify machine movements and quickly spot operational anomalies, substantially improving safety conditions throughout the production environment.
Is there flexibility in choosing colors for Perimeter Guards?
While our Machine Guards can be manufactured in the full spectrum of RAL colors, your selection must align with EN ISO 14120 (ANSI/RIA R15.06) Standard guidelines and be validated through machine-specific Risk Assessment. The key requirement is that Guards create sufficient contrast with machinery to highlight movements and potential dangers, preventing any camouflage effect that might obscure hazardous situations.
My facility houses predominantly yellow and orange robotics equipment. What's the recommended Guard color for these areas?
According to Section 5.9 of EN ISO 14120 (ANSI/RIA R15.06) Standard, you should select «materials darker than the observed area» to enhance process visibility. For environments with yellow and orange robots, black wire mesh Guards deliver ideal contrast for effective motion monitoring.
For welding applications, however, FullSteel sheet metal Guards equipped with EN ISO 25980 certified Polycarbonate viewing windows offer the optimal balance of protection and process visibility.
Is it possible to use a mix of different panel types within a single guarding System?
Absolutely. The cross-modularity built into Satech Systems allows seamless integration of various panel types with different visibility properties within a single perimeter. This flexibility lets you customize your guarding solution with:
- Framed mesh panels alongside frameless mesh panels for areas requiring general visibility
- Transparent sheet panels (commonly referred to as Polycarbonate panels) in zones where maximum visibility is critical
- FullSteel panels strategically placed where containing process debris is the primary concern
Safety Through Guards Visibility
Visibility through industrial Guards helps prevent accidents. Thoughtful selection of materials, finishes, and colors plays an important role in enhancing the Safety of your manufacturing environment.
