Hi

We are in the process of putting a stand alone machine into a production line and after doing the assessment I have identified possible access to the inside of its hopper. It is not possible to extend the hopper so I have suggested the use of a inter-locked mesh guard. However to ensure the hopper if filling correctly the mesh needs to be of sufficent size to allow materials to pass through it but obviously prevent access. Therefore I have been asked to give advice on the maximum size of  mesh allowed on machinery interlock guard for a machine hopper. The distance from the top of the hopper to bottom is sufficent to prevent fingers reaching it, however if an operative was to get their forearm into the hopper the operative would be able to access moving parts.  

Can anyone let me know the maximum mesh size allowed?

Thanks for the help

Oh and there is no such thing as an interlocking guard any more!

John,

Sorry, my, very, poor wording, let me explain.

I should have said, that the term interlocking guard is now very specific in nature.

The definitions of guarding have changed, over the years, and my comment was a bit flippant, I freely admit.

This is a new machine that must be CE marked, thus it must comply with the current requirements of the harmonised standards.

The standards referred to in EN 12100:2010 have been updated.

The current guarding standard is EN 14120:2015, this has replaced EN 953:1997+A1:2009.

Conventionally an interlocking guard was the term applied to any guard which had an interlock device attached, and could be opened with or without the use of a tool, or was automatic in operation, & a multitude of other things,

It was also applied to any guard which moved, or could be removed, or opened without the use of a tool, these are now known as a moveable guards.

EN 14120 3.3, EN 12100-1:2010 3.25.2.

An interlocking guard now is specifically designed with specific function before it can be referred to as an interlocking guard, not just any guard with an interlock, fixed, or moveable, as per the definitions in 14120:2015 & 12100:2010.

What I should have said, is, be careful of the use of the term interlocking guard, it has a very specific meaning.

Also, I didn’t read the OP correctly, with regard to the terms used and then with regard to my response.

However, the comments in the other post remain, it was just my poor wording with regard to “interlocking guard” & the term used in the OP of “interlock guard” that I have messed up with.

Teach me to read the posts correctly next time!

Sorry.