CREATE A SAFER TESTING ENVIRONMENT WITHOUT COMPROMISING RESULTS
Delivering a safe environment for the test operator without consideration of other factors can compromise specimen integrity and testing accuracy. To balance these competing needs, MTS SafeGuard™ Technology provides the right level of human safety without impeding testing fidelity or productivity. When used with an MTS Landmark® Test System, it can help ensure a safer testing environment with safe system power isolation and safe actuator speed control.
WHAT LEVEL OF SAFETY IS NECESSARY?
ISO 13849 offers clear guidelines about potential human safety risk and the required Safety Performance Level for each situation. You can learn more about the guidelines here, and also review the safety performance level options for your Landmark system below.
Performance Level C
Applicable when the test specimen area is not accessed more frequently than once every 15 minutes.
Performance Level c (PLc) is the standard option on most MTS Landmark Test Systems. This solution requires a load frame with an MTS test area enclosure and a FlexTest® controller. It includes a low flow power supply for safe speed control (<10 mm/s).
Performance Level D
Applicable when the test specimen area is accessed more than once every 15 minutes.
Performance Level d (PLd) is the standard option on MTS Landmark Test Systems that are using hydraulic pressure of 57-114 lpm (15-30 gpm). This solution requires a load frame with an MTS test area enclosure, a FlexTest controller and an MTS SafeGuard 272 Supervisor. The PLd version adds redundancy and monitoring to the already high reliability of the PLc safety circuits. In addition, a safety-rated Programmable Logic Controller arbitrates the safety functions.
Performance Level E
Applicable when the possibility of limiting hazards is considered scarcely possible, or the risk tolerance is low.
Meeting Performance Level e (PLe) requires a custom solution that includes a load frame with an MTS test area enclosure, a FlexTest controller and an MTS SafeGuard 272 Supervisor or an MTS 295 Hydraulic Service Manifold equipped with MTS SafeGuard technology.
To be confident that your test system meets the specified safety performance level, MTS can supply System Level CE declaration along with the applicable component certifications: Declaration of Incorporation (DOI) or Declaration of Conformity (DOC) as required.
The MTS Series 295 Hydraulic Service Manifold with SafeGuard technology offers safety compliance for multiple stations.
MAXIMIZE PRODUCTIVITY & MINIMIZE RISK
Protecting test operators, equipment and specimen are all critical to testing success. MTS provides the tools to help meet the functional safety requirements, and the test systems that perform reliably test after test. Contact us today to learn more about test system safety requirements.