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Is it a machine or a system?

Paul Roman
Good afternoon


I am looking for someone who can help advise regarding an installation of materials handling equipment.  Within the installation you have numerous conveyors, automated cranes, robots cells as an example. Each having a control panel which would isolate that individual item.  The question I have is when you take each of these 'machines' so various conveyors and automated cranes aand they are interconnected can you still treat them as individual machines, thus the electrical design falls under the machinery directive, or do you treat it as a distributed systen and therefore it would be classed as a system and perhaps therefore meet different criteria for electrical design.


I am trying to ensure that our designs which are designed within mainland Europe under the machinery directive meet the requirments as an installation in the UK, where some are looking at it as a distibuted system and therefore applying 17th addition for example.


Any help greatly appreciated.


Paul.
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  • 0
    There are several aspects to consider:


    1) If the control systems of the various parts are connected you should consider it as a machine. The interconnection wiring will need to follow machinery standards rather than building wiring standards.

    2) The standards for electrical parts of machinery such as EN60204 do not differ much from European wiring standards (the UK deviates the most with ring final circuits and underrated breakers in consumer units).

    3) With all large interconnected systems the risk assessment is key. This will allow you to determine the hazards from the electrical supply and various isolation regimes.

    Have you been quoted specific differences between  BS 7671 and EN 60204?


    Best regards


    Roger
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  • 0
    There are several aspects to consider:


    1) If the control systems of the various parts are connected you should consider it as a machine. The interconnection wiring will need to follow machinery standards rather than building wiring standards.

    2) The standards for electrical parts of machinery such as EN60204 do not differ much from European wiring standards (the UK deviates the most with ring final circuits and underrated breakers in consumer units).

    3) With all large interconnected systems the risk assessment is key. This will allow you to determine the hazards from the electrical supply and various isolation regimes.

    Have you been quoted specific differences between  BS 7671 and EN 60204?


    Best regards


    Roger
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