Estimate required machine safety distance for light curtains, safety scanners, and guarding devices using machine stop time, safety system response time, approach speed, and intrusion factor.
This calculator estimates the minimum separation distance between a safeguarding device and a machine hazard using stop time, safety system response time, approach speed, and intrusion factor.
It is useful during early layout work for light curtains, safety scanners, presence-sensing devices, and machine guarding concepts. It should not replace a full risk assessment, stop-time validation, or standards review.
Useful for early safeguarding layout, light curtain positioning, scanner mounting review, machine design concepts, and preliminary risk assessment support.
Use validated stopping-performance data whenever possible instead of guessing from machine behavior.
Include the response time of the safety device, relay, safety PLC, and output devices involved in the stop.
Use the values required by the applicable standard and safeguarding method.
Confirm mounting distance, reach-over risk, whole-body access, muting, and final risk reduction.
Enter the machine stop time, safety system response time, approach speed, and intrusion factor to estimate the required safety distance.
This calculator provides a simplified estimate and should not replace a full safety risk assessment, required stop-time testing, or review against the applicable safeguarding standard and device manufacturer guidance.
Final safety distance can depend on additional factors such as device resolution, mounting height, reach-over risk, whole-body access, muting strategy, stop category, and validated stopping performance.
This tool is useful for early safeguarding layout work, but real safety distance decisions should never stop at the calculator. You still need verified stop-time data, actual device response data, the right intrusion factor for the safeguarding method, and the correct standard for the application.
For real machine design, this page usually works best alongside controls review, machine sequence understanding, and a proper risk assessment so the safeguarding approach matches the actual hazard and machine behavior.
Get connected with a qualified automation integrator if you need help with safeguarding layout, stop-time review, machine design, or applying these values to a real project.
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