Estimate Required Safety Distance
Estimate required machine safety distance for light curtains, safety scanners, and guarding devices using stop time, system response time, approach speed, and intrusion factor.
This calculator is commonly used during machine design and risk assessment to estimate the minimum safe mounting distance for safeguarding devices.
S = Safety distance
K = Approach speed
T = Total stop time
C = Intrusion factor
Need help applying this to a real machine?
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.
Find an IntegratorThis 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.
What to check next
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.