Energy sources or power mediums which need to be addressed within the safety related parts of control systems include electrical, electronic, pneumatic, hydraulic, water, steam etc.

Our focus being fluid power we would incorporate the identification of circuits likely to contain stored energy, The most obvious would be compressed air tanks and accumulators.

As previously discussed in earlier editions of this series we reviewed the requirements of the risk categories which clearly stated that when dealing with the higher levels such as risk category two, three and four we must detect any single component failure that can lead to the loss of the safety function

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Prior to commencement of design of a safety related control system the hazard identification / risk assessment would have highlighted the safety related parts of control system that need to be addressed within the design criteria. The application reviewed will be a brick stacker and palletizer.

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A purpose built valve bench fitted with a combination of Fluidsentry monitored safety valve systems was integrated with the brick palletising line, providing a fully redundant interface between the fluid power operation & the electrical safety circuits monitoring the emergency stops, guarding & associated interlocking devices. The Fluidsentry dual monitored safety valves prevent single faults within the fluid power safety system from leading to the loss of the safety function. Correct monitoring ensures single fault detection & prevents further operation of the secondary or redundant valve until the fault is corrected.

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A common complaint of today’s machinery safeguarding requirements is their potential impact on production. Safety control methods are often found to have involved incorporating fencing around production lines so that either entry at any safe access point stops an entire line. These also sometimes combine isolation and administrative controls which are time consuming and have obvious impact on production, often resulting in frustrated operators and management. Sometimes these may be the only practical solution, but often smart implementation of available safety technology can not only provide the same or higher level of safety, but also lead to improved production.

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This article is the third of a six –part series providing an overview of requirements, principles, applications and technology for pneumatic and hydraulic safety systems of machinery. On 29th of June 2006 the revision of Australia’s AS4024.1 Safeguarding of Machinery 1996 was released with new guidelines for fluid power designers that include those for fault consideration and exclusion

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This article is the second of a six –part series providing an overview of requirements, principles, applications and technology for pneumatic and hydraulic safety systems of machinery. In the last issue we overviewed the hierarchy of control and categories of safety-related parts of control systems as per AS4024.1 Safeguarding of Machinery.  Our second topic is an introduction to failure mode considerations for fluid power control systems.

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This article is the first of a six part series providing an overview of requirements, principles, applications and technology for pneumatic and hydraulic safety control systems of machinery.  Our first topic is an introduction to categories of safety-related parts of control systems and their influence on fluid power system design requirements.

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Is your machinery truly safe? As standards have changed in Australia, it has become confusing for some whether we are meeting the standards or not.

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Manufacturers’ Monthly spoke to Fluidsentry operations manager Jason Hodges, on how monitored valves technology helps eliminate workplace accidents during hazardous operations.

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