Machine Safety: ANSI B11 Series

History

B11 Standards, Inc., founded in 2010, is ANSI-accredited Standards Developing Organization that administers and develops the ANSI B11 series of American National Standards and Technical Report on machine/machine too/machinery safety. B11 Standards Inc. is accredited by ANSI as the U.S. Technical Advisory Group Administrator to ISO Technical Committee 199 (machinery safety standards) and ISO Technical Committee 39 Subcommittee 10 (machine tool safety standards).

B11 Standards Inc. also participates in a very large number of both national and international standards development activities.

B11 Standards, Inc. is accredited by ANSI as the United States Technical Advisory Group (TAG) Administrator to two International Standards Organization (ISO) Technical Committees (TC), ISO/TC 199 on Machinery Safety and ISO/TC 39 /SC 10 on Machine Tool Safety.

Why Standards are Important

The organization believes that standards provide a bridge between research, innovation and the market, helping to boost growth, jobs and competitiveness. They are a valuable tool for market dissemination of research and development results. This helps contribute to the objectives of overall market innovation and competitiveness.

The B11 ASC is comprised of organizations representing different stakeholder groups having a substantial interest and competence in the overall scope of B11 standards. It is recognized by ANSI as the body that evaluates and votes on final draft standards (or technical reports) developed by B11 writing subcommittees for approval as American National Standards and ANSI Technical Reports by the ANSI Board of Standards Review.

Compliance Requirements

Safety of Machines: This can be a single machine or a machinery system(s).

This Type-A standard applies to new, existing, modified or rebuilt power driven machines, not portable by hand while working, that are used to process materials by cutting; forming; pressure; electrical, thermal or optical techniques; lamination; or a combination of these processes. This includes associated equipment used to transfer material or tooling, including fixtures, to assemble/disassemble, to inspect or test, or to package. The associated equipment, including logic controller(s) and associated software or logic together with the machine actuators and sensors, are considered a part of the industrial machinery.

The B11 standards and reports have an ISO A-B-C level structure:

Type-A standards (basis standards) give basic concepts, principles for design and general aspects that can be applied to machinery; Type-B standards (generic safety standards) deal with one or more safety aspects or one or more types of safeguards that can be used across a wide range of machinery; Type-B1 standards are on particular safety aspects (e.g., safety distances, surface temperature, noise); Type-B2 standards are on safeguards (e.g., two-hand controls, interlocking devices, pressure sensitive devices, guards); and Type-C standards (machinery safety standards) deal with detailed safety requirements for a particular machine or group of machines.

The ANSI B11.0 is a type-A standard that applies to a broad array of machines. The machine-specific (type-C) B11 standards contain detailed safety requirements for a particular machine or group of machines. The ANSI B11.0, ANSI B11.19 and the machine-specific B11 standards are intended to be used concurrently by the supplier and user of machines. When a type-C standard deviates from one or more provisions dealt with by this standard or by a type-B standard, the type-C standard takes precedence.

Compliance Assistance:

To purchase/download the standard: https://webstore.ansi.org/Standards/AMT/ANSIB112015Format

OSHA’s machine guarding/safety assistance: https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/machineguarding/

Sponsored By:
The ANSI B11 Safety Standards for Metalworking Machines compliment and provide guidance to OSHA’s 29 CFR, Subpart 0 relating to worker protection.  Some courts reference industry best practices such as ANSI, called “consensuses standards,” which are enforceable.  Contact Rockford Systems to help navigate the complex array of OSHA regulations and ANSI standards surrounding industrial machine and robot safeguarding to increase your organization’s compliance and reduce risk.
Rockford Systems, LLC, 800-922-7533, rockfordsystems.com