EN 60204-1 Safety of machinery. Electrical equipment of machines
The safety of machinery standard regulates the design and technical documentation of electrical equipment. In addition, the standard specifies requirements and recommendations for electrical equipment of machines, the purpose of which is to ensure safety and compatibility of operation due to control, without taking into account aspects of operation and maintenance.
This standard is harmonized with two directives:
• Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC;
• Low Voltage Directive 2014/35/EU.
Compliance with EN 60204-1 guarantees presumption of conformity with both directives.
Thus, if the provisions of the harmonized standard are complied with in the design and manufacture of a machine, the requirements of the Machinery Directive specified in the standard itself are also fulfilled. These are listed in the table in Annex ZZA, which describes in detail the correspondence between EN 60204-1 and the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC.
Annex ZZB contains information on the correspondence between EN 60204-1 and the requirements of the Low Voltage Equipment Directive 2014/35/EU.
EN 60204-1 The marking of cables and wires in accordance with the standard is an important requirement.
The standard contains detailed instructions and recommendations for cable routing, which, for example, prevent interference. The importance of qualified installers and management by a qualified local installation company for the equipment is a significant factor affecting quality.
The standard stipulates that cables and wires must be identifiable at both ends and must be traceable to technical documentation.
Numbered cable manufacturer markings or coloured insulation may be used, provided that the number of cables and wires does not create identification problems.
Additional marking is required in systems or installations where there are several cables or wires of the same colour.
It is worth considering additional marking during design, as it helps to comply with safety standards and minimise the time spent searching for possible errors. This saves time when troubleshooting, including during maintenance and repair.
Marking allows you to determine which wire belongs to which connector when replacing components that are located close to each other.
Additional markings should be applied to the ends of cables or wires and, if necessary, at visible points between them for greater clarity.
If the marking consists of several different parts, these parts can be separated from each other by placing them on different lines, using a slash or sufficient spacing (spaces). Various typographical symbols are also permitted.
During installation, special attention should be paid to the correct installation and heat resistance of cables and conductors. When planning and laying cable routes, it is important to observe the distances recommended by standards and to ensure correct and safe installation of cables.
When laying cable routes, it is easy to overlook, for example, possible routes for high-current cables to motors, which can create problems with compliance with minimum distances. It is necessary to leave sufficient cable length near moving parts of equipment so that the cables are not stretched or cut during the first movement test.
Unfortunately, plastic cable ties are often used to fasten and bind cables, which are not durable, for example, in wet areas. A good solution is to use coated HST cable ties that can withstand harsh operating conditions. Some customers require the use of cable ties when laying cables in machines.
In addition to the correct installation of cables and conductors, attention must be paid to the potential equalisation system and the safety of other electrical equipment during installation. Insulation resistance measurements ensure that the equipment is sufficiently insulated, and commissioning tests confirm that all installations comply with regulatory requirements.
EN 60204-1 is a type B1 standard covering the basic safety aspects of electrical equipment and containing all requirements for protection against electrical and non-electrical hazards directly related to electricity.
