Last edit: 07/01/2025
Chapter 10 of the Standard provides prescriptions which the Manufacturer shall follow about the operator interface and machine-mounted control devices. The Standard says:
The possibility of inadvertent operation shall be minimized by, for example, positioning of devices, suitable design, provision of additional protective measures. Manufacturer shall give particular consideration to the selection, arrangement, programming and use of operator input devices such as touchscreens, keypads and keyboards for the control of hazardous machine operations, and of sensors that can initiate machine operation.
The Manufacturer shall mount the control devices in such a manner to be readily accessible for service and maintenance and to minimize the possibility of damage from activities such as material handling.
The Standard specifies that the operator interface control devices shall have a minimum degree of protection against contact with live parts of IPXXD.
The Standard provides, in paragraph 10.2, the prescriptions about colours and marking for the actuators.
The Standard summarizes the colours for the following functions:
– Start/ON actuators;
– Emergency stop and emergency switching off actuators;
– Stop/OFF actuators;
– Reset actuators;
– Hold-to-run actuators.
Standard reports, in Table 2 and Table 3, the recommended symbols to be placed near to certain actuation.
Paragraph 10.3 analyses the light indicators and displays which can have the following functions:
– Signalling
– Confirmation
Depending on their function, the Standard prescribes the colors to be used.
In each the Manufacturer must choose and install the indicator lights and displays so that they are visible from the operator’s normal position.
The Standard provides the prescriptions regarding the color arrangement of indicating towers:
Indicating towers on machines should have the applicable colours in the following order from
the top down; RED, YELLOW, BLUE, GREEN and WHITE.
The manufacturer is enabled tu use flashing lights and displays for the following purposes:
– to attract attention;
– to request immediate action;
– to indicate a discrepancy between the command and actual state;
– to indicate a change in process (flashing during transition).
The Standard also recommends using additional acoustic warnings when using flashing lights or displays to provide high priority information.
Section 10.7.2 specifies the types of emergency stop devices:
– a push-button device for actuation by the palm or the fist (e.g. mushroom head type);
– a pull-cord operated switch;
– a pedal-operated switch without a mechanical guard.
Section 10.8.2 specifies the types of emergency breaking devices:
– a push-button operated switch with a palm or mushroom head type of actuator;
– a pull-cord operated switch.
Emergency stop devices should be placed according to the need of the given application. The Standard recommends installation separate from operator control stations.
