APRIL 2024

Implementing safety light curtains as a risk reduction measure.

A common safety measure used within the industry for risk reduction against machine hazards is presence sensing as seen with a safety light curtain. However, since safety light curtains do not provide a physical barrier for protection, there are certain machine, process, and environmental factors to consider. The following are just a few aspects to assess in determining if safety light curtains can be applied to your application. 

1. Once someone interrupts the light curtain, will the hazardous condition stop before they reach it? This is confirmed by conducting a stop time analysis and a minimum safe distance calculation. 
2. There are no reasonably foreseeable concerns for parts to be ejected through the light curtains during operation. For example, tool breakage or stressed material rupturing. Expected operational interruption such as pallets exiting a palletizing area can be accommodated by light curtain functions such as muting. 
3. Are there extreme temperatures, dust, moisture, vibrations, or required cleaning methods that may adversely affect light curtain performance? If so, special housing accessories or even special programming within the light curtain may be required. 
4. Personnel cannot reach around, under, over the light curtains or be positioned beyond the monitored area once the lights are interrupted and restart a cycle. If such possibilities exist, additional hard guarding and secondary safety functional are needed. 

With these basic considerations evaluated, you can better determine if a light curtain is suitable as a risk reduction measure for your identified hazards. 



Schmersal Safety Light Curtains

Schmersal offers several series of Safety Light curtains. They feature a compact rectangular profile 28 mm x 33 mm, 4-sided extruded housing for added durability, and LED illuminated endcaps for signaling.

We have a unique Bluetooth interface which provides secure data transmission up to 5 meters to smartphones and tablets. The operational data displayed in the SLC Assist app can help with alignment during installation, troubleshooting faults, and planning service and maintenance.

SLC440COM

Standard emitter/receiver Type 4 safety light curtain with Bluetooth interface.

SLC440

Type 4 emitter/receiver set with Bluetooth interface and integrated programming for blanking and double reset applications.

SLC445

Type 4 emitter/receiver set with integrated programming for muting, multi-scan and Presence Sensing Device Initiation (PSDI) applications.

Find out more in our product showcase: Safety Light Curtains

Here is a collection of reference documents relating to Safety Light Curtains

BROCHURE

Optoelectronic

Safety Devices

This brochure provides background information on optoelectronic safety devices and highlights our lines of Safety light Curtains, Safety light grids, safety light barriers, and various related accessories.

32 pages.

ARTICLE

Selection Guidelines for

Safety Light Curtains

Safety light curtains are a viable safeguarding option for point of operation or perimeter guarding. This article highlights the four main options to consider in selecting the right Safety Light Curtain for your application.



ARTICLE

Calculating

Safety Distances

Applying safeguards to equipment and machines may lead to a false sense of safety if not applied correctly. This paper explores the requirements for the proper placement of safety guards and presence sensing devices.

SLC Bluetooth App demo

A demonstration of the SLC Assist App for the Safety Light Curtains with Bluetooth.

SLC Alignment 101 demo

Steve Lange explains several methods of aligning safety light curtains.

SLC445 Product Animations

Set-up, muting and multi-scan functions are shown of the SLC445 Safety Light Curtain.