In perimeter safeguarding, devices such as the SICK M4000 Multiple-Beam Perimeter Safety Guard are used to detect workers entering a specific area. Once through the perimeter, a person is no longer detected, but the machine will not restart when the safeguard is cleared. Manual resets are almost always used with perimeter safeguards. The reset button is placed well outside the area safeguarded and is used after all workers have exited the area within the perimeter safeguard. After reset, the manual restart of the machine can be initiated.

Perimeter safeguards are appropriate for applications where machines work without operator intervention. For machines where operator intervention is vital (e.g., replacing or moving parts), a light curtain might be a more appropriate safeguard. (See note below about using a light curtain as a perimeter safeguard.)

Perimeter safeguarding uses lower resolution sensing, which can detect torsos as opposed to hands, fingers or arms. Given this, the Safety Distance (Dpf) increases. The optics of perimeter safeguards is specially designed for longer distances. As a general rule, perimeter safeguards are cost-effective. Some of the special features of perimeter safeguarding include multiside and entry/exit safeguarding.

While some applications require safeguarding only at the point-of-operation or around the perimeter of a hazardous workspace, often an application calls for a solution that can safeguard all points within the perimeter. SICK Safety Systems can easily safeguard these irregularly shaped areas.

The safety industry has designed new products for area safeguarding. SICK’s line of laser scanners provides flexible configuration. With SICK S300 or S3000 laser scanners, the user is able to define multiple safeguarding zones of any shape, as well as safety level.

The laser scanner can also be placed out of the way of work being done. The scanner can be positioned so that it will not be damaged or exposed to harm from corrosive substances, dropped parts and machinery. Common elements of industrial environments are not a danger to your device. With other forms of area safeguarding, replacement costs could be incurred quickly and repetitively.