Operation manual guardshield safe 4, Attention – Rockwell Tools GUARDSHIELD SAFE 4 User Manual
Page 9

Operation Manual
GuardShield Safe 4
This distance, referred to as the safety distance, must 
be properly calculated prior to determining the safety 
light curtain protective height and mounting the light 
curtains on the machine. Failure to properly calculate 
this safety distance may result in operator injury.
In the United States there are two formulas that are 
used to properly calculate the safety distance. The 
first, the OSHA formula, is the minimum requirement 
for the calculation of the safety distance. The 
second formula, the one recommended by Rockwell 
Automation, is the ANSI formula, which incorporates 
additional factors to be considered when calculating 
the safety distance.
OSHA Safety Distance Calculation Formula
The OSHA safety distance formula as specified in 
CFR Subpart O 1910.217 is as follows:
Ds = 63 X T
S
D
s
Safety Distance
63
Is the OSHA recommended hand speed 
constant in inches per second 
T
S
Is the total stop time of all devices in 
the safety circuit, measured in seconds. 
This value must include all components 
involved in stopping the hazardous motion 
of the machinery. For a mechanical power 
press it is the stopping time measured 
at approximately the 90
o
position of the
crankshaft rotation.
Note: The T
S
number must include the response
times of all devices, including the response 
time of the safety light curtain, the safety light 
curtain controller (if used), the machine’s 
control circuit and any other devices that react 
to stop the hazardous motion of the machinery. 
Not including the response time of a device or 
devices in the stop time calculation will result in 
insufficient safety distance for the application. 
This may result in operator injury.
The ANSI Safety Distance Formula
The ANSI safety distance formula, which is the 
Rockwell Automation recommended formula, is as 
follows:
D
S
= K x (T
S
+ T
C
+ T
r
+ T
bm
) + D
pf
D
s
Minimum safety distance between the safe 
guarding device and the nearest point of 
operation hazard, in inches.
9
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K
Hand speed constant in inches per second. 
The ANSI standard value is 63 inches per 
second when the operator begins reaching 
toward the point of operation hazard from rest. 
NOTE: ANSI B11.19 1990 E4.2.3.3.5 states 
“The value of the hand speed constant, K, 
has been determined by various studies and 
although these studies indicate speeds of 63 
inches/second to over 100 inches/second, 
they are not conclusive determinations. The 
employer should consider all factors, including 
the physical ability of the operator, when 
determining the value of K to be used.”
T
s
Stop time of the machine tool measured at the 
final control element.
T
c
Response time of the control system.
Note: T
S
and T
C
are usually measured by a stop time
measuring device.
T
r
Response time of the presence sensing device 
(safety light curtain) and its interface, if any. 
This value is generally stated by the device 
manufacturer or it can be measured by the 
user.
T
bm
Additional time allowed for the brake monitor to 
compensate for variations in normal stopping 
time.
D
pf
Depth penetration factor. It is an added 
distance to allow for how far into the protective 
field an object, such as a finger or hand, can 
travel before being detected. D
pf
is related
to the safety light curtain’s object sensitivity. 
Object sensitivity is the smallest diameter 
object which will always be detected anywhere 
in the sensing field.
5.1.3. Height of protective field
The protective field is clearly visible as the black 
area with the optical lenses on the transmitter and 
receiver.
In addition the height of the protective field A is found 
on the label of each system and in the selection tables, 
described in chapter 8.2 (resolution 14 and 30 mm).
ATTENTION
The laser beams of the ILAS are not 
part of the protective field.
Use only the protective field as 
mentioned on the product label. 
Otherwise serious injury or death may 
occur.
5.1.4. Response time – light curtain
The response time t
R
is found on the product label, or
from the selection tables 8.2.
