What is BS EN 620 about?
BS EN 620 deals with the technical requirements for stationary belt conveyors and systems, designed for continuously conveying loose bulk materials. The covered phases of the life cycle are design, setting, operation, maintenance, and cleaning.
Note 1: Directive 2014/34/EC concerning equipment and protective systems intended for operation in potentially explosive atmospheres can be applicable to the type of machine or equipment covered by BS EN 620.
Note 2: This document does not cover:
- Use in coal mining and open cast lignite mining
- Use for man-riding
- Floating, dredging and ship-mounted structures supporting the conveyor
- Biological and chemical hazards resulting from handling foodstuffs or pharmaceuticals
- The design of the supporting structure which is not part of a conveyor the effects of wind
- Hazards resulting from handling specific hazardous materials, (e.g. explosives, radiating material)
- Hazards resulting from contact with or inhalation of harmful fluids, gases, mists, fumes, or dust
- Biological and micro-biological (viral or bacterial) hazards
- Hazards caused by the use of ionizing radiation sources
- Conveyors fitted with a moving belt with other than a continuous rubber or polymeric surface for the conveying medium
- Hazards associated with the integration of belt conveyors with other machinery
Note 3: The safety requirements of this document apply to equipment and systems placed on the market after the date of publication of this document
Who is BS EN 620?
BS EN 620 on handling equipment and systems is applicable to:
- Machinery manufacturers
- Machine operators
- Machine servicemen
- End consumers
- Health and safety bodies, e.g. regulators, accident prevention organizations, market surveillance
- Service providers, e.g. for maintenance
Why should you use BS EN 620?
To maintain reliability, the principal belt conveyor components – such as idlers, rollers, pulleys, bearings, shafts and belts – must operate under dynamic loads and harsh conditions. Therefore, if poorly designed or manufactured, they can fail frequently. If all these components are correctly designed and selected, they can experience trouble-free operation for many years.
BS EN 620 help ensure that the hazards associated with this machinery have been sufficiently mitigated, thus improving your risk and business continuity management.
BS EN 620 provides guidance on effective machinery maintenance that can optimize overall operational efficiency and reduce waste.
Use of BS EN 620 can help mitigate and reduce the risks of hazardous situations.
By adopting BS EN 620, manufacturers can demonstrate the reliability of their fixed belt conveyors and build trust in their use for the operators.
BS EN 620:2021 contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goal 9 on industry, innovation, and infrastructure and Goal 12 on ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns.
What’s changed since the last update?
BS EN 620:2021 supersedes BS EN 620:2002+A1:2010, which is withdrawn.
The main changes with respect to EN 620:2002+A1:2010 are as follows:
- List of significant hazards updated and removed
- Overall safety requirements were updated
- New requirements relating to noise reduction
- De-harmonization to EMC regulation