BS EN 1612:2019

What is BS EN 1612 about? 

BS EN 1612 specifies the essential safety requirements applicable to the design and construction of reaction moulding machines and plants as defined in 3.1 and 3.2. 

BS EN 1612 deals with all significant hazards, hazardous situations or hazardous events during all phases of the machine life cycle (see EN ISO 12100:2010, 5.4), when reaction moulding machines and plants are used as intended and under conditions of misuse that are reasonably foreseeable by the manufacturer (see Annex A). 

Note1: Explosion hazards are not dealt with in BS EN 1612. 

Note2: Fire hazards are not dealt with in BS EN 1612. 

Note3: BS EN 1612 does not cover the requirements for the design of the exhaust systems. 

Note4: BS EN 1612 does not apply to reaction moulding machines and plants manufactured before the date of its publication. 

Note5: Reaction moulding machines and plants usually do not produce explosive atmospheres. Where materials are processed, which may cause an explosive atmosphere, the Directive 2014/34/EU on the Equipment intended for use in Potentially Explosive Atmospheres (ATEX) can be applied. 

Who is BS EN 1612 for? 

BS EN 1612 on plastics and rubber machines is relevant to: 

• Manufacturers of rubbers and wood adhesives  
• Health and safety bodies 
• Service providers  
• Any entity responsible for testing and safety of machinery  

Why should you use BS EN 1612? 

Plastic moulding machinery, also known as plastic primary processing machinery, is used to mould plastic semi-products and products, including compression moulding machines, injection moulding machines, extruders, blow moulding machines, calenders, and rotational moulding machines. 

BS EN 1612 provides methods and safety requirements for traction moulding machinery and plants. 

BS EN 1612 covers all significant hazards, hazardous situations or hazardous events occurring in all phases of the machine life cycle when the reaction moulding machines and plants are used as intended and under reasonably permissible misuse conditions. 

Overall, BS EN 1612 is a comprehensive guide to provide safety requirements for machinery mouldings, so users will gain a comprehensive understanding of the process and the end product will be safer, more durable and will decrease chances of any mechanical failure. 

What’s changed since the last update? 

BS EN 1612:2019 supersedes EN 1612‑1:1997+A1:2008, which is withdrawn and includes: 

• Clarification that reaction moulding machines and plants are dealt with 
• Revised type-A and type-B standards are taken into account 
• List of significant hazards moved into an informative annexe 
• The performance levels of safety-related parts of control systems are specified by EN ISO 13849‑1:2015 
• Technical specifications for moulding and transport equipment safeguarding are given 
• Technical specifications for positioning of the emergency stop devices are given 
• The annexe for noise measurement and declaration has been revised