Dimensions of access openings to industrial machines

An access port is an opening that allows the passage of a body part into an industrial vessel or machine. It allows a person to bend forward, reach out or engage the upper body, head, arm or leg for the purpose of performing certain operations during work procedures such as handling service components, repairs or process monitoring.

The access ports made by the Boyer team meet the EN 547-2 standard and are suitable for your industrial tanks whatever your sector of activity.

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Access ports by body part

In order to develop practical and secure access ports, a minimum dimension must be respected according to the body part targeted, to which additional spaces are added. The additional spaces must be added, if necessary, to the anthropometric measurements of European standard EN 547-3.

The anthropometric measurements are indicated in the standard according to the symbols h (height of the whole body or part of the body), a (width of the trunk or part of the body), b (thickness of the body or part of the body), c (length of a part of the body), d (diameter of a part of the body) and t (functional reach or extension of a part of the body).

• Arm access holes

In order to create an access port for the upper body (one arm, two arms or the forearm), various measurements need to be taken. The diameter of the orifice must take into account, according to EN 547, the width of the person elbow to elbow, the width and depth of the opening allowing the arms to function.

Additional spaces can be added for clearance to enter the tank (50 mm), allowing fluidity of movement regardless of the size of work and safety clothing (100 mm), generally bulky on the individual.

• Access holes for head and shoulders

Head and shoulder access manholes in an industrial tank must allow safe analysis of the tank contents. To achieve this, dimensions are taken such as the length of the nose or the posterior pole of the skull.

The additional spaces proposed are provided by the Boyer design office to allow free movement of the head (50 mm), the wearing of a safety helmet, goggles, respirators or other personal protective equipment (100 mm). Also, the additional space provided on Boyer access ports offers great safety to the individual by avoiding contact with the port due to the presence of chemicals, dirt or grease (100 mm).

• Hand access ports

For the creation of manholes allowing access to a fist, a hand up to the wrist, or a flat hand and thumb, the following dimensions are studied: diameter of the fist, length and width of the hand at thumb level, reach of the forearm inside the bowl, length and proximal width of the index finger, thickness of the hand.

Additional spaces are to be added if necessary to allow free movements in the tank or industrial machine (20 mm) as well as the use of protective equipment for the hand (20 mm).