EN-547: Facilitating body passage in industrial tanks
All Boyer manholes comply with the EN 547 standard, which determines the dimensions required for openings designed to allow the whole body to pass through an industrial machine or tank.
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For the inspection, maintenance or cleaning of your industrial machines or equipment (bridge, sewer, tank, reservoir, boiler, ...), it's essential for you to have a space that allows a man to pass through. A manhole, or passage opening, must allow movement of a person's whole body and the possibility of carrying out work operations.
At Boyer, all the manholes offered comply with EN 547, the standard used to determine the dimensions required for openings designed to allow the whole body to pass through an industrial machine or tank.
Mastering the application of standard EN 547-1
The EN 547-1 standard was adopted on November 15, 1996 by the CEN (European Committee for Standardization). It specifies the dimensions of manholes intended for the passage of the whole body as applied to machines following the definition of EN 292-1.
This European standard follows on from EN 614-1 "Safety of machinery - Ergonomic design principles" by describing recommendations linked to the application of manhole design principles. Different official versions of the standard are available: in English, German and French.
Of course, the dimensions of manhole openings described in EN 547 are mandatory minimum dimensions. It is therefore possible to observe on the market passage openings of larger dimensions offering you great safety and working comfort. Boyer manholes are designed to allow rapid egress in the event of danger.
Boyer manholes are designed to allow rapid egress in the event of danger.
Criteria to be respected for maximum safety
European standard 547 has been prepared for fixed machines, and additional measures can be specified for mobile machines. Manhole dimensions are based on the 95th and 99th percentile values of the relevant user population.
Standard 547-1 specifies the manhole dimensions required for different body positions. Various criteria are taken into account to enable safe passage and work, namely:
- A person's ease of passage depending on the type of clothing, whether or not maintenance and repair tools are carried, whether specific safety or protective equipment is worn. But also the movements required in order to carry out the task, the frequency and duration of the task, the length of the passage, the extent of the available space and the position of body-assist supports (handles, footrests, etc.).
- Environmental working conditions (darkness, heat, noise, humidity, etc.).
- The level of risk involved in performing the task.
Different types of secured manholes
The manholes, or passage openings, presented in this European standard 547-1 can allow:
- A horizontal forward movement in the standing position
- A horizontal lateral movement in a standing position for short distances
- A vertical movement in a duct using a ladder to go up and down
- Entering a machine or appliance from a kneeling position
- Making necessary rapid movements