Overview
IEC 62745:2017 - Safety of machinery: Requirements for cableless control systems of machinery specifies functional and interfacing requirements for cableless control systems (CCS) that provide communication between operator control station(s) and a machine control system. It covers systems using wireless media (for example, radio, infra‑red) and includes specific provisions for operator control stations that are portable. IEC 62745 focuses on safety‑related functionality and verification; it does not prescribe communication protocols, frequency/bandwidth, or detailed constructional requirements (EMC, ingress protection, etc.). It is a Type‑B2 standard referenced alongside machine electrical and functional‑safety standards.
Key Topics and Requirements
- Scope and terminology: Defines CCS elements (remote station, base station, operator control station) and key terms such as active/passive stop, manual stop, and safety‑related stop function.
- Functional safety requirements: Specifies how CCS must behave to reduce risk, including:
- Prevention of inadvertent actuation, unauthorized operation and unintended commands
- Serial data transfer integrity and error detection concepts
- Establishment, indication and loss of communication (removal of remote station transmission, cessation of transmission)
- Behaviour on loss of supply, reset and latching control functions
- Multiple remote and base station scenarios, suspension and configurability protections
- Stop function classification: Differentiates stop types (e.g., emergency stop (EMS), general safe stop (GSS), automatic stop (ATS)) and specifies logic/verification expectations for safety‑related stop outputs.
- Verification, labelling and documentation: Requires functional verifications, markings, user information and documentation to support safe integration and use.
Practical Applications and Users
IEC 62745 is intended for organizations implementing or assessing wireless operator controls on machinery, including:
- Machine builders and OEMs integrating wireless operator stations (portable transmitters)
- System integrators and control engineers designing machine control interfaces
- Safety engineers and assessors performing risk assessments and specifying safety integrity for CCS
- Compliance and certification bodies reviewing machine safety for standards conformance
Typical applications include industrial machinery, material handling equipment, robotic cells, cranes and any machinery where an operator uses a wireless control station.
Practical advice: select a CCS whose functional capabilities and safety integrity match the machine risk assessment, and apply IEC 62745 in addition to electrical and functional‑safety standards when specifying or validating wireless controls.
Related Standards
Keywords: IEC 62745, cableless control systems, wireless operator controls, machine safety, safety‑related stop functions, remote station, base station.