Glossary · Guards and machine motion
Guard integrity
In machine safety, guard integrity is the ability of a guard to retain its protective function under expected loads, impacts, wear and environmental conditions over the life of the machine.
- Machine safety
- Maintenance
In one sentence
Guard integrity means a guard still protects under impact, wear, vibration and aging; it must be designed in, verified and kept up by inspection.
Example
The polycarbonate vision panel of a milling machine enclosure is selected to withstand an ejected tool fragment and is replaced at the interval the manufacturer specifies because coolant degrades it.
How it applies
- Machine safety: A guard that deforms, cracks or loosens stops being a guard. Design must consider foreseeable loads: people leaning on it, parts or fragments thrown against it (ejection hazard), vibration, heat and chemicals such as coolants.
- Evidence: Integrity is shown by calculation, material data or impact testing, and recorded in the technical file together with the assumed loads.
- Maintenance: Materials age. Specify an inspection interval and replacement criteria, for example for vision panels exposed to cutting fluids or UV light.
- Technical documentation: The instructions should tell users which damage makes a guard unfit for use and that only approved spare parts may be fitted.
Guard integrity vs. tamper resistance
Guard integrity is about withstanding physical and environmental stress. Tamper resistance is about withstanding deliberate defeat or unauthorized adjustment.