Spillard News

Optronics Camera System meets ISO13766 Earlier this year Spillard Safety Systems submitted our flat-screen colour camera system – part number OPT5600 – to the respected and internationally recognised Mira testing facility in an attempt to obtain certification for the ISO13766 (Earthmoving Machinery – EMC1999)

• Radiated Immunity
  (How the system works when subjected to electrical interference such as that generated by electronic components)  

   

• Radiated Emissions
  (How the system prevents electrical interference emanating from it which may affect other electronic components)  

   

• Electrostatic Discharge
  (How the system works after being hit by a large static-electricity voltage)  

   

• Transient Immunity
  (How the system deals with massive voltages such as lightning strikes (either between clouds or to ground) from a kilometre, or more, away or the electrical switching of large inductive loads (such as motors, transformers and electrical drives)

The reason for Spillards attempting to obtain the ISO level is due to the safety aspect of today’s modern construction equipment. As construction machinery becomes more advanced the reliance on electronic systems becomes greater. Electronic braking systems, engine management computers, built-in diagnostic and testing equipment, and remote engine monitoring equipment are fast becoming standard fitment to machinery. However, the more electronic equipment that is fitted the greater the possibility of electro-magnetic emissions (or interference) from one system having a detrimental effect on another becomes a real possibility. Similarly, the possibility of an electronic system being affected by outside influences, such as power generating equipment and cables that may be located in the area that the machinery is working on, or even the usage of mobile phones – seemingly standard equipment on the modern building site – becomes higher.

EMC testing is a way of ensuring that any emissions generated by an electronic system are contained by that system in such a way as to have no effect on other electronic components. Similarly, the testing ensures that in turn the components being tested are not in any way affected by those outside influences that occur in everyday life.

Put simply, it is no use having a rear view camera system on your machine on which the image on the monitor disappears every time the site Foreman puts the kettle on in the rest room!

Many of the camera systems available to the construction industry today are based on equipment originally designed to be used in the leisure market – for example, on motor- homes. Whilst there may be an element of EMC protection built into these systems they are designed to meet much lower requirements and standards. As such, fitting these systems to a 40 tonne dump truck may see that vehicle fail the higher ISO13766 standard.

Some of our larger customers have begun to realise the implications that failing to meet the higher criteria designed for safety equipment may have and actively encouraged Spillard to put our camera system through the testing procedure. After all, the manufacturers spend hundreds of thousands of pounds ensuring their vehicles are meeting all the relevant requirements and are safe to use in all environments, both for the operators and the people around them; fitting a camera system that does not would seem to be a retrograde step. In the least, it would almost certainly prevent their equipment being sold in certain markets; at worst the camera system could fail at a critical time and result in the injury or death of a person on site.

Spillard submitted the camera system for testing back in February 2006. First reports were encouraging; we know how good our system is but even we were surprised how close the system came to passing the tests in its original configuration. However, fail it did and so Spillard utilised the expertise at Mira to find out how we could improve the system.

Mira analysed the areas where the system had failed to meet the specified requirements and suggested a small modification that could be made. This was done and the revised system was resubmitted for testing. This time, and to everyone’s delight, the system passed ISO13766 (Earthmoving Machinery – EMC1999).

The costs for obtaining the certification have been high, certainly in the five-figure category. Indeed, it may be the expense of the testing procedure that has stopped other well-known camera system companies from obtaining the required certification. However, Spillard Safety Systems feel that this is money well spent. The certification proves that our equipment is helping to ensure the safety of people working in and around the equipment to which our camera systems are fitted. It also makes our camera system relatively unique in the safety market; it is believed that we are currently the only company in the United Kingdom offering a reversing-camera system that has the ISO13766 certification for less than eight hundred pounds. Who says safety has to be expensive?

We are not resting on our laurels, though. Spillard Safety Systems are – in association with Mira – continuing to pursue even higher levels of certification for their camera system. As the old adage says, “Watch this Space”!