Safety matrix minimum requirements

The spacing recommendations for process layout have been presented in literature as matrixes and lists of the typical minimum distances between different process items (Industrial Risk Insurers (1991) Bausbacher and Hunt (1993) Prugh (1982)). A suitable distance to another process item depends mostly on the safety properties of the process items. The clearance required for maintenance and access determine usually shorter spacings compared to safety clearances. In some references access and maintenance clearances are given separately. Therefore it can be assumed that the average of the recommended equipment spacings is mostly related to the general unsafety of a specific process item. 

The concept of structural materials made of renewable resources shows the enormous potential of this new class of materials. In this research project together with the Schuberth Helme GmbH company (subsidised by the Ministry of Food, Agriculture, and Forestry of Lower Saxony), the goal is to develop an industrial safety helmet made of a minimum of 85% of renewable resources. An appropriate fibre/matrix system based on the concept of the biocomposite materials was developed which fulfils the DIN EN 397 German Industrial Standard requirements for industrial safety helmets. While working on this pure material basis, a manufacturing process with appropriate productivity and quality had to be made available for the helmet bowls in view of a series production later on. 

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