PICO-GUARD offers a simpler way to guard doors, openings and dangerous areas, compared with mechanical safety interlock switches. Because PICO-GUARD uses only optical elements, it eliminates electrical contacts and other failure-prone mechanical components, including actuators that have alignment issues. PICO-GUARD fiber optic safety interlock switches are also several times smaller and several times lighter than mechanical switches.

Installation is incredibly simple; switches install instantly with cut-to-length plastic fiber optic cable and snap-lock connectors. Multiple optical elements can be connected in series on a single optical channel, providing the ability to monitor several dangerous points with a single channel. Additional guarding points can easily be added at any time by inserting optical elements into an existing optical channel.

Fiber optic safety interlock switches are available to solve numerous applications. They allow easy installation and proper operation on a variety of doors and other safety interlocking applications. Various plug-in, snap-lock models are available including in-line, right-angle and dual lens versions. With the dual lens model, the passive opposed actuator is used for lift-off doors and other removable guards. They are made of rugged impact resistant polycarbonate with an environmental rating of IP65 and NEMA 4/13.

PICO-GUARD is the industry’s first system designed to meet Safety Category 4, per ISO 13849 (EN 954-1)* and IEC 61496-1 Type 4 requirements, using a single switch point for each door. This is possible due to its patent pending, diverse-redundant, self-checking controller specifically designed to be used with plastic fiber optic cable. In addition, the hardware and firmware of the controller has been extensively tested via Banner’s rigorous Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) techniques to assure that no single component failure will cause the system to fail into a dangerous condition.

Banner offers three types of fiber optic cables, all with 1 mm solid core plastic fiber.

•  Standard 2.2 mm polyethylene jacketed. 

•  2.2 mm fluoropolymer sheath over polyethylene jacket to withstand harsh chemicals. 

•  5 mm PVC sheath over polyethylene jacket to withstand some mechanical abrasion or harsh duty. 

5.3 mm stainless steel sheathing or 6.2 mm black PVC sheathing is available for use over existing polyethylene jacketed fiber to withstand rigorous mechanical abrasion.