This standard for conveyors and related equipment presents certain guides for the design, construction, installation, operation, and maintenance of conveyors and related equipment. The conveyors may be of the bulk material, package, or unit-handling types, where the installation is designed for permanent, temporary, or portable operation.

The ultimate goal of this Standard is to help protect public safety, while reflecting industry best-practices.

The first edition of the ASME Safety Standard for Conveyors, Cableways, and Related Equipment was approved by the American Standards Association (now known as the A.N.S.I.) as American Standard B20.1-1947. Since then it has been continuously updated to reflect technology advances.

B20.1 offers essential guidance for safety to both public and private sectors:

—For public sectors, it serves as the basis for state, municipal, and other jurisdictional authorities in drafting regulations governing the design, constructions, installation, maintenance, inspection and operation of conveyors and related equipment.
—For private sectors, B20.1 provides a standard reference of safety requirements for owners/users, manufacturers, installers, insurance companies, distributors, and designers.