IEC 61496-2:2020 specifies requirements for the design, construction and testing of electro-sensitive protective equipment (ESPE) designed specifically to detect persons as part of a safety-related system, employing active opto-electronic protective devices (AOPDs) for the sensing function. Special attention is directed to features which ensure that an appropriate safety-related performance is achieved. An ESPE may include optional safety-related functions, the requirements for which are given in Annex A of IEC 61946-1:2012 and of this part. This third edition cancels and replaces the second edition published in 2006. It constitutes a technical revision and includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:
- Requirements have been corrected and made easier to understand.
- Test procedures have been revised to make them easier to perform and to improve repeatability.
- Guidance is provided for the evaluation and verification of AOPDs using design techniques for which the test procedures of this part are not sufficient.

This publication is to be read in conjunction with IEC 61496-1:2012.