EN 12110:2014
(Main)Tunnelling machines - Air locks - Safety requirements
General Information
- Abstract
This European Standard applies to the design, construction, equipping, marking and testing of air locks as defined in 3.3 including pressure bulkheads as defined in 3.4, which are to be used in tunnelling work. An oxygen breathing system used to provide the breathing supply necessary to conduct a safe decompression is also covered by this standard.
This European Standard is not applicable to machinery and equipment which is manufactured before the date of publication of this document by CEN.
NOTE Air locks can be connected to tunnelling machinery. This standard can help the design of air locks and bulkheads in other compressed air work in construction.
This European Standard deals with all significant hazards, hazardous situations and events relevant to such machinery when they are used as intended and under conditions of misuse which are reasonably foreseeable by the manufacturer (see Clause 4).
This European Standard does not cover the supply of services to the air lock.
Vibration, noise and EMC (Electromagnetic compatibility) hazards are not significant hazards for air locks.
This European Standard does not cover the hazards due to the mobility of the machinery.
- Status
- Published
- Publication Date
- 20-May-2014
- Withdrawal Date
- 29-Nov-2014
- Technical Committee
- CEN/TC 151 - Construction equipment and building material machines - Safety
- Drafting Committee
- CEN/TC 151/WG 4 - Tunnelling machines - Safety
- Current Stage
- 6060 - Definitive text made available (DAV) - Publishing
- Start Date
- 21-May-2014
- Due Date
- 09-Jul-2013
- Completion Date
- 21-May-2014
- Directive
- Harmonized Standard2006/42/EC - Directive 2006/42/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 May 2006 on machinery, and amending Directive 95/16/EC (recast)OJ Ref: C, C 054, C 92 OJ Date: 13-Feb-2015
Overview - EN 12110:2014 (Tunnelling machines - Air locks - Safety requirements)
EN 12110:2014 is a European Standard (CEN) that specifies safety requirements for the design, construction, equipping, marking and testing of air locks and pressure bulkheads used in tunnelling work. It also covers oxygen breathing systems needed to provide the breathing supply for safe decompression. The standard addresses significant hazards that are reasonably foreseeable in use and misuse, and clarifies what is excluded (e.g., supply of services to the air lock, vibration/noise/EMC not being significant hazards, and mobile-machine hazards).
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope and types of locks: requirements for personnel locks, material locks, and combined locks, plus pressure bulkheads and associated piping.
- Pressure design: the structure design pressure is generally 1.1 × maximum working pressure; where bulkheads cannot be pressure-tested a design pressure of 2 × maximum working pressure is required. Calculations may use finite element methods.
- Pressure protection: each compartment must have a pressure relief valve (set at 1.1 × max working pressure) capable of passing full air supply, with provisions for quick-closing valves and sealing.
- Oxygen systems: requirements for oxygen-compatible materials, cleaning and assembly procedures, breathing units and distribution to support safe decompression.
- Safety systems: interlocks, controlled instrumentation, pressure indicators, gas sampling/oxygen monitoring, ventilation, fire protection, emergency lighting and emergency power supply, and procedures for safe maintenance and rescue.
- Ergonomics and access: specified access dimensions, seating and interior lighting (referencing EN 12464-1), observation/CCTV and emergency access arrangements.
- Verification & documentation: testing, marking, instruction handbook, signage and maintenance information to demonstrate compliance.
Applications - who uses EN 12110:2014
- Tunnelling machine manufacturers and designers specifying air locks or pressure bulkheads.
- Construction contractors and site safety engineers planning compressed-air tunnelling operations and decompression procedures.
- Equipment suppliers of breathing systems, pressure vessels and safety interlocks.
- Regulatory/compliance officers ensuring machinery meets EU Directive requirements referenced in the standard.
- Health & safety consultants developing rescue, ventilation and emergency-power strategies for pressurized work zones.
Practical benefits include reduced risk of uncontrolled decompression, standardized oxygen/decompression systems, clearer maintenance and testing regimes, and harmonized safety criteria across European tunnelling projects.
Related standards (selected)
- EN ISO 12100 - Risk assessment and risk reduction
- EN 250, EN 12021 - Respiratory equipment / breathing gases
- EN 60204-1 - Electrical equipment of machines
- EN 12464-1 - Lighting of workplaces
- EN ISO 13849-1 - Safety-related parts of control systems
Keywords: EN 12110:2014, tunnelling machines, air locks, pressure bulkheads, safety requirements, compressed air, oxygen breathing system, decompression, CEN.
Relations
- Effective Date
- 10-Oct-2009
- Effective Date
- 25-Aug-2026
- Effective Date
- 25-Aug-2026
- Effective Date
- 09-Feb-2026
- Effective Date
- 09-Feb-2026
- Effective Date
- 09-Feb-2026
- Effective Date
- 09-Feb-2026
- Effective Date
- 09-Feb-2026
- Effective Date
- 09-Feb-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
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Frequently Asked Questions
EN 12110:2014 is a standard published by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN). Its full title is "Tunnelling machines - Air locks - Safety requirements". This standard covers: This European Standard applies to the design, construction, equipping, marking and testing of air locks as defined in 3.3 including pressure bulkheads as defined in 3.4, which are to be used in tunnelling work. An oxygen breathing system used to provide the breathing supply necessary to conduct a safe decompression is also covered by this standard. This European Standard is not applicable to machinery and equipment which is manufactured before the date of publication of this document by CEN. NOTE Air locks can be connected to tunnelling machinery. This standard can help the design of air locks and bulkheads in other compressed air work in construction. This European Standard deals with all significant hazards, hazardous situations and events relevant to such machinery when they are used as intended and under conditions of misuse which are reasonably foreseeable by the manufacturer (see Clause 4). This European Standard does not cover the supply of services to the air lock. Vibration, noise and EMC (Electromagnetic compatibility) hazards are not significant hazards for air locks. This European Standard does not cover the hazards due to the mobility of the machinery.
This European Standard applies to the design, construction, equipping, marking and testing of air locks as defined in 3.3 including pressure bulkheads as defined in 3.4, which are to be used in tunnelling work. An oxygen breathing system used to provide the breathing supply necessary to conduct a safe decompression is also covered by this standard. This European Standard is not applicable to machinery and equipment which is manufactured before the date of publication of this document by CEN. NOTE Air locks can be connected to tunnelling machinery. This standard can help the design of air locks and bulkheads in other compressed air work in construction. This European Standard deals with all significant hazards, hazardous situations and events relevant to such machinery when they are used as intended and under conditions of misuse which are reasonably foreseeable by the manufacturer (see Clause 4). This European Standard does not cover the supply of services to the air lock. Vibration, noise and EMC (Electromagnetic compatibility) hazards are not significant hazards for air locks. This European Standard does not cover the hazards due to the mobility of the machinery.
EN 12110:2014 is classified under the following ICS (International Classification for Standards) categories: 91.220 - Construction equipment; 93.060 - Tunnel construction. The ICS classification helps identify the subject area and facilitates finding related standards.
EN 12110:2014 has the following relationships with other standards: It is inter standard links to EN 12110:2002+A1:2008, ISO 8598:1996, IEC 60364-7-706:2005, EN 61000-6-3:2007, EN 61310-1:2008, EN 60529:1991, EN 61000-6-1:2007, EN 61000-6-2:2005, EN 61000-6-4:2007, EN 12714:2000, EN ISO 13849-1:2008, EN ISO 3411:2007, EN 250:2014, EN ISO 14113:2013, EN ISO 5171:2010. Understanding these relationships helps ensure you are using the most current and applicable version of the standard.
EN 12110:2014 is associated with the following European legislation: EU Directives/Regulations: 2006/42/EC; Standardization Mandates: M/396. When a standard is cited in the Official Journal of the European Union, products manufactured in conformity with it benefit from a presumption of conformity with the essential requirements of the corresponding EU directive or regulation.
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