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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ZAG inspection body for construction products, structures, and materials.
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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, IEC 60364-7-706:2005, ISO 8598:1996, EN 61000-6-4:2007, EN 60529:1991, EN 61000-6-1:2007, EN 61000-6-3:2007, EN 61000-6-2:2005, EN 61310-1:2008, EN ISO 12100:2010, EN ISO 3411:2007, EN 12714:2000, EN 2286:1989, EN 250:2014, EN 12021:2014. 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.
EN 12110:2014 is available in PDF format for immediate download after purchase. The document can be added to your cart and obtained through the secure checkout process. Digital delivery ensures instant access to the complete standard document.
Standards Content (Sample)
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.Tunnelbaumaschinen - Druckluftschleusen - Sicherheitstechnische AnforderungenMachines pour la construction de tunnels - Sas de transfert - Prescriptions de sécuritéTunnelling machines - Air locks - Safety requirements93.060Gradnja predorovTunnel construction91.220Gradbena opremaConstruction equipmentICS:Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z:EN 12110:2014SIST EN 12110:2014en,fr01-november-2014SIST EN 12110:2014SLOVENSKI
STANDARDSIST EN 12110:2003+A1:20081DGRPHãþD
EUROPEAN STANDARD NORME EUROPÉENNE EUROPÄISCHE NORM
EN 12110
May 2014 ICS 91.220; 93.060 Supersedes EN 12110:2002+A1:2008English Version
Tunnelling machines - Air locks - Safety requirements
Machines pour la construction de tunnels - Sas de transfert - Prescriptions de sécurité
Tunnelbaumaschinen - Druckluftschleusen - Sicherheitstechnische Anforderungen This European Standard was approved by CEN on 6 March 2014.
CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre has the same status as the official versions.
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre:
Avenue Marnix 17,
B-1000 Brussels © 2014 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CEN national Members. Ref. No. EN 12110:2014 ESIST EN 12110:2014
Relationship between this European Standard and the Essential Requirements of EU Directive 2006/42/EC . 25 Bibliography . 26
b) revision of fire protection requirements;
c) revision of the access dimensions on air locks;
d) new structure of requirements for electrical equipment and the emergency provisions for power supply and lighting;
e) revision of requirements for oxygen supply. This document has been prepared under a mandate given to CEN by the European Commission and the European Free Trade Association, and supports essential requirements of EU Directive. For relationship with EU Directive, see informative Annex ZA which is an integral part of this document. According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom. SIST EN 12110:2014
4.4.2 Fire or explosion hazards especially under increased pressure Water spray system Emergency relief valve Oxygen compatible materials 5.2.4 5.3.9.2 5.3.9.2 SIST EN 12110:2014
4.4.3 Use of oxygen Cleaning of oxygen system Gas sampling lines Distribution network Suitable breathing units 5.2.11 5.3.6.3 5.3.9.3 5.3.9.4 4.5 Hazards generated by neglecting ergonomic principles in machine design (mismatch of machinery with human characteristics and abilities): 4.5.1 Unhealthy postures or excessive efforts Dimensions 5.3.2 5.3.3 4.5.2 Inadequate consideration of human anatomy Dimensions 5.3.2 5.3.4 4.5.3 Inadequate local lighting Interior Illumination acc. to EN 12464–1 5.3.6.4 4.5.4 Unhealthy insufficient dimensions and upholstery of the seats Dimensions and Insulation 5.3.3 4.6 Hazards caused by failure of energy supply, breaking down of machinery parts and other functional disorders: 4.6.1 Failure of energy supply (of energy and/or control circuits) Emergency Power Supply Emergency lighting 5.2.7 5.2.7 4.6.2 Errors of fitting Leak test of pressure systems 5.2.11 5.3.9.2 5.3.9.3 4.6.3 Uncontrolled decompression of working chamber or lock Protection against inlet line breaks Doors: Self-sealing/Interlock Pressure indicator 5.3.5, 5.3.8 5.2.10 5.3.6.3 4.6.4 Loss of communication Emergency Power Supply Second communication network Observation windows/CCTV 5.2.7 5.2.9 5.3.6.3 4.7 Hazards caused by (temporarily) missing and/or incorrectly positioned safety related measures/means: 4.7.1 All kinds of safety related (protection) devices Description in instruction handbook 7.3 4.7.2 Safety signs Location and meaning acc. to instruction handbook. 7.2 4.7.3 All kinds of information or warning devices Control equipment and instrumentation Oxygen storage and network Description in instruction handbook 5.3.6.2 5.3.9.3
7.2 4.7.4 Means of access for emergency personnel into the confined pressurized parts of the machine Number of compartments (entrance chamber) Dimensions Doors 5.3.1 5.3.2 5.3.4, 5.3.5 4.7.5 Emergency devices, Number of compartments 5.3.1 SIST EN 12110:2014
Main chamber Entrance chamber Minimum cross sectional dimensions (in any plane) If circular, 1,6 m
(see Figure 1) If not circular, see below If circular, 1,6 m (see Figure 1) If not circular, see below Length: see below 1,0 m Number of persons: 3 2 Volume per person: 1,0 m3 1,0 m3 If not circular a cross section with a minimum headroom of 1,5 m measured from the floor of the air lock (see
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