IEC 61486-1:2020 specifies general requirements for the design, construction and testing of non-contact electro-sensitive protective equipment (ESPE) designed specifically to detect persons or part of a person as part of a safety-related system. Special attention is directed to functional and design requirements that ensure an appropriate safety-related performance is achieved. An ESPE can include optional safety-related functions, the requirements for which are given in Annex A. This document is intended to be used with a subsequent part of IEC 61496 that provides particular requirements based on the sensing technology. Where a part covering the sensing technology does not exist, IEC TS 62998-1 is used. Where the IEC 61496 series does not contain all necessary provisions, IEC TS 62998-1 is used. It is an additional possibility to combine those aspects covered by the IEC 61496 series in addition to IEC TS 62998-1. This document does not specify the dimensions or configuration of the detection zone and its disposition in relation to hazards in any particular application, nor what constitutes a hazardous state of any machine. It is restricted to the functioning of the ESPE and how it interfaces with the machine. While a data interface can be used to control optional safety-related ESPE functions (Annex A), this document does not provide specific requirements. Requirements for these safety-related functions can be determined by consulting other standards (for example, IEC 61508 (all parts), IEC TS 62046, IEC 62061, and ISO 13849-1). This document can be relevant to applications other than those for the protection of persons, for example for the protection of machinery or products from mechanical damage. In those applications, different requirements can be appropriate, for example when the materials that have to be recognized by the sensing function have different properties from those of persons. This document does not...