Tip over protective structures, TOPS
Tip-over protective structure (TOPS) are systems of structural members whose primary purpose is to reduce the possibility of an operator, held by a seat belt system, being crushed should a machine tip-over.
TOPS installed on demolition machine shall comply with the requirements stablished in the standard EN 13531:2003 (Earth-moving machinery – Tip-over protection structure (TOPS) for compact excavators – Laboratory tests and performance requirements).
How should they be identified and labelled?
All TOPS must have its correspondent label in accordance with the standard EN 13531:2003 (Earth-moving machinery – Tip-over protection structure (TOPS) for compact excavators – Laboratory
tests and performance requirements).
The label must be permanently attached to the TOPS, located on the place of the structure where it can be easily read and protected from the weather, and its contents must be legible.
The minimum information provided by such label should be the following:
- Name and address of the manufacturer or constructor of the TOPS
- TOPS identification number
- Machine make, model(s), or product identification number(s) the structure is designed to fit
- Maximum machine mass for which the TOPS structure meets all of the performance requirements of the standard EN 13531
- International standard number(s) for which the structure meets all of the performance requirements and the level being met (national regulations may be included)
- Other information that the manufacturer considers necessary
What tests, according to EN standards, should they passed?
According to the EN 13531:2003 (Earth-moving machinery – Tip-over protection structure (TOPS) for compact excavators – Laboratory tests and performance requirements), TOPS must be tested
for force resistance with the following tests with lateral loading tests.
Additionally to the loading tests, material and temperature tests may be needed to ensure the safety and effectivity of the TOPS. These tests are defined in the standard EN 13531.
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