ISO 13856-2:2012 establishes general principles and specifies requirements for the design and testing of pressure-sensitive edges and pressure-sensitive bars used as safeguards and not as actuating devices for normal operation.

ISO 13856-2:2012 is applicable to pressure-sensitive edges and pressure-sensitive bars, with or without an external reset facility, used to detect persons or body parts that can be exposed to hazards such as those caused by the moving parts of machines.

It is not applicable to determining the suitability of a pressure-sensitive edge or pressure-sensitive bar for a particular safeguarding application, selection of an appropriate performance level for safety-related parts of control systems (SRP/CSs) other than to give minimum values,dimensioning or configuring of the effective sensing area of pressure-sensitive edges or pressure-sensitive bars in relation to any particular application or to stopping devices according to IEC 60204-1 used only for normal operation, including emergency stopping of machinery.