IEC 61496-1:2012 specifies general requirements for the design, construction and testing of non-contact electro-sensitive protective equipment (ESPE) designed specifically to detect persons 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 may include optional safety-related functions, the requirements for which are given in Annex A. This third edition cancels and replaces the second edition published in 2004 and its amendment 1 (2007). The main changes with respect to the previous edition are as follows: The design, test and verification requirements have been updated to make them consistent with the latest standards for functional safety and EMC.