General FAQ

How much do Seen IRIS 860 sensors cost?

This is our most common question. Contact us directly and we’ll provide you with a straight-forward price list. Rest assured that we’ve deliberately priced IRIS 860 to ensure price is not a barrier. Our goal is to maximise the number of sensors being used by industry to achieve the maximum possible safety effect.

Do you ship to other countries?

Yes we do. We currently have representation in New Zealand, Australia and Brazil. Contact us for more details, including if you are interested in representing us in another part of the world.

Does the sensor detect the colour of the high vis vest?

No, Seen’s IRIS technology does not work on colour, it detects the retroreflective tape found on day/night high vis safety apparel and markers.

Can the sensor detect retroreflective tape on other objects too?

Yes. The sensor can detect any object tagged with retro-reflective tape. We recommend not over-tagging non-human assets to maximise the safety effect for your most valuable assets i.e. your people.

Do you sell direct or though distributors?

Both, depending on the requirement. We currently have resellers/distributors in New Zealand, Australia and Brazil. If you are interested in becoming a Seen reseller, please contact us.

Can we install them ourselves?

Yes, you can. Installation is straight forward and the installation requirements are similar to installing a blue-light. As with any electronics accessory, we do recommend you use whoever maintains and/or supplies your fleet of machines. Seen is a product manufacturer only and does not provide installation services. PDF Installation instructions.

Are vests still detectable even when they’re a bit old and worn?

Very likely, yes. The system has sufficient built-in redundancy to allow reliable detection even in sub-optimal conditions, such as when the vest is worn or dirty, or if the sensor windows are dusty or wet etc. However, always test or replace obviously worn, faded, or damaged Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). If the garment can still perform effectively as a class 2 or class 3 day/night high vis PPE then it will be detectable. Also see How much reflective tape is needed to enable detection?.

What affect does rain have on detection performance?

When glass-bead (silver/grey) retroreflective tape gets wet, it starts to lose its reflective performance which may reduce the effective detection range. High performance microprismatic (plastic) retroreflective tape does not lose its reflective performance when wet and is recommended if reliable detection is required in wet outdoor applications, especially at maximum range settings.

Is the laser safe to look at?

Yes, IRIS 860’s non-visible infrared laser is class 1 eyesafe. This means no special precautions or warnings are required.

The alarm tone is too loud, can the volume be reduced?

Yes it can. When mounted directly behind the driver’s head on a forklift, the alert tone can be uncomfortably (but not damagingly) loud. The alert volume can be reduced if needed. The standard alert volume is 94dB at 1m at 3500Hz.

How does the driver in the cab hear the alarm?

If the vehicle has an enclosed cab (like on a wheeled loader), a cab box is used to provide the audible alert to the driver. Each cab box can connect up to 4 Seen sensors mounted around the machine.

Do the sensors have to be mounted on a vehicle?

No, sensors can be mounted on any object. For example a sensor could be attached to a piece of infrastructure to monitor an exclusion zone.

Can the sensors be used outdoors?

Yes. The sensors are suitable for year-round outdoors operation and have an ingress rating of IP67. Detection is unaffected by direct sun glare or total darkness. Avoid use of high pressure water jets for cleaning.

Do I need a weather shield?

If the machine regularly works outside we recommend using a weather shield because it helps protect the sensor from UV, heat, and water over the long term. Although the sensor is waterproof (including the buzzer), water inside the buzzer may temporarily affect the sound output until it drains clear. Using the weather shield helps reduce the chance of water getting into the buzzer.

Can the detection cut-off distance be changed?

Yes. Seen supply sensors with a pre-set detection distance based on your requirements, but you can also purchase a USB-to-sensor connection cable which allows the sensor to be plugged into a laptop to change the config settings.

What should the detection distance be set to?

The detection cut-off distance should be set to whatever is most appropriate for the machine being used, and your current machine-pedestrian separation guidelines. For a forklift, 3-4 metres is typical, and for a wheeled loader 5m+ is common. The detection range can be set in 0.5m steps up to 8 metres maximum.

Are the sensors intended to only cover the area behind the reversing machine, or can they also go on the front or side too?

Seen sensors can be mounted anywhere on a machine. Because the highest risk area is often directly behind a reversing vehicle, this is the place most commonly targeted. The amount of detection coverage around a machine is a balancing act; too little, and the system won’t adequately reduce the risk. Too much detection will lead to frequent irrelevant warnings causing operator overload and fatigue. Seen sensors offer a precise detection zone to minimise irrelevant detections. To further minimise unwanted detections rear-facing sensors are often configured to only alert when the machine is reversing.

Technical FAQ

Will the sensor work in direct sunlight or in the dark?

Yes. Detection performance is the same no matter what the ambient lighting environment is, from direct sun glare on wet pavement to complete darkness.

How much reflective tape is needed to enable detection?

This is one of those ‘it depends’ type answers. Seen IRIS 860 sensors have been designed to reliably detect a person wearing a class 2 day/night high vis vest standing side on up to 8 metres away across the entire field-of-view. During production, sensors are tested to detect a 25cm long strip of 50mm (2”) wide 3M Scotchlite at 8 metres. Generally more than 25cm of reflective tape is visible to the sensor, which enables consistent, reliable, detection even in suboptimal conditions or if the vest is old. Additionally, as detection distance reduces, so does the amount of reflective material needed to enable detection.

Can multiple sensors work together without interfering with each other?

Yes, multiple sensors can work together without causing any interference issues.

Will it work in dusty environments?

Yes. The system is very tolerant of dusty environments and to dust/dirt build-up on the windows. Excessive contamination on the windows will eventually reduce the detection range so a pre-start check is recommended if this is anticipated. The system is self-checking and automatically warns the operator if the transmit window becomes overly contaminated. In very dusty environments the alert buzzer on the sensor may clog up and require a quick wash or wipe down to clean.

What does the M12 auxiliary port do?

The M12 auxiliary-out port carries the detection signal and also an 11V power feed. It can be used to power and/or trigger peripheral devices such as a video camera recorder, an external alarm, or a data logger.

What are the power supply requirements?

The sensor requires a 12-24V power supply and draws a maximum of 1.5W.
The reverse signal connection (if used) can be up to 100V.

What compliance standards is the IRIS 860 designed to meet?

IEC 61000-6-4 (EMC emissions)
IEC 61000-4-2 (EMC immunity)
IEC 60825-1:2014 (Laser eye safety)
IEC 61010-2-201:2017 (Electrical equipment safety)


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