ISO/TC 23/SC 17 - Manually portable (hand-held) powered lawn and garden equipment and forest machinery

This document specifies safety requirements and measures for verification for the design, construction, transporting and commissioning of portable, combustion-engine, hand-held chain-saws. The chain-saws are intended to be used for forest work by only one operator, with the right hand on the rear handle and left hand on the front handle. Dismantling and scrapping of the product is not covered by this document. Methods for the elimination or reduction of hazards arising from the use of these machines and the type of information on safe working practices to be provided by the manufacturer are specified. This document deals with all significant hazards, hazardous situations and hazardous events, with the exception of kickback and balance for machines with an engine displacement of more than 80 cm3, relevant to these machines when they are used as intended and under conditions of misuse which are reasonably foreseeable by the manufacturer (see Annex A). This document is applicable to chain-saws manufactured after its date of publication.

This document specifies safety requirements and measures for verification for the design, construction, transporting and commissioning for tree service of portable, combustion-engine, hand-held chain-saws having a maximum mass of 4,3 kg (without the guide bar and saw-chain and with tanks empty). The chain-saws are intended to be used, with the right hand on the rear handle and left hand on the front handle, by a trained operator. Dismantling and scrapping of the product is not covered by this document. Methods for the elimination or reduction of hazards arising from the use of these machines and the type of information on safe working practices to be provided by the manufacturer are specified. This document deals with all significant hazards, hazardous situations and hazardous events relevant to these machines when they are used as intended and under conditions of misuse which are reasonably foreseeable by the manufacturer (see Annex B). This document is applicable to chain-saws manufactured after its date of publication. NOTE Figure 1 shows an example of a chain-saw within the scope of this document.

This document gives safety requirements and measures for their verification for the design and construction of portable hand-held, powered brush-cutters and grass-trimmers (hereafter called machines) having an integral combustion engine as their power unit and mechanical power transmission between the power source and the cutting attachment. Methods for the elimination or reduction of hazards arising from the use of these machines and the type of information on safe working practices to be provided by the manufacturer are specified. This document deals with all significant hazards, hazardous situations and hazardous events relevant to these machines, as well as when they are used as intended and under conditions of misuse which are reasonably foreseeable by the manufacturer. This document is not applicable to machines equipped with metallic cutting attachments consisting of more than one piece, such as pivoting chains or flail blades. NOTE See Annex C for a list of significant hazards. This document is applicable to portable, hand-held, powered brush-cutters and grass-trimmers manufactured after its date of publication.

This document specifies safety requirements, and measures for their verification, for the design and construction of portable, hand-held, powered brush-cutters and grass-trimmers with a backpack-mounted combustion engine power source and mechanical power transmission between the power source and the cutting attachment (hereafter referred to as “machine”). Methods for the elimination or reduction of hazards arising from the use of these machines and the type of information on safe working practices to be provided by the manufacturer are specified. This document, taken together with the relevant clauses of ISO 11806-1:2021 (see 4.1), deals with all significant hazards, hazardous situations and hazardous events, with the exception of whole-body vibration from the backpack power unit, relevant to these machines when they are used as intended and under conditions of misuse which are reasonably foreseeable by the manufacturer. NOTE 1 A standardized test procedure for measuring whole-body vibration from the backpack power unit is not available at the time of publication. NOTE 2 See Annex A, together with ISO 11806-1:2021, Annex A, for a list of significant hazards. This document is applicable to portable, hand-held, powered brush-cutters and grass-trimmers manufactured after its date of publication. This document is not applicable to machines equipped with metallic cutting attachments consisting of more than one piece, such as pivoting chains or flail blades.

This document specifies a vibration test code for determining, efficiently and under standardized conditions, the magnitude of vibration at the handles of portable hand-held, internal-combustion-engine-powered forest and garden machinery, including chain-saws, brush-cutters, grass-trimmers, edgers, pole-mounted powered pruners, hedge-trimmers and garden-blowers. Although the magnitudes measured are obtained in an artificial operation, they nevertheless give an indication of the values to be found in a real work situation. Vibration test codes, as described in this document, enable the manufacturer to verify the effort regarding low vibration design.

This document specifies safety requirements and measures for their verification for the design and construction of portable, hand-held, pole-mounted powered pruners with a backpack power unit (hereafter referred to as “machine”). These machines use a power transmission shaft to transmit power to a cutting attachment consisting of a combination of saw-chain and guide bar, a reciprocating saw blade or a single-piece circular saw blade with a 205 mm maximum outside diameter. Methods for the elimination or reduction of hazards arising from the use of these machines and the type of information on safe working practices to be provided by the manufacturer are specified. This document, together with the relevant sections of ISO 11680-1:2021, deals with all significant hazards, hazardous situations or hazardous events, with the exception of electric shock from contact with overhead electric lines (apart from warnings and advices for inclusion in the instructions) and whole-body vibration from the backpack power unit, relevant to these machines when they are used as intended and under conditions of misuse which are reasonably foreseeable by the manufacturer. NOTE 1 A standardized test procedure for measuring whole-body vibration from the backpack power unit is not available at the date of publication. NOTE 2 See Annex A for a list of significant hazards. This document is applicable to portable, hand-held, pole-mounted powered pruners with backpack power unit manufactured after its date of publication.

This document specifies safety requirements and measures for their verification for the design and construction of portable, hand-held, pole-mounted powered pruners (hereafter named “machine”), including extendable and telescopic machines, having an integral combustion engine as their power source. These machines use a power transmission shaft to transmit power to a cutting attachment consisting of a saw-chain and guide bar, a reciprocating saw blade or a single-piece circular saw blade with a 205 mm maximum outside diameter. Methods for the elimination or reduction of hazards arising from the use of these machines and the type of information on safe working practices to be provided by the manufacturer are specified. This document deals with all significant hazards, hazardous situations or hazardous events with the exception of electric shock from contact with overhead electric lines (apart from warnings and advice for inclusion in the instructions), relevant to these machines when they are used as intended and under conditions of misuse which are reasonably foreseeable by the manufacturer (see Annex A). This document is applicable to portable, hand-held, pole-mounted powered pruners manufactured after its date of publication. Brush cutters with a circular saw blade are not included in the scope of this document. NOTE Brush cutter requirements are outlined in ISO 11806-1:2021.

This document specifies a method for testing the performance and fuel consumption of internal combustion engines used to power portable brush-cutters and grass trimmers.

This document specifies a method for testing the performance and fuel consumption of internal combustion engines used to power portable chain-saws.

This document specifies a test method and strength requirements for the handles of portable hand-held chain-saws for use primarily in forestry and tree-service.

This document specifies a noise test code for determining, efficiently and under standardized conditions, the common noise emission characteristics of portable, hand-held, combustion engine powered forest and garden machines, and specific requirements for chain-saws, brush-cutters, grass-trimmers, edgers, pole-mounted powered pruners, hedge-trimmers and garden blowers/vacuums/knapsack mist blowers. Noise emission characteristics include the A-weighted emission sound pressure level at the operator position and the A-weighted sound power level. Noise test codes as described in this document enable the manufacturer to verify the effort regarding low noise design.

This document specifies the dimensions and clearances for front hand-guards and their openings on portable hand-held chain-saws. These dimensions and clearances ensure the necessary safety provided by the hand-guard, which serves as both a shield between the operator's hand and the saw-chain and as an actuator for manually operated chain brakes. For chain-saws with wrap around handles (see Figure 1), this document is not applicable to the portion of the front handle to the right (when viewed from the rear) of the top brace.

This document specifies the mechanical strength and dimension requirements, and the corresponding test method for the chain catcher of chain-saws.

This document specifies safety requirements and measures for the verification of the design and construction of hand-held, integrally-driven combustion engine hedge trimmers (hereafter referred to as "hedge trimmers") designed to be used by a single operator for trimming hedges and bushes while utilizing one or more linear reciprocating cutter blades. This document is also applicable to "split-boom" type hedge trimmers and to multi-purpose machines when configured as a hedge trimmer. It establishes methods for the elimination or reduction of hazards arising from the use of the hedge trimmers. In addition, it specifies the type of information to be provided by the manufacturer on safe working practices. This document deals with all significant hazards, hazardous situations and events relevant to powered hand-held hedge trimmers when they are used as intended and under the conditions of misuse that are reasonably foreseeable by the manufacturer (see Clause 4). This document is not applicable to hedge trimmers with an engine displacement over 80 cm3, nor is it applicable to hedge trimmers manufactured before the date of its publication.

This document defines terms relating to portable hand-held brush-cutters and grass-trimmers, their cutting attachments and power sources. The brush-cutter position is shown in Annex A.

This document specifies the methodology for determining the kickback potential of gasoline-powered and electric-powered (including battery powered) chain-saws, complete with guide bar and saw-chain. This document has been demonstrated to be an accurate method of measurement for evaluating computed kickback angles and energy associated with chain-saw kickback for electric-powered chain-saws (including battery powered) and gasoline-powered chain-saws with engine capacity up to 80 cm3. It is not intended to evaluate chain-saws with an engine capacity of above 80 cm3. Furthermore, because of physical size limitations of the kickback machine, it is not intended for testing of units with guide bar cutting length in excess of 63 cm. Modifications to the methodology for determining the kickback potential introduced in this edition are aimed to have a better reproducibility of the results; test results obtained according to the previous methodology still maintain their validity.

ISO 13772:2018 specifies a method for checking the functioning and performance of the non-manually actuated chain brake on an electric or gasoline engine powered, portable hand-held chain-saw.

ISO 6531:2017 defines terms relating to the mechanical aspects of portable chain-saws, saw-chain and guide bars. The chain-saw positions are shown in Annex A.

ISO 6535:2015 specifies methods for measuring the braking time and release force of manually operated chain brakes on portable hand-held chain-saws.

ISO/TS 19858:2015 defines test procedures for classifying the lubrication ability of saw chain lubrication oils when using guide bar and saw chain. These test procedures create a reproducible replication of the stress conditions experienced by the saw chain and guide bar during sawing. The test shows the capacity of the lubricant for reducing the wear between friction partners. This enables the manufacturers of chain saws to include specifications for recommended saw chain lubrication oils in the owner's manual. The test rig is based on a design produced by the Swedish test commission Svensk Maskinprovning (SMP). The test procedures also take into account the long-term practical experience of the Kuratorium für Waldarbeit und Forsttechnik e.V (KWF) in testing bio-degradable chain lubrication oils.

ISO 17314:2008 specifies a method for calculating the recyclability rate and the recoverability rate of manually portable forest machinery, with each rate being expressed as a percentage by mass (mass fraction in percent) of the machine. The calculation can be performed by the machine manufacturer when a machine is initially put on the market. It does not include fluids.

ISO 6534:2007 specifies the mechanical strength requirements relating to the front and rear hand-guards of portable hand-held combustion engine chain-saws for use primarily in forestry. It also gives the corresponding test methods.

ISO 8334:2007 specifies a test method for the longitudinal and the lateral balance of portable combustion engine hand-held chain-saws. It also provides a test method for determining the maximum holding moment of tree service chain-saws.

ISO 7914 specifies the minimum clearances and related dimensions for the front and rear handles of portable, hand-held chain-saws with combustion engines.

This International Standard specifies mechanical safety requirements and test methods applicable to walk-behind powered edgers that employ rigid cutting means with a blade tip circle not more than 305 mm in diameter, and where the plane of the blade tip circle is designed to operate at not more than 15° from the vertical. This International Standard applies to hand-held portable and powered edgers employing a rigid cutting element with a blade tip circle not more than 305 mm in diameter. This International Standard also includes test methods for noise and vibration. This International Standard does not cover edgers with cutting means of non-metallic filament line or freely pivoting non-metallic cutters. This International Standard does not cover accessories or attachments that alter the function of the machine. The electrical aspects of electrically powered edgers are not covered by this International Standard. For the electrical requirements applicable to electrically driven machines, reference should be made to IEC 60335-1. NOTE — For motion control requirements related to self-propelled machines, reference should be made to ISO 5395.

Specifies minimum dimensions for cutting attachment guards of portable hand-held brush cutters and grass-trimmers with internal combustion engines, for use primarily in forestry. Does not apply for lawn-trimmers.

Specifies a test method and the corresponding strength requirements of portable hand-held combustion engine brush-cutters, for use primarily in forestry, and grass-trimmers, to test their safety in practical use. This ensures safety for the operator being protected from thrown objects and unintentional contacts with the cutting attachment. Required dimensions are given in ISO 7918. Does not apply to cutting attachment guards for lawn-trimmers, which are dealt with in ISO 10518.

Establishes requirements and test methods. The requirements include: maximum temperatures for exhaust gases and exhaust system surfaces, maximum opening size for screen-type spark arresters, restriction on debris accumulation, durability and serviceability requirements. The test methods include: uniform procedures for measuring exhaust gas and exhaust system surface temperatures and a procedure to evaluate opening size for screen-type spark arresters.

ISO 7112:2017 defines terms relating to portable hand-held brush-cutters and grass-trimmers, their cutting attachments and power sources. The brush-cutter position is shown in Annex A.

This International Standard specifies the dimensions and clearances for front hand-guards and their openings on portable hand-held chain-saws. These dimensions and clearances ensure the necessary safety provided by the hand-guard, which serves as both a shield between the operator's hand and the saw chain and as an actuator for manually operated chain brakes. For chain-saws with wrap around handles, this International Standard is not applicable to the portion of the front handle to the right (when viewed from the rear) of the top brace.

ISO 22867:2011 specifies a vibration test code for determining, efficiently and under standardized conditions, the magnitude of vibration at the handles of portable hand-held, internal-combustion-engine-powered forest and garden machinery including chain-saws (with the exception of high-handled chain-saws), brush-cutters, grass-trimmers, pole-mounted powered pruners, hedge-trimmers and garden-blowers.

ISO 11806-2:2011 gives safety requirements and measures for their verification for the design and construction of portable, hand-held, powered brush-cutters and grass-trimmers with a back-pack-mounted combustion engine power source and mechanical power transmission between the power source and the cutting attachment. Methods for the elimination or reduction of hazards arising from the use of these machines and the type of information on safe working practices to be provided by the manufacturer are specified. ISO 11806-2:2011 is not applicable to lawn-edge trimmers or to brush-cutters equipped with metallic blades consisting of more than one part, e.g. pivoting chain. ISO 11806-2:2011, taken together with the relevant clauses of ISO 11806-1, deals with all significant hazards, hazardous situations and hazardous events, with the exception of whole-body vibration from the back-pack power unit, relevant to these machines when they are used as intended and under conditions of misuse which are reasonably foreseeable by the manufacturer.

ISO 11806-1:2011 gives safety requirements and measures for their verification for the design and construction of portable hand-held, powered brush-cutters and grass-trimmers (hereafter called machines) having an integral combustion engine as their power unit and mechanical power transmission between the power source and the cutting attachment. Methods for the elimination or reduction of hazards arising from the use of these machines and the type of information on safe working practices to be provided by the manufacturer are specified. ISO 11806-1:2011 deals with all significant hazards, hazardous situations and hazardous events relevant to these machines, as well as when they are used as intended and under conditions of misuse which are reasonably foreseeable by the manufacturer. ISO 11806-1:2011 is not applicable to machines equipped with metallic cutting attachments consisting of more than one piece, e.g. pivoting chains or flail blades. ISO 11806-1:2011 is applicable to portable, hand-held, powered brush-cutters and grass-trimmers manufactured after its date of publication.

ISO 11681-1:2011 gives safety requirements and measures for their verification for the design and construction of portable, combustion-engine, hand-held chain-saws, intended to be used for forest work by only one operator, by persons with the right hand on the rear handle and left hand on the front handle having read and understood the safety requirements provided in the instruction handbook and using the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). Methods for the elimination or reduction of hazards arising from the use of these machines and the type of information on safe working practices to be provided by the manufacturer are specified. ISO 11681-1:2011 deals with all significant hazards, hazardous situations and hazardous events, with the exception of kickback and balance for machines with an engine displacement of more than 80 cm3, relevant to these machines when they are used as intended and under conditions of misuse which are reasonably foreseeable by the manufacturer.

ISO 11681-2:2011 gives safety requirements and measures for their verification for the design and construction for tree service of portable, combustion-engine, hand-held chain-saws having a maximum mass, without guide bar or saw chain and with tanks empty, of 4,3 kg, intended to be used, with the right hand on the rear handle and left hand on the front handle, by a trained operator for pruning and dismantling standing tree crowns, and by persons having read and understood the safety requirements provided in the instruction handbook, using the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). Methods for the elimination or reduction of hazards arising from the use of these machines and the type of information on safe working practices to be provided by the manufacturer are specified. ISO 11681-2:2011 deals with all significant hazards, hazardous situations and hazardous events relevant to these machines when they are used as intended and under conditions of misuse which are reasonably foreseeable by the manufacturer.

ISO 11680-2:2011 gives safety requirements and measures for their verification for the design and construction of portable, hand-held, pole-mounted powered pruners with a back-pack power unit and using a drive shaft to transmit power to a cutting attachment consisting of a saw chain or reciprocating or circular saw blade. Methods for the elimination or reduction of hazards arising from the use of these machines and the type of information on safe working practices to be provided by the manufacturer are specified. ISO 11680-2:2011, together with the relevant sections of ISO 11680-1, deals with all significant hazards, hazardous situations or hazardous events with the exception of electric shock from contact with overhead electric lines (apart from warnings and advice for inclusion in the instruction handbook) and whole-body vibration from the back-pack power unit, relevant to these machines when they are used as intended and under conditions of misuse which are reasonably foreseeable by the manufacturer.

ISO 11680-1:2011 gives safety requirements and measures for their verification for the design and construction of portable, hand-held, pole-mounted powered pruners having an integral combustion engine as their power unit and using a drive shaft to transmit power to a cutting attachment consisting of a saw chain or a reciprocating or circular saw blade with a 205 mm maximum outside diameter. Methods for the elimination or reduction of hazards arising from the use of these machines and the type of information on safe working practices to be provided by the manufacturer are specified. ISO 11680-1:2011 deals with all significant hazards, hazardous situations or hazardous events with the exception of electric shock from contact with overhead electric lines (apart from warnings and advice for inclusion in the instruction handbook), relevant to these machines when they are used as intended and under conditions of misuse which are reasonably foreseeable by the manufacturer.

ISO 22868:2011 specifies a noise test code for determining, efficiently and under standardized conditions, the noise emission characteristics of portable, hand‑held, combustion‑engine‑powered forestry and garden machines, including chain-saws, brush-cutters, grass-trimmers, pole-mounted powered pruners, hedge-trimmers and garden blowers/vacuums. Noise emission characteristics include the A‑weighted emission sound pressure level at the operator position and the A‑weighted sound power level.

ISO 13772:2009 specifies a method for checking the functioning and performance of the non‑manually actuated chain brake on a portable hand-held chain-saw used for forest or tree service.

ISO 6535:2008 specifies methods for measuring the braking time and release force of manually operated chain brakes on portable handheld chain-saws.

ISO 11681-2:2006 specifies safety requirements and their verification for the design and construction of portable combustion-engine, hand-held chain-saws for tree service, having a maximum mass, without guide bar or saw chain and with tanks empty, equal to 4,3 kg, and designed for use by a trained operator for pruning and dismantling standing tree crowns. It gives methods for the elimination or reduction of hazards arising from the use of the chain-saws. In addition, it specifies the type of information on safe working practices to be provided by the manufacturer. It deals with all significant hazards. The environmental aspects, except for noise, have not been considered. The chain-saws covered are designed to be operated with the right hand on the rear handle and the left hand on the front handle by persons having read and understood the safety requirements in the instruction handbook and using the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). ISO 11681-2:2006 is not applicable to chain-saws manufactured before its date of publication.

ISO 22868:2005 specifies a noise test code for determining, efficiently and under standardized conditions, the noise emission characteristics of portable, hand-held, combustion-engine-powered forest machines such as chain-saws, brush cutters and grass trimmers. Noise emission characteristics include the A-weighted emission sound pressure level at the operator position and the A-weighted sound power level. The code is applicable for manufacturers' product controls as well as type tests. It is intended that the results obtained will be able to be used to compare different machines or different models of the same type of machine. Although the noise emission values determined are obtained in an artificial operation, they are representative of noise emission in a real work situation.

ISO/TR 22520:2005 provides comparative data, obtained from various manufacturers and other official sources, for the year 2002, on the A-weighted emission sound pressure levels of portable hand-held forestry machinery. It is applicable to chain saws (for which the existing emission sound pressure levels were for the full range of engine sizes) and to grass-trimmers and brush-cutters. International Standards ISO 11681-1, ISO 11681-2 and ISO 11806 require that these machines be designed to generate noise levels as low as practicable, based on the existing noise emission data, and ISO/TR 22520 is intended to assist in determining compliance with that requirement.

ISO/TR 22521:2005 provides comparative data, obtained from various manufacturers and other official sources, for the year 2002, on the vibration emission values at the handles of portable hand-held forestry machinery. It is applicable to chain saws, brush-cutters and grass-trimmers in the full range of engine sizes. International Standards ISO 11681-1, ISO 11681-2 and ISO 11806 require that these machines be designed, based on the state of the art and existing vibration emission data, to generate vibration values as low as practicable, and ISO/TR 22521 is intended to assist in determining compliance with that requirement.