# Machinery Safety Standards List: Type A, B and C

> Source: https://netray.co/tools/machinery-safety-standards-type-a-b-c-reference
> Publisher: Netray (netray.co), AI and integration engineering for ERP and manufacturing systems.
> Section: Free Tools

## Short answer

Quick lookup of the core machine safety standards, what each covers and where it fits in the A, B, C hierarchy.

## Category

compliance-legal

## Industry

Industrial Machinery

## Audience

- Machine designer
- Safety engineer
- Compliance manager

## Tool

**Kind:** worksheet

**Mode:** reference

**Columns:**

#### Standard

**Key:** std

**Type:** text

#### Type

**Key:** type

**Type:** text

#### Subject

**Key:** subject

**Type:** text

#### Typical use in a machine project

**Key:** use

**Type:** text

**Rows:**

**Std:** ISO 12100

**Type:** A

**Subject:** General principles, risk assessment and risk reduction

**Use:** Framework for the risk assessment and design process

**Std:** ISO 13849-1

**Type:** B

**Subject:** Safety related parts of control systems, general design

**Use:** Determine and verify performance levels

**Std:** ISO 13849-2

**Type:** B

**Subject:** Validation of safety related control systems

**Use:** Fault lists, test plans and validation records

**Std:** IEC 62061

**Type:** B

**Subject:** Functional safety of safety related control systems

**Use:** SIL based alternative to ISO 13849-1

**Std:** ISO 13850

**Type:** B

**Subject:** Emergency stop function, design principles

**Use:** Emergency stop devices and function design

**Std:** ISO 13857

**Type:** B

**Subject:** Safety distances to prevent reaching danger zones

**Use:** Fence height and opening size calculations

**Std:** ISO 13855

**Type:** B

**Subject:** Positioning of safeguards with respect to approach speeds

**Use:** Minimum distance for light curtains and two hand controls

**Std:** ISO 14119

**Type:** B

**Subject:** Interlocking devices associated with guards

**Use:** Selecting and mounting guard interlock switches

**Std:** ISO 14120

**Type:** B

**Subject:** General requirements for guards

**Use:** Fixed and movable guard design

**Std:** IEC 61496

**Type:** B

**Subject:** Electro-sensitive protective equipment (light curtains, scanners)

**Use:** Selecting ESPE parts

**Std:** ISO 4413

**Type:** B

**Subject:** Hydraulic fluid power, safety requirements

**Use:** Hydraulic circuit and component safety

**Std:** ISO 4414

**Type:** B

**Subject:** Pneumatic fluid power, safety requirements

**Use:** Pneumatic circuit and component safety

**Std:** IEC 60204-1

**Type:** B

**Subject:** Electrical equipment of machines, general requirements

**Use:** Cabinet, wiring, control device and earthing design

**Std:** ISO 11161

**Type:** C

**Subject:** Integrated manufacturing systems

**Use:** Safety for multiple machines working together

**Std:** ISO 10218-1

**Type:** C

**Subject:** Industrial robots, safety requirements for robots

**Use:** Robot manufacturer requirements

**Std:** ISO 10218-2

**Type:** C

**Subject:** Industrial robots, robot systems and integration

**Use:** Robot cell integration and layout

**Std:** ISO/TS 15066

**Type:** Technical specification

**Subject:** Collaborative robots

**Use:** Force and pressure limits for collaborative operation

**Std:** ISO 16092 series

**Type:** C

**Subject:** Machine tools safety, including presses

**Use:** Press safety requirements

**Std:** ISO 23125

**Type:** C

**Subject:** Machine tools, turning machines safety

**Use:** Lathes and turning centres

**Std:** ISO 11202

**Type:** B

**Subject:** Noise emission sound pressure level at workstations

**Use:** Measuring emission sound pressure

**Notes:** Type A standards give basic concepts, type B give a safety aspect or safeguard across many machines, type C give requirements for one machine family and take precedence where they apply. Edition numbers and harmonisation status change, so check the current Official Journal list and the standard edition before using a row in a technical file. Some listed subjects are summaries.

## Content

**Intro:** Machinery safety standards are grouped by type. Type A covers general principles, type B covers a safety aspect or safeguard, and type C covers a specific machine family. This list helps you find the right standard for the right job when building a technical file.

**Sections:**

#### How to use this list

**Body:** Start with the type C standard for your machine, if one exists. Where it is silent, fall back to the relevant type B standards, and use ISO 12100 for the risk assessment method. Record the exact edition and clause you applied in the technical file. Use the search box to filter by subject, such as interlock or light curtain.

**Bullets:**

- Type C first, then type B, then type A
- Record edition, year and amendments
- Note any clauses you deviate from and why
- Check harmonisation status for presumption of conformity

#### Why the A, B, C hierarchy matters

**Body:** Where a type C standard deals with a hazard differently from a type B or A standard, the type C requirement takes precedence if the machine is covered by it. This is why press brakes, robots and machine tools each have their own rules. For custom machines with no type C standard, your risk assessment carries more weight and your type B choices must be justified.

#### Worked example

**Body:** A custom assembly cell with a guarded robot, a light curtain on a pass through and a pneumatic gripper would cite ISO 12100 for risk assessment, ISO 10218-2 for the robot cell, ISO 13849-1 for the control functions, ISO 13855 for the light curtain position, ISO 14119 for the door interlock, ISO 4414 for pneumatics and IEC 60204-1 for the cabinet.

#### Common mistakes

**Body:** Citing a standard in the declaration of conformity that you did not actually apply is a frequent audit finding. Another is using withdrawn editions. Also remember that a standard covers only its scope: ISO 13857 gives reach distances but does not tell you which hazards need guarding. That comes from the risk assessment.

**Cta:** If your engineering team keeps technical file data in shared drives, we can help connect machine serial numbers, bills of materials and applied standards in your ERP and PLM.

**Faq:**

#### What is a type C standard?

**Answer:** A type C standard gives detailed safety requirements for a particular machine or machine group, such as robots or machining centres. If your machine falls within its scope, its requirements take precedence over type A and B provisions.

#### Do I have to use harmonised standards?

**Answer:** No, they are voluntary. Using a harmonised standard gives a presumption of conformity with the relevant health and safety requirements. You can use other methods but then must demonstrate equivalent protection yourself.

#### Is ISO 12100 a checklist?

**Answer:** No. It defines the iterative process: determine limits, identify hazards, estimate and evaluate risk, then reduce risk with design, safeguarding and information for use. The output is documentation, not a pass or fail form.

#### Where do I find the official list?

**Answer:** In the EU, the Commission publishes harmonised standards references in the Official Journal. National standards bodies and CEN sell the documents. This table is a navigation aid only.

## Search terms

machinery safety standards list, type a b c standards, iso 12100 vs iso 13849, iso 13857 safety distances, iso 14119 interlock standard, iec 60204-1 electrical equipment of machines, harmonised standards machinery, ce marking machine standards

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