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Machinery Safety Standards List: Type A, B and C

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.

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Standard	Type	Subject	Typical use in a machine project
ISO 12100	A	General principles, risk assessment and risk reduction	Framework for the risk assessment and design process
ISO 13849-1	B	Safety related parts of control systems, general design	Determine and verify performance levels
ISO 13849-2	B	Validation of safety related control systems	Fault lists, test plans and validation records
IEC 62061	B	Functional safety of safety related control systems	SIL based alternative to ISO 13849-1
ISO 13850	B	Emergency stop function, design principles	Emergency stop devices and function design
ISO 13857	B	Safety distances to prevent reaching danger zones	Fence height and opening size calculations
ISO 13855	B	Positioning of safeguards with respect to approach speeds	Minimum distance for light curtains and two hand controls
ISO 14119	B	Interlocking devices associated with guards	Selecting and mounting guard interlock switches
ISO 14120	B	General requirements for guards	Fixed and movable guard design
IEC 61496	B	Electro-sensitive protective equipment (light curtains, scanners)	Selecting ESPE parts
ISO 4413	B	Hydraulic fluid power, safety requirements	Hydraulic circuit and component safety
ISO 4414	B	Pneumatic fluid power, safety requirements	Pneumatic circuit and component safety
IEC 60204-1	B	Electrical equipment of machines, general requirements	Cabinet, wiring, control device and earthing design
ISO 11161	C	Integrated manufacturing systems	Safety for multiple machines working together
ISO 10218-1	C	Industrial robots, safety requirements for robots	Robot manufacturer requirements
ISO 10218-2	C	Industrial robots, robot systems and integration	Robot cell integration and layout
ISO/TS 15066	Technical specification	Collaborative robots	Force and pressure limits for collaborative operation
ISO 16092 series	C	Machine tools safety, including presses	Press safety requirements
ISO 23125	C	Machine tools, turning machines safety	Lathes and turning centres
ISO 11202	B	Noise emission sound pressure level at workstations	Measuring emission sound pressure

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.

Technical file data in your ERP

Optional: a review of how machine records, BOMs and standards references could be linked.

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How to use this list

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.

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

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

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

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a type C standard?

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?

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?

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?

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.

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.

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