ISO 13850-2015 PDF

Full title and description

Safety of machinery — Emergency stop function — Principles for design. ISO 13850:2015 defines functional requirements and design principles for emergency stop (E‑stop) functions on machinery, independent of the energy source used, and specifies human‑action, performance and marking considerations intended to ensure rapid stopping without introducing additional hazards.

Abstract

ISO 13850:2015 sets out the principles for the emergency stop function: when it is required, how it should be actuated (single human action), how it should behave (stop hazardous functions as quickly as possible without creating further hazards), requirements for reset, measures to prevent unintended actuation, and the limits of the standard (it does not cover certain protective functions such as braking, reversal, or electrical implementation details, the latter being addressed in IEC 60204‑1).

General information

• Status: Published (current edition; under regular systematic review).
• Publication date: November 2015.
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
• ICS / categories: 13.110 — Safety of machinery.
• Edition / version: Edition 3 (ISO 13850:2015).
• Number of pages: 11 (ISO published document; national/adopted EN/BSI translations sometimes have additional pages for national forewords).

Scope

The standard applies to machines for which an emergency stop would reduce the risk; it does not apply to hand‑held or hand‑guided machines or to machines where an emergency stop would not lessen the risk. ISO 13850 addresses only the emergency stop function itself (activation, behaviour, reset, prevention of unintended actuation and marking), and excludes detailed realization of electrical/electronic implementations (see IEC 60204‑1 and other control‑system standards for those aspects).

Key topics and requirements

• Definition and purpose of the emergency stop function: intended to avert or reduce an existing or arising hazard by rapid intervention.
• Activation: E‑stop must be initiated by a single human action (pushbutton, pull‑cord, bar, handle, foot control where appropriate).
• Behavior: stop hazardous functions as quickly as possible without introducing additional hazards; machine shall not restart automatically after activation (require manual reset/clear before restart).
• Prevention of unintended actuation: design and placement must minimise accidental operation while ensuring readiness and accessibility.
• Location and accessibility: emergency stop devices where initiation of an emergency stop can reasonably be required and readily accessible to potential users.
• Identification and marking: use of standard colour coding and marking conventions (e.g., RED actuator with YELLOW background for emergency operation devices as referenced in related electrical/control guidance).
• Limits: does not deal with functions such as reversal/limitation of motion, deflection of emissions, shielding, braking or disconnecting beyond the emergency stop function itself; electrical realization guidance is in IEC 60204‑1 and functional safety aspects are addressed in related ISO/IEC standards.

Typical use and users

Primary users are machine designers and manufacturers, control‑system integrators, safety engineers, conformity assessment bodies, testing laboratories, inspectors and maintenance personnel. The standard is used during design, risk assessment, validation and documentation phases to ensure emergency stop devices and functions meet consistent safety principles across machinery types.

Related standards

Commonly referenced standards include IEC 60204‑1 (safety of machinery — electrical equipment of machines — general requirements) for electrical implementation and colour/marking guidance, ISO 12100 (risk assessment and risk reduction), ISO 13849 (safety‑related parts of control systems), and regional/adopted EN versions (EN ISO 13850) used for compliance with the European Machinery Directive.

Keywords

Emergency stop; E‑stop; Emergency stop function; Machine safety; Actuator; Reset; Prevention of unintended actuation; ISO 13850; IEC 60204‑1; Emergency stop device.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO 13850:2015 is an International Standard that defines principles and functional requirements for emergency stop functions on machinery (how E‑stops should be designed, placed, identified and operated).

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers functional requirements for the emergency stop function (activation by a single human action, stopping behaviour, reset, prevention of unintended actuation, accessibility and marking). It does not cover some related safety functions (braking, reversal, disconnecting) or the detailed electrical implementation, which is addressed in IEC 60204‑1.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Machine OEMs, safety/control engineers, integrators, conformity assessors, testing labs, and national standards/adoption committees use ISO 13850 when designing, validating or certifying emergency stop provisions on machinery.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The current edition is ISO 13850:2015 (Edition 3), published November 2015; it supersedes earlier editions (e.g., 2006) and is maintained under ISO’s periodic review process. National/adopted EN versions exist for use in Europe.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — it is part of the family of ISO standards addressing machinery safety (the ISO 138xx series and related standards such as ISO 12100, ISO 13849, plus IEC standards like IEC 60204‑1 for electrical aspects).

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Emergency stop, E‑stop, machine safety, actuator, single action, manual reset, prevention of unintended actuation, ISO 13850, IEC 60204‑1.