Glossary Updates12 new terms added to the glossaries · October 2, 2026, 22:44 CEST
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Glossary · Safety standards

ISO 13850

Also known as: ISO 13850:2015, EN ISO 13850

ISO 13850 is the international standard specifying functional requirements and design principles for the emergency stop function of machinery, independent of the type of energy used. It covers the function, not the electrical implementation, which is addressed by IEC 60204-1.

  • Standards
  • Technical documentation

In one sentence

ISO 13850 sets the design principles for the emergency stop function of machines, independent of energy type; IEC 60204-1 covers the electrics.

Example

On a long conveyor system, emergency stop devices are placed at every operator station and along the conveyor so that each can be reached quickly, with red actuators on a yellow background that latch when pressed.

How it applies

  • Machine safety: The emergency stop is a complementary protective measure. It must not substitute for safeguarding or other safety functions and is intended for use by any person in an emergency.
  • Design principles: The function overrides all other functions and operations, stops the hazard in an appropriate way (stop category 0 or 1), is latched in the actuator, and resetting it does not restart the machine.
  • Devices: Actuators are red, with a yellow background where practicable, clearly identifiable and positioned for quick access at operator stations and other locations identified in the risk assessment.
  • Technical documentation: The manual describes the location of emergency stop devices, their effect and the reset procedure, and user information should specify periodic function tests.

Emergency stop vs. emergency switching off

ISO 13850 covers the emergency stop, which stops hazardous movement. Emergency switching off, covered by IEC 60204-1, disconnects electrical supply to prevent electrical risks. The terms are not interchangeable, and actuators must not be labeled or described in a way that confuses them; see emergency switching off.

By knowledge.aitechdoc.world · Published September 25, 2026 · Last reviewed

Source: ISO 13850:2015, Safety of machinery — Emergency stop function — Principles for design

Definitions follow the cited standards and specifications. Where a source is a copyrighted publication, such as an ISO, IEC or EN standard, the definition is a close paraphrase, not a verbatim quotation, so as not to infringe copyright. We recommend reading the original publication. The sections “How it applies” are editorial commentary by AI TechDoc Blog and are not part of any standard.

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