ISO 13850: What is it and why is it key to the safety of your machinery?

The standard ISO 13850:2015 set the requirements for the emergency stop function in industrial machinery. Its correct application is fundamental to protect operators, prevent material damage, and comply with legal safety requirements in industrial settings.

In this article, we address the most frequent questions about this standard and how to apply it correctly in your facilities.

What defines standard ISO 13850?

The ISO 13850 establishes the principles for designing and applying the Emergency stop function, ensuring that the machines can stop quickly and safely in a dangerous situation.

This standard:

Applies to fixed machinery and large industrial systems.
Is complementary to other regulations such as ISO 12100 (mechanical risks) or ISO 13849-1 (safety of control systems).
Does not apply to portable tools, self-contained mobile devices, or wireless controllers with no guaranteed range.

What kind of stop does the standard provide for?

The ISO 13850 covers two Stop categories (also defined in IEC 60204-1):

Category 0: Immediate shutdown by direct power cut. It is the safest method but can damage components if used in all situations.
Category 1: Controlled stop before power off, suitable for processes requiring programmed deceleration.

The type of stop must be selected based on the risk analysis and the functional design of the machine.

Emergency stop button requirements according to ISO 13850

One of the most consulted aspects is the Actuator design Emergency stop button. According to the standard:

It must be of type “punch”, arrow type.
Red colour, on a background Yellow
clearly visible.
It must protrude from the panel, be easy to locate and operate without prior training.
It should not carry text in symbols, barring regulatory exceptions.
It must maintain its position after activation until the Rearm manual.

How should an emergency stop device be installed?

The standard requires these devices to be located in areas easily accessible and within the operator's reach. In large installations, multiple devices must be placed according to the concept of “span of control”the “command area”.

The functional scope The function of each button must be clearly defined.
The operator must be able to stop the machine from any foreseeable risk position.

What are the requirements for the system's rearmament?

Once an emergency stop button has been activated, the system it must not restart automatically. A manual reset is mandatory, which can only be performed:

If the dangerous situation has been resolved.
If the reset does not of itself imply startup of the machine (only enables its subsequent reactivation).

Which other standards should ISO 13850 be integrated with?

ISO 13850 does not apply in isolation. It must work in conjunction with:

ISO 12100: Risk assessment in machine design.
ISO 13849-1 / IEC 62061 Safety of electrical and electronic control systems.
IEC 60204-1: General electrical requirements of machines.

To validate the reliability of the emergency stop function, the levels must be analysed. Required Performance Level o SIL (Safety Integrity Level), depending on the complexity of the system.

Are you sure your machines comply with the ISO 13850 standard?

A poorly designed emergency stop can be as dangerous as having none at all. Avoid risks, penalties, and accidents. At TICE, we help you to verify, adapt, and certify your equipment in accordance with current regulations.

What happens if your machinery does not comply with ISO 13850?

A machine without a compliant emergency stop system can:

Failing an external audit a technical inspection.
To be immobilised by the labour authority in case of an accident.
Generate Legal and economic risks for the user company.

At Grupo TICE, we carry out technical audits to verify the compliance of your machinery with ISO 13850 and other key regulations such as RD 1215/97 or ISO12100. Find out more on our pages: