ISO 10472-6:1997

Overview - ISO 10472-6:1997 (Ironing and fusing presses)

ISO 10472-6:1997 is the part of the ISO 10472 series that sets out safety requirements for industrial ironing and fusing presses used in laundries, dry‑cleaning and garment finishing. It complements the common requirements in ISO 10472-1 and guides designers and manufacturers on hazard identification, risk reduction and state‑of‑the‑art protective measures for machines such as scissor presses, cabinet presses, drawer presses, rotary (carousel) and multiple‑buck presses.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope and machine types: scissor, cabinet, drawer, rotary and multiple‑buck presses; excludes ancillary equipment (steam boilers, ducting, etc.).
• Hazard identification: mechanical (crushing, shearing, impact, falling heads), electrical, thermal (hot surfaces, steam, radiated heat), noise, fumes from fusing, ergonomics (posture, lighting) and energy/control failures.
• Protective measures:
  • Guards and trip devices: scissor press heads must have trip frames (examples include minimum lead 60 mm, max horizontal clearance 75 mm) that reverse movement on contact.
  • Reduced force / hold‑to‑run: fabric‑covered heads may require lowering with reduced force (≤ 300 N) using hold‑to‑run controls; full pressure only after safe clearance (< 6 mm) and then by two‑hand control (EN 574).
  • Pressure‑sensitive mats/floors: e.g., at least 500 mm wide along buck travel (EN 1760‑1).
  • Emergency stop and release: emergency stop (category 1, ISO 13850) and means to rapidly release trapped persons, including manual opening or hydraulic/pneumatic training systems.
  • Control guards and interlocks: where applicable, use interlocking guards and compliant control systems (ISO 14119, ISO/TR 12100‑2).
• Verification and information: requirements for verification of safety measures and for operator information - instruction handbooks and warning signs.

Applications - who uses this standard

• Machine designers and manufacturers of industrial laundry and garment finishing equipment to design compliant presses.
• Safety engineers and compliance officers assessing machine risk and specifying guards, controls and verification procedures.
• Maintenance teams and trainers who implement safe release procedures and operator instructions.
• Laundry, dry‑cleaning and garment production managers selecting or validating equipment safety.

Related standards

Normative references in ISO 10472-6 include:

• ISO 10472-1, ISO/TR 12100-1 / -2, ISO 13850, ISO 13852, ISO 14119 (where published)
• EN 574, EN 1760-1, EN 953, EN 1050, EN 60204-1, EN 626-1

Practical takeaway: follow ISO 10472-6 together with ISO 10472‑1 and referenced safety standards to reduce crushing, thermal and ergonomic risks on industrial ironing and fusing presses and to document safe use, controls and maintenance.