ISO 16092-4:2019

Overview - ISO 16092-4:2019 (Machine tools safety - Presses - Safety for pneumatic presses)

ISO 16092-4:2019 is a Type C international standard that specifies technical safety requirements for pneumatic presses intended to work cold metal or material partly of cold metal. Used together with ISO 16092-1, it addresses all significant hazards during the machine lifetime (as defined in ISO 12100) including reasonably foreseeable misuse. The standard is aimed at designers, manufacturers and suppliers of pneumatic presses and informs risk reduction, safeguarding, control and verification measures.

Key technical topics and requirements

• Scope and hazard coverage: Lists significant hazards relevant to pneumatic presses and requires design to follow ISO 12100 risk-assessment principles.
• Pneumatic / hydraulic systems: Requirements for pneumatic systems and guidance where a pneumatic press uses a hydraulic intensifier (follow ISO 4413).
• Mechanical hazards in the tools area: Defines major danger zones and required safeguarding measures, plus provisions for trapped-person release and prevention of slips/trips.
• Prevention of gravity fall:
  • For maintenance: presses with opening stroke > 500 mm and table depth > 800 mm must have an integrated mechanical restraint device (visible or with position indication).
  • For production (down-stroking presses): automatic restraint devices are mandatory - options include mechanical restraint, pneumatic restraint valves or a combination. Examples: return springs, clamping devices, or two pneumatic restraint valves (one fitted close to the cylinder outlet).
• Control and monitoring system:
  • Two‑hand control requirements for small-stroke/low-force presses (stroke ≤ 30 mm, force ≤ 1 000 N) - positioning and response-time-based minimum distances are set using the standard’s formula and the factor 3 to account for device type; two‑hand devices shall meet ISO 13851 Type IIIB.
  • Muting: start point for muting during closing must be set using position and pressure (or equivalent) signals.
  • Power interlocking: guard interlocks may be used and must be positively linked to valves to directly control fluid flow (see Annex C).
• Verification and documentation: Includes verification of safety measures, marking, warnings and instruction handbook requirements.

Practical applications - who uses ISO 16092-4:2019

• Machine manufacturers (design and production of pneumatic presses)
• Safety engineers and machine designers integrating safeguarding and control systems
• Maintenance and service providers implementing safe lockout, restraint and tool-setting procedures
• Regulators, market surveillance, and health & safety organizations evaluating conformity and risk reduction
• Employers and plant engineers specifying press safety for production lines

Related standards (normative references)

• ISO 16092-1:2017 (Presses - General safety requirements)
• ISO 12100:2010 (Safety of machinery - Risk assessment)
• ISO 13849-1:2015 (Safety-related parts of control systems)
• ISO 13851:2019 (Two‑hand control devices)
• ISO 4413:2010 (Hydraulic fluid power - Safety)
• ISO 14119 (Guarding and interlocking guidance)

Keywords: ISO 16092-4:2019, pneumatic presses safety, machine tools safety, press safety requirements, restraint valve, two-hand control, power interlocking, safeguarding pneumatic presses.