ISO 8230-3:2008

Overview

ISO 8230-3:2008 - Safety requirements for dry-cleaning machines - Part 3: Machines using combustible solvents specifies safety requirements for dry‑cleaning machines that use a combustible solvent (CS). Intended to be used alongside ISO 8230-1 (Common safety requirements), this type‑C standard addresses the significant hazards, hazardous situations and hazardous events specific to machines using combustible solvents when used as intended or under reasonably foreseeable misuse.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope and risk focus: Applies to machines manufactured after the standard’s issue and covers electrical hazards, explosion hazards, solvent emissions and distillation‑related risks.
• Control system reliability: Explosion‑protection control elements must be redundant or self‑checking, detect failures automatically and trigger safe shutdown with visual and acoustic alarms.
• Gas and oxygen detection: Continuous monitoring of CS vapour and oxygen concentration is required; measuring equipment must meet referenced EN/IEC performance standards (e.g., EN 50104, EN 61779).
• Heating and drying interlocks: Heating is interlocked so CS or air cannot be heated above safe limits unless explosion protection is active. Drying must remove solvent sufficiently; the load cannot be withdrawn until cage outlet temperature is below 50 °C.
• Explosion risk mitigation during cleaning and drying:
  • Maintain temperatures at least 15 K below the flash point or apply evacuation/low‑pressure or inerting strategies.
  • Temperature control: if 10 K below the lower explosion point is reached, the machine must go to a safe condition.
  • Low‑pressure mode design: drum and doors must withstand expected explosion pressures and be verified at 1.3× expected overpressure; design basis considers at least a ninefold pressure rise during an explosion.
• Distilling equipment and condensate: Measures for coolant interlocks, water separator drainage, and safe handling of contact water are specified (including a canister sized for one day’s production).
• Electrical safety: Wiring routing to avoid solvent accumulation and bonding of conductive components to protective earth.

Applications and who uses it

ISO 8230-3:2008 is used by:

• Dry‑cleaning machine designers and manufacturers for product design, compliance and CE marking
• Safety and process engineers performing risk assessments
• Compliance officers, certification bodies and test laboratories
• Commercial laundries and service providers procuring or operating CS‑based equipment
• Maintenance teams and trainers developing safe operating and maintenance procedures

Related standards

• ISO 8230-1:2008 (Common safety requirements)
• ISO 8230-2:2008 (Perchloroethylene machines)
• ISO 12100, IEC 60204-1, ISO 2719, EN 50104, EN 60079-0, EN 61779 series

Keywords: ISO 8230-3:2008, dry-cleaning machines, combustible solvents, explosion protection, solvent vapour monitoring, machine safety.