EN ISO 11806-2:2022 PDF

Overview

EN ISO 11806-2:2022 - "Agricultural and forestry machinery - Safety requirements and testing for portable, hand-held, powered brush-cutters and grass-trimmers - Part 2: Machines for use with backpack power unit" specifies safety requirements and verification methods for portable, hand-held brush-cutters and grass-trimmers driven by a backpack-mounted combustion engine with mechanical power transmission. The standard focuses on design, construction and manufacturer-supplied safe-use information to eliminate or reduce hazards during intended use and reasonably foreseeable misuse. It applies to machines manufactured after its publication and excludes whole-body vibration measurement (no standardized test available) and multi-piece metallic cutting attachments (e.g., pivoting chains or flail blades).

Key topics and requirements

The document, used together with relevant clauses of ISO 11806-1:2021, addresses significant hazards (see Annex A). Major technical topics include:

• Distance to cutting attachment (Clause 4.2): requirements and verification to reduce user contact risk.
• Handgrip on backpack power unit (Clause 4.3): ergonomic and safety requirements and tests.
• Harness for backpack power unit (Clause 4.4): design and verification to secure the power unit and reduce operator fatigue and injury.
• Hydraulic and pneumatic pipes and hoses (Clause 4.5): routing and integrity requirements to prevent leaks and failures.
• Throttle control (Clause 4.6): position, operation, and throttle-latch requirements to ensure reliable speed control and operator safety.
• Fuel tank structural integrity (Clause 4.7 and Annex B): design and verification to reduce fire and leakage risk.
• Information for use (Clause 5): manufacturer’s instructions and safe-working guidance to inform operators and maintenance personnel.

The standard excludes certain clauses of Directive 2006/42/EC (see Annex ZA), but where referenced, compliance confers a presumption of conformity within its scope.

Applications and users

EN ISO 11806-2:2022 is intended for:

• Manufacturers and designers of backpack-powered brush-cutters and grass-trimmers for product design, safety integration and pre-market verification.
• Test laboratories and conformity assessment bodies performing verification and structural integrity tests (fuel tanks, controls, harness).
• Regulatory bodies and procurement teams evaluating machine safety versus European requirements.
• Safety managers and end-users seeking clear information on safe working practices, preventive measures and hazards.

Practical applications include product development, CE marking support (where applicable), risk assessment, and operator instruction development.

Related standards

• ISO 11806-1:2021 - referenced for relevant clauses and additional requirements.
• EN ISO 11806-2:2022 supersedes EN ISO 11806-2:2011 and is prepared to support compliance with EU machinery safety provisions (see Annex ZA).

Keywords: EN ISO 11806-2:2022, portable brush-cutters, grass-trimmers, backpack power unit, safety requirements, testing, agricultural and forestry machinery, fuel tank integrity, throttle control, harness.