Overview
EN ISO 19353:2019 - Safety of machinery - Fire prevention and fire protection (ISO 19353:2019) specifies methods for identifying fire hazards from machinery and for performing fire risk assessments. It defines basic concepts and a methodology of protective measures to be considered during the design and construction of machinery, taking into account intended use and reasonably foreseeable misuse. The standard supports conformity with Directive 2006/42/EC (see Annex ZA) and is published by CEN as a European adoption of ISO 19353:2019.
Key keywords: EN ISO 19353:2019, fire prevention, fire protection, safety of machinery, risk assessment, fire detection, fire suppression, machine fire hazards.
Key topics and technical requirements
The standard provides structured guidance rather than prescriptive fire-suppression recipes. Major technical topics include:
- Fire hazards: combustible materials, oxidizers and ignition sources relevant to machinery.
- Risk assessment strategy: defining machine boundaries, identification of fire hazards, risk estimation and evaluation.
- Risk reduction hierarchy: inherently safe design measures, safeguarding, and complementary protective measures.
- Selection procedure: methodology for choosing and qualifying fire detection and fire suppression systems, specifying safety and performance requirements, choice of extinguishing agents and system validation.
- Information for use: operator instructions and safety information needed to reduce fire risk.
- Informative annexes: practical examples - machine types and typical hazards, methodology for selecting fire systems, a fire suppression system design example, lists of ignition sources, and a worked risk‑assessment case for a machining centre.
The document also lists clear exclusions: it does not apply to mobile machinery, machinery designed primarily for controlled combustion (except where those processes can ignite other parts), equipment for potentially explosive atmospheres, building-integrated fire systems, or machinery/components manufactured before publication.
Applications and practical value
EN ISO 19353:2019 is used to:
- Perform systematic fire risk assessments for new machinery designs.
- Specify and justify design choices that reduce fire risk (material selection, enclosure, ventilation, control systems).
- Select, document and validate complementary fire detection and suppression systems for equipment.
- Prepare safety documentation and operator instructions required for compliance and safe operation.
- Support conformity assessment under Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC.
Who should use this standard
- Machine designers and OEMs
- Functional safety and fire‑safety engineers
- Risk assessors and compliance officers
- Notified bodies, testing laboratories and certification bodies
- Maintenance planners and technical writers preparing information for use
Related standards
EN ISO 19353 is harmonized with ISO/TC 199 work on machinery safety and complements standards for machine risk assessment, electrical safety and specific fire‑suppression system standards. Users should cross-reference building fire codes and standards for explosive atmospheres where applicable.