EN ISO 23125:2015 PDF

Overview

EN ISO 23125:2015 - Machine tools - Safety - Turning machines (ISO 23125:2015, corrected 2016-03-15) specifies safety requirements to eliminate hazards or reduce risks for turning machines and turning centres designed primarily to shape metal by cutting. The standard covers four machine groups:

• Group 1: Manually controlled turning machines without NC
• Group 2: Manually controlled turning machines with limited NC capability
• Group 3: Numerically controlled turning machines and turning centres
• Group 4: Single- or multi-spindle automatic turning machines

It also applies to integral ancillary devices (workholding, tooling, handling, chip/fluids equipment) and machines integrated into automatic production lines when hazards are comparable. EN ISO 23125:2015 is the CEN-adopted version of ISO 23125:2015 and supports conformity with relevant EU machinery directives.

Key topics and requirements

The standard addresses significant hazards and sets out safety requirements and/or protective measures, including:

• Hazard identification: Main hazard zones and a comprehensive list of mechanical, electrical, noise, radiation, material and ergonomic hazards.
• Guards and enclosures: Required characteristics for guards across machine groups and impact test methods (Annex A).
• Workpiece clamping & tooling: Safe clamping conditions and tooling instructions.
• Modes of operation: Mandatory and optional machine operation modes and safety implications (manual, NC, automatic).
• Control and safety functions: Protection against unexpected start-up, over-run/over-speed, power or control failures, and variation in rotational speed.
• Ejection and fluids: Requirements for protection from ejected objects and fluids; special guidance for large horizontal/vertical NC machines.
• Verification & performance: Verification of safety measures and examples for determining performance levels for interlocked guards (Annex F).
• Information for use: Marking, instruction content, installation, cleaning, residual risk information.
• Tests and guidance: Annexes include impact test methods, test equipment/materials, energy calculation, checklists for safety functions, exhaust/extinguishing system examples.

Applications and who uses it

EN ISO 23125:2015 is used by:

• Machine manufacturers and designers for safe machine design and CE marking support.
• Safety engineers and compliance officers to verify conformity with machinery safety requirements and EU directives.
• Plant managers and purchasing teams assessing machine safety during procurement and integration into production cells.
• Operators and maintenance personnel for understanding guarding, safe modes of operation, and required instructions.
• Test labs and certification bodies applying the annex test methods and performance-level assessments.

Related standards

EN ISO 23125:2015 is part of the machine tools safety family and is intended to be used alongside relevant electrical, control-system (IEC), and EU machinery-directive standards for full compliance.

Keywords: machine tools safety, turning machines, lathes, ISO 23125, EN ISO 23125:2015, turning centres, guards, risk reduction, CNC safety.