Overview
ISO 13105-2:2023 specifies safety requirements and verification for machines used in concrete surface floating and finishing (commonly known as power trowels). It covers both pedestrian‑controlled and ride‑on equipment and addresses significant hazards, hazardous situations, and hazardous events that are reasonably foreseeable in normal use and foreseeable misuse. The standard is a Type‑C machine‑specific document and updates the 2014 edition (including the 2017 amendment). It does not apply to internal/external vibrators and their ancillaries, remote‑controlled or hand‑held smoothing machines, robotic smoothing machines, strike‑off screeds, or machines manufactured before the publication date.
Key topics and technical requirements
The document lays out general and machine‑type specific safety requirements and verification measures. Important technical topics include:
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Blade guarding and clearance
- Requirement for guarding to protect operators and bystanders while maintaining visibility of blade interaction with concrete.
- If constructed from tubes/bars, gaps must not exceed 90 mm.
- Lowest outer guard must resist a horizontal impact force equal to two times the mass of the machine without exposing blades.
- Ground clearance of the lowest guard with blades unpitched shall not exceed 60 mm.
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Blade pitch adjustment
- Adjustment should be practicable from safe positions (see Clause 4.2.3).
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Electrical, hot parts and harmful gases
- Electrical equipment and EMC requirements, and protection against contact with hot surfaces and operator exposure to fumes.
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Mechanical integrity and transport
- Securing of machine parts, designated lifting points, and provisions for safe transport and securing.
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Ride‑on and pedestrian control specifics
- Requirements for controls, hydraulic and pneumatic systems where fitted, and protection against unintentional blade start.
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Noise and vibration
- Test and measurement procedures (Annex A) and measures to reduce noise and whole‑body vibration exposure.
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Verification and information for use
- Procedures for verifying that safety measures meet the standard (Clause 5) and detailed requirements for operator’s manuals, marking, and safety signage (Clause 6).
Practical applications and who uses the standard
ISO 13105-2:2023 is used for:
- Manufacturers - to design and certify safe power trowels and demonstrate regulatory compliance.
- Product designers and R&D - to guide protective measures, guarding design, and EMC/hot‑surface mitigation.
- Compliance and market surveillance authorities - to assess conformity and verify test data.
- Employers, contractors and site safety managers - for procurement specifications, risk assessments, and safe operation procedures.
- Service and maintenance providers - to follow safe lifting, transport and repair practices.
Related standards (normative references)
ISO 13105-2 references multiple standards used for verification and design context, including ISO 12100 (risk assessment), ISO 2631 (vibration), ISO 3744/11201 (noise), ISO 4413/4414 (hydraulic/pneumatic), IEC 60204‑1 (electrical), ISO 13105‑1 (terms/specifications), and EMC standards (ISO 13766 series).
Keywords: ISO 13105-2:2023, power trowels, safety requirements, concrete surface floating and finishing, blade guarding, noise and vibration, operator's manual, verification, hydraulic, pneumatic, EMC.