Overview
ISO 22915-17:2020 specifies test methods for verifying the stability of towing tractors, burden carriers and personnel carriers (as defined in ISO 5053-1). Part of the ISO 22915 series on industrial truck stability, this standard sets out the test conditions, load configurations and platform‑incline procedures used to confirm that these vehicles meet stability requirements during steering and when travelling up or down inclines.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Test scope and conditions
- Applies to towing tractors, burden and personnel carriers; tractors with a load platform are tested as burden carriers.
- The vehicle under test must reflect its operational weight, including all manufacturer‑approved options and accessories that reduce stability.
- If the driving position is elevatable, an additional test at maximum height is required.
- Load and passenger simulation
- Burden carriers: test load placed on the platform with centre of gravity (G) directly above the platform’s geometric axis and a minimum G height of 600 mm above the loading surface (or as specified by the manufacturer).
- Personnel carriers: passengers simulated by masses of 114.1 kg (large operator per ISO 3411:2007) with the simulated passenger CG at 150 mm above the seat index point (SIP, per ISO 5353:1995).
- Seat positions set to the mid‑adjustment for each test.
- Test orientations and positions
- Axles and key points (M, N) are defined to position the vehicle on an inclined test platform; steering and rear axles are identified per the standard.
- Tests include steering (lateral) and longitudinal stability checks for ascent and descent modes.
- Inclination criteria
- Platform inclination angles are defined (for example, (15 + 1.1·v)% where v is maximum travel speed in km/h; some limits capped at 40% and specific tests use 25%), as summarized in the standard’s Table 1.
Practical applications and who uses it
- Manufacturers of towing tractors, personnel carriers and industrial burden carriers use ISO 22915-17 to:
- Design and validate vehicle stability during product development.
- Define labeling and user guidance for safe payloads and seating arrangements.
- Test laboratories and conformity assessment bodies use it to perform official stability verification and certification.
- Occupational safety engineers, fleet managers and procurement teams use the standard to:
- Compare equipment stability performance.
- Specify stable configurations for workplace transport tasks.
Related standards
- ISO 5053-1 - Terminology and classification for industrial trucks (defines vehicle types referenced).
- ISO 22915-1 - General requirements for verification of stability (applies in conjunction with Part 17).
- ISO 3411 and ISO 5353 - Operator dimensions and seat index point for passenger simulation.
- Other parts of ISO 22915 (Parts 2–22) cover stability tests for different truck types and special conditions.
By following ISO 22915-17:2020, manufacturers and testers ensure repeatable, documented stability testing for towing tractors and carriers - improving safety, regulatory compliance and equipment selection decisions.