Overview
EN ISO 10472-6:2008 (adopted by CEN) is the harmonized safety standard for industrial laundry machinery specifically addressing ironing and fusing presses (ISO 10472-6:1997). It complements the common requirements in ISO 10472-1 and gives designers, manufacturers and safety engineers guidance on identifying hazards and implementing state-of-the-art safety measures for scissor presses, cabinet presses, drawer presses, rotary (carousel) presses and other multi-buck machines.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Hazard identification: systematic coverage of mechanical, electrical, thermal, noise and fume hazards, plus ergonomic risks and failures of energy or control systems.
- Machine-specific risks: closing/pressing actions, falling heads (scissor presses), hot surfaces and steam exposure, radiated/convected heat for scissor presses.
- Protective measures: guarding, pressure-sensitive protective devices, interlocks, emergency stop design, and control-system safety principles.
- Verification and validation: requirements for verification of safety measures and risk-reduction effectiveness.
- User information: mandatory instruction handbook content and warning sign specifications.
- Harmonisation with EU law: informative Annexes ZA/ZB explain the relationship with Machinery Directives (98/37/EC and 2006/42/EC). When cited in the Official Journal and implemented nationally, complying with this standard confers a presumption of conformity within its scope (subject to listed exceptions).
Keywords naturally covered: EN ISO 10472-6:2008, industrial laundry machinery, ironing presses, fusing presses, machine safety, risk assessment, guarding, emergency stop, electrical safety.
Practical applications - who uses this standard
- Machine designers and manufacturers of industrial ironing and fusing presses seeking to meet European safety expectations.
- Safety engineers and compliance officers performing risk assessments and conformity checks against EU Machinery Directive requirements.
- Test laboratories and notified bodies verifying safety features such as guarding, pressure-sensitive mats, interlocks and emergency-stop circuits.
- Laundry plant operators specifying safe equipment and maintaining operator manuals and warning signage.
Related standards and references
EN ISO 10472-6:2008 is essential for ensuring the safe design and operation of industrial ironing and fusing presses and for demonstrating conformity with relevant European machinery regulations.