Glossary Updates12 new terms added to the glossaries · October 2, 2026, 22:44 CEST
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Glossary · Safety standards

ISO 14120

Also known as: ISO 14120:2015, EN ISO 14120

ISO 14120 is the international standard covering general requirements for the design and construction of fixed and movable guards that protect persons from mechanical hazards. It addresses selection, materials, strength, ergonomics and the verification of guards.

  • Standards
  • Technical documentation

In one sentence

ISO 14120 sets general requirements for the design and construction of fixed and movable guards against mechanical hazards.

Example

The perimeter fence of a palletizing cell is designed to ISO 14120: panel height and mesh size are chosen with ISO 13857, fixings need a tool to remove, and the panels are tested for impact from a dropped load.

How it applies

  • Selection: The standard guides the choice between fixed guards, movable guards and adjustable guards depending on how often access is needed and which hazards are present.
  • Design: Guards must withstand foreseeable loads and impacts, not create additional hazards, not be easy to bypass, and allow observation of the process where needed. Openings and heights are sized using ISO 13857.
  • Technical documentation: The manual should describe which guards exist, which must never be removed during operation, how to remove fixed guards for maintenance and how to verify their condition. Damaged guards must be replaced or properly repaired, not patched up.
  • Evidence: Keep the guard design calculations and test results with the risk assessment; changes to guards affect guard integrity.

ISO 14120 vs. ISO 14119

ISO 14120 is about the guard as a physical barrier. ISO 14119 is about the interlocking devices that monitor movable guards. A movable guard usually needs both: a sound construction and a suitable interlock.

By knowledge.aitechdoc.world · Published September 25, 2026 · Last reviewed

Source: ISO 14120:2015, Safety of machinery — Guards — General requirements for the design and construction of fixed and movable guards

Definitions follow the cited standards and specifications. Where a source is a copyrighted publication, such as an ISO, IEC or EN standard, the definition is a close paraphrase, not a verbatim quotation, so as not to infringe copyright. We recommend reading the original publication. The sections “How it applies” are editorial commentary by AI TechDoc Knowledge and are not part of any standard.

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