ISO 15534-2:2000

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 15534-2
First edition
2000-02-15
Ergonomic design for the safety of
machinery —
Part 2:
Principles for determining the dimensions
required for access openings
Conception ergonomique pour la sécurité des machines —
Partie 2: Principes de détermination des dimensions requises pour les
orifices d'accès
Reference number
©
ISO 2000
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ii © ISO 2000 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword.iv
Introduction.v
1 Scope .1
2 Normative references .1
3 General requirements.2
4 Access openings .3
4.1 Access opening for the upper body and arms .3
4.2 Access opening for the head as far as the shoulders for inspection tasks.4
4.3 Access opening for both arms (either forward or downward).4
4.4 Access opening for both lower arms up to the elbow (either forward or downward).5
4.5 Opening for access to the side for one arm up to shoulder joint.6
4.6 Access opening for one lower arm up to the elbow .6
4.7 Access opening for fist .6
4.8 Access opening for flat hand to wrist, including thumb .7
4.9 Access opening for flat hand (four fingers) to base of thumb.7
4.10 Access opening for index finger, restricted by the other fingers.8
4.11 Access opening for one foot to ankle bone.8
4.12 Access opening for forefoot-operated control actuators.8
Annex A (normative) Application of the measurements in practice.9
Annex B (informative) Position of access openings .13
Annex C (informative) Symbols for dimensions and anthropometric body measurements.21
Bibliography.23
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies (ISO
member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through ISO technical
committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been established has
the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in
liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical
Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 3.
Draft International Standards adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting.
Publication as an International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies casting a vote.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this part of ISO 15534 may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
International Standard ISO 15534-2 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 159, Ergonomics,
Subcommittee SC 3, Anthropometry and biomechanics.
ISO 15534 consists of the following parts, under the general title Ergonomic design for the safety of machinery :
� Part 1: Principles for determining the dimensions required for openings for whole-body access into machinery
� Part 2: Principles for determining the dimensions required for access openings
� Part 3: Anthropometric data
Annex A forms a normative part ot this part of ISO 15534. Annexes B and C are for information only.
iv © ISO 2000 – All rights reserved

Introduction
This part of ISO 15534 is one of several ergonomics standards for the safety of machinery.
EN 614-1 ([2] in the Bibliography) describes the principles designers should adopt in order to take account of
ergonomic factors. This part of ISO 15534 describes how these principles should be applied to the design of
access openings.
This part of ISO 15534 is based on EN 547-2:1996 that was prepared as a harmonized standard conforming with
the Machinery Directive and associated European Free Trade Association (EFTA) regulations.
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 15534-2:2000(E)
Ergonomic design for the safety of machinery —
Part 2:
Principles for determining the dimensions required for access
openings
1 Scope
This part of ISO 15534 specifies the dimensions of openings for access into machinery as defined in
ISO/TR 12100-1. It provides the dimensions to which the values given in ISO 15534-3 are applicable. Values for
additional space requirements are given in annex A. This part of ISO 15534 has been prepared primarily for non-
mobile machinery; there may be additional specific requirements for mobile machinery.
Dimensions for access openings are based on the values for the 95th percentile, whereas reach distances are
based on the values for the 5th percentile, in each case the least favourable body dimension of the expected user
population being used as a basis. The same considerations apply to the location of access openings.
The anthropometric data given in ISO 15534-3 originate from static measurements of nude persons and do not
take into account body movements, clothing, equipment, machinery-operating conditions or environmental
conditions.
This part of ISO 15534 shows how to combine the anthropometric data with suitable allowances to take these
factors into account.
Situations where people are to be prevented from reaching a hazard are dealt with in ISO 13852.
2 Normative references
The following normative documents contain provisions which, through reference in this text, constitute provisions of
this part of ISO 15534. For dated references, subsequent amendments to, or revisions of, any of these publications
do not apply. However, parties to agreements based on this part of ISO 15534 are encouraged to investigate the
possibility of applying the most recent editions of the normative documents indicated below. For undated
references, the latest edition of the normative document referred to applies. Members of ISO and IEC maintain
registers of currently valid International Standards.
ISO/TR 12100-1:1992, Safety of machinery — Basic concepts, general principles for design — Part 1: Basic
terminology, methodology. (EN 292-1:1991)
ISO 13852:1996, Safety of machinery — Safety distances to prevent danger zones being reached by the upper
limbs. (EN 294:1992)
ISO 15534-3:2000, Ergonomic design for the safety of machinery — Part 3: Anthropometric data.
3 General requirements
Operations requiring reach through minimum-access openings are likely to be less efficient, less safe and less
healthy than working with unrestricted access. Therefore, before installing access openings other options should be
considered, e.g. possibility to open machinery, withdrawal of parts for repair. This is particularly important where
the task demands frequent access.
When access openings cannot be avoided, the following criteria are of particular significance:
a) ease of access is influenced by
� the demands of the task, e.g. posture, nature and speed of movement, lines of sight, application of force,
� the location of the access opening relative to the position of the person, e.g. convenient height above
floor, within easy reach, sufficient space outside to allow adoption of a comfortable posture, sufficient
space inside to allow performance of the task,
� frequency and duration of task,
� whether tools are being carried, e.g. for maintenance or repair purposes,
� length of access openings, e.g. through a relatively thin wall (wall of a vessel) or through a channel-type
opening,
� whether additional equipment, such as personal protective equipment (including protective clothing), or
portable lighting, is being carried or worn,
� the type of clothing, e.g. light or heavy clothing, bare hands or thick gloves, bare headed or wearing a
helmet;
b) environmental conditions (e.g. darkness, heat, noise, moisture);
c) level of risk during the task.
Therefore, in addition to the anthropometric data in each case, allowances shall be provided for the respective
opening dimensions and reach distances, taking into account the above criteria.
The applications on how to apply this part of ISO 15534 in practice are contained in annex A, concerning
allowances, and in annex B, concerning the position of access openings.
Annex C gives information on the use of symbols for dimensions and anthropometric measurements.
2 © ISO 2000 – All rights reserved

4 Access openings
An access opening is an opening through which a person can lean forward, reach forward, or extend the upper
body, (head, arm, hand, a finger or several fingers), leg or foot, to be able to carry out measures during work
procedures, such as operating of control actuators, repair duties or monitoring of processes or displays. See
Figures 1 to 12.
This part of ISO 15534 does not specify optimum dimensions, but minimum dimensions for the size of the opening
and maximum dimensions for reach. Wherever possible, the basic dimensions for the openings should be
increased, and the maximum dimensions for reach should be decreased.
Symbol Explanation of measurement
1�
4.1 Access opening for the upper A = a (P95 )+ x
body and arms
A Opening diameter
a Elbow-to-elbow breadth
x Allowance
Figure 1
1) P95: 95th percentile of the expected user population.
Symbol Explanation of measurement
This type of access should be avoided
4.2 Access opening for the head as
wherever possible
far as the shoulders for inspection
tasks
A = c (P95) + x
A Opening diameter
c Head length from tip of nose
x Allowance
Figure 2
4.3 Access opening for both arms A = a (P95) + x
(either forward or downward)
B = d (P95) + y
C = t (P5)
A Opening breadth
B Opening width
C Opening depth
a Elbow-to-elbow breadth
d Upper-arm diameter
t Operating-arm length
x Breadth allowance
y Width allowance
Figure 3
4 © ISO 2000 – All rights reserved

Symbol Explanation of measurement
A =2d (P95) + x
4.4 Access opening for both lower
arms up to the elbow (either forward
B = d (P95) + y
or downward)
C = t (P5)
A Opening breadth
B Opening width
C Opening depth
d Lower-arm diameter
t Forearm reach
x Breadth allowance
y Width allowance
Figure 4
Symbol Explanation of measurement
A = d (P95) + x
4.5 Opening for access to the side
for one arm up to shoulder joint
B = t (P5)
A Opening diameter
B Opening depth
d Upper-arm diameter
t Arm reach to the side
x Allowance
Figure 5
A = a (P95) + x
4.6 Access opening for one lower
arm uptotheelbow
B = t (P5)
A Opening diameter
B Opening depth
a Hand breadth at thumb
t Forearm reach
x Allowance
Figure 6
A = d (P95) + x
4.7 Access opening for fist
A Opening diameter
d Fist diameter
x Allowance
Figure 7
6 © ISO 2000 – All rights reserved
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