SIST EN ISO 11553-2:2026
(Main)Safety of machinery - Laser processing machines - Part 2: Safety requirements for hand-held or hand-operated laser processing machines (ISO 11553-2:2026)
- Abstract
This document deals with all significant hazards, hazardous situations or hazardous events relevant to hand-held or hand-operated laser processing machines (HLMs), when they are used as intended and under conditions of misuse which are reasonably foreseeable by the manufacturer. HLM is the machine, as defined in ISO 11553-1:2020, 3.7, in which laser radiation is generated, where the laser provides sufficient energy/power to cause a phase transition in a part of the workpiece and where the laser output or workpiece to be processed is guided manually or hand-held during the laser material processing.
This document defines general design requirements of HLM. HLM includes the laser device, beam-guiding device (e.g. mirror, fibre, lenses), beam-shaping device (e.g. telescope, focusing), and controls. The laser assembly as an integral part of the HLM or only the laser processing head is hand-held or hand-operated during the laser material processing.
This document does not apply
— to laser processing machines which are remotely controlled by a manual controller (hand-operated controller), such as joy sticks, keyboard, etc., without touching a workpiece or a part mechanically connected with the laser material processing head by using the hand(s) of the operator (user)
— to laser processing machines without a drive system which may not belong to machinery. And the laser processing apparatus without moving parts, which may not be considered as machinery in “Type C standard”.
— to medical or cosmetic applications for the treatment of living human or animal tissue;
— to weapon applications, (e.g. such as with regard to military applications, direct close combat.)
NOTE “hand-operated laser processing machine” is synonymous with “hand-guided laser processing machine” in this document. Hand-operated laser processing machines often use manual force reduction means such as wheels, supports, etc., for manual positioning of the laser processing heads or the workpieces.
It is applicable to HLMs using laser radiation to process materials.
The purpose of this document is to draw attention to the hazards related to HLMs and to prevent personal injury. Depending on the application and the location/operating conditions of HLMs, a number of different significant hazards can arise. This document describes both the areas of hazards analysis and risk assessment as well as protective measures.
Requirements dealing with noise as a hazard are covered by ISO 11553-3:2013.
This document does not apply to laser products or equipment manufactured solely or expressly for applications which are excluded from the Scope of ISO 11553-1:2020. This document is not applicable for HLMs which have been manufactured before the date of publication of this standard.
- Status
- Published
- Public Enquiry End Date
- 30-Mar-2025
- Publication Date
- 11-Nov-2026
- Technical Committee
- VAZ - Healthcare
- Current Stage
- 6060 - National Implementation/Publication (Adopted Project)
- Start Date
- 06-Nov-2026
- Due Date
- 11-Jan-2027
- Completion Date
- 12-Nov-2026
SIST EN ISO 11553-2:2026 is a safety standard for hand-held or hand-operated laser processing machines (HLMs). It specifies safety requirements for the design, risk assessment, verification, user information and labelling of HLMs used to process materials with laser radiation. The standard is written for manufacturers, integrators and users who need to control the hazards of manual or hand-guided laser processing.
What does SIST EN ISO 11553-2:2026 specify?
SIST EN ISO 11553-2:2026 specifies safety requirements for HLMs and their components and assemblies when the laser output or the workpiece is guided manually, hand-held or hand-operated during laser processing. It focuses on significant hazards during intended use and reasonably foreseeable misuse.
The scope covers all phases of the HLM life cycle that matter for safety, including assembly, installation, commissioning, use, maintenance, servicing, decommissioning and disposal. It also applies to HLMs intended for industrial use and operation by trained and authorized personnel indoors and outdoors.
The document excludes remotely controlled laser processing machines operated only by a manual controller without hand contact with the workpiece or mechanically connected part, laser processing apparatus without a drive system that may not be considered machinery, medical or cosmetic applications on living human or animal tissue, weapon applications, laser products excluded by ISO 11553-1:2020, and HLMs manufactured before the publication date.
| Annex | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Annex A | Representative types of HLMs and example configurations |
| Annex B | List of significant hazards for HLMs |
| Annex C | Other possible hazards related to HLMs, including special environments |
| Annex D | Examples of technical safety measures and sensor/control concepts |
| Annex E | Recommendations for personal protective equipment for HLMs |
| Annex F | Design recommendations for laser fume extraction systems on process nozzles |
| Annex G | Parameter information for users, including worked examples for laser radiation calculations |
| Annex ZA | Link between the standard and the essential requirements of Directive 2006/42/EC |
What are the key requirements of SIST EN ISO 11553-2:2026?
SIST EN ISO 11553-2:2026 requires a risk-based design approach. The manufacturer has to identify hazards, estimate and evaluate risk, and then reduce it using design measures, safeguarding and user information. In practice, that means safety is built into the machine first, not added later as an accessory.
Risk assessment and hazard identification
Clause 4 requires risk assessment according to ISO 12100: the limits of the HLM are determined, hazards are identified, risks are estimated and then evaluated. The assessment must cover the full life cycle, substantial modifications and reasonably foreseeable misuse. For the manufacturer, this means hazards must be considered early, before the machine is built, so design weaknesses can be corrected while changes are still practical.
Clause 4 also requires the manufacturer to consider the machine type, operating location, all components and their interaction, and the full set of operating conditions. Annex B gives the significant hazards list used for HLMs, while Annex C points to other hazards that can appear in special applications or environments. This matters because HLMs can create more than laser hazards - mechanical, electrical, thermal, ergonomic, environmental and substance-related risks also need control.
Mechanical, electrical and thermal protection
Clause 5 requires mechanical strength for relevant parts such as the laser device, fibre cable, hand-held laser head and foot switch. The wire feeder must be guarded, and the guard dimensions and openings have to follow the cited safety-distance and guarding standards. In practice, this prevents entanglement, crushing, cutting and damage that could expose people to secondary hazards.
For electrical safety, Clause 5 requires compliance with IEC 60204-1. Outdoor use brings additional requirements, including residual current protection and the relevant low-voltage installation rules, and the machine must retain the declared ingress protection under working conditions. The standard sets minimum protection levels for indoor and outdoor use and requires testing to IEC 60529, so the enclosure and controls are suitable for the actual workplace.
Clause 5 also addresses thermal hazards and secondary incoherent radiation. The manufacturer must assess exposure, integrate technical measures into the hand-held laser head first, and only then rely on user information and personal protective equipment where technical measures are not possible. This matters because hot surfaces, molten spatter, UV, visible and near-infrared radiation can injure hands, eyes and skin even when the laser beam itself is controlled.
Laser radiation control and guarding
Clause 5 contains the main laser-radiation requirements. It covers laser classification, prevention of hazardous emission from the HLM or its components, movable and interlocking guards, beam delivery systems, fibre damage, fibre connectors, beam misalignment, hand-held laser head housing, scanning radiation, changed HLH elements, nozzle distance control, unintended start-up and protective enclosure at the workplace.
In practice, the standard expects the design to stop or isolate the laser radiation fast enough when a fault occurs, and to do so through the HLM safety-related control system. For hand-held or hand-operated heads connected to an external laser assembly, the laser safety function has to work for the complete combination, not just for one part.
Control system, third persons and warnings
Clause 5 requires safety-related control devices to meet the required performance level and to be validated. It also covers emergency stop, prevention of unexpected start-up, temporary protective measures, isolation of the laser beam and the authorizing control device for access and use. For manufacturers and integrators, this means the control architecture, sensors and software must be selected and validated as safety functions, not as ordinary machine controls.
The same clause requires warnings for visual or acoustic indication of laser radiation. The warning devices must be in the operator’s field of vision, visible even with eye protection, and fail-safe or integrated into the safety control. This is important because users need a clear and reliable signal when the HLM is ready or emitting radiation.
Clause 5 also includes training and authorization measures for third persons, and requirements related to environmental hazards such as lightning, moisture, pollution, snow, rain, water, wind and extreme temperatures. This makes the standard relevant for outdoor applications as well as indoor workshops.
Verification, user information and labelling
Clause 6 requires verification and validation of the complete HLM using methods such as visual inspection, functional tests, measurements, observation during operation, checks of drawings and circuits, and validation of safety-related hardware and software. Table 1 links safety requirements to the applicable verification methods and cited standards. In practice, this means the manufacturer has to show that the chosen measures actually work on the ready-to-use machine.
Clause 7 requires user information for safe and proper use, including residual risk warnings, protective measures, conversion information for adaptable heads and instructions for installation, commissioning, use, maintenance, decommissioning and disposal. Clause 8 requires labelling with manufacturer identity, date, type or series, serial number where applicable, and relevant warnings. For buyers and users, this is the part that supports safe operation, training and workplace rules.
What terms does SIST EN ISO 11553-2:2026 define?
- HLM - hand-held or hand-operated laser processing machine; the machine in which laser radiation is generated and the laser beam or workpiece is guided manually during processing.
- HLH - hand-held or hand-guided laser head; the component that is held or guided by hand and contains the laser output/aperture.
- Laser hazard area - the area where eye or skin exposure exceeds the relevant maximum permissible exposure (MPE), including accidental misdirection of the beam.
- NOHA - nominal ocular hazard area; the area in which corneal exposure can exceed the applicable MPE for the eye.
- NOHD - nominal ocular hazard distance; the distance beyond which eye exposure remains below the applicable MPE.
- NSHA - nominal skin hazard area; the area in which skin exposure can exceed the applicable MPE.
- NSHD - nominal skin hazard distance; the distance beyond which skin exposure remains below the applicable MPE.
- NHZ - nominal hazard zone; the space in which direct, reflected or scattered radiation may exceed the applicable MPE.
Who uses SIST EN ISO 11553-2:2026?
SIST EN ISO 11553-2:2026 is used by manufacturers, designers, integrators, installers, safety engineers, quality managers and buyers of laser processing equipment. It is especially relevant where a laser head or workpiece is handled manually or guided by hand during processing.
The standard is used in industrial laser material processing, including applications such as welding, cutting and cleaning, and it explicitly mentions outdoor work such as facade or monument cleaning. It is also relevant for maintenance, servicing and training, because the document covers user information, warnings, emergency actions and recurring verification.
What changed in SIST EN ISO 11553-2:2026 from the previous edition?
SIST EN ISO 11553-2:2026 replaces SIST EN ISO 11553-2:2009.
Which standards are used with SIST EN ISO 11553-2:2026?
The document relies on a set of related standards for the parts that are shared with other machinery or laser safety topics:
- ISO 12100 - the base method for risk assessment and risk reduction used throughout the standard.
- ISO 11553-1 - the general safety requirements for laser processing machines, used for the wider machine family and exclusions.
- ISO 11553-3 - the companion part for noise reduction and noise measurement.
- IEC 60825-1 - laser product classification and accessible emission requirements.
- IEC 60825-4 - laser guards.
- ISO 13849-1 and IEC 62061 - safety-related control system performance and validation.
- IEC 60204-1 - electrical equipment of machines.
- IEC 60529 - degrees of protection provided by enclosures.
- ISO 14120, ISO 14119 and ISO 13857 - guards, interlocking devices and safety distances.
- ISO 13850 and ISO 14118 - emergency stop and prevention of unexpected start-up.
- ISO 20607 - instruction handbook drafting.
- ISO 3864 and EN 379 - safety signs and automatic welding filters used for warnings and eye protection.
What does the SIST EN ISO 11553-2:2026 document contain?
The document contains a structured set of clauses on scope, normative references, terms and definitions, risk assessment, safety requirements, verification, user information and labelling. It also includes Annex A with representative machine types and figures, and Annex B with a significant-hazards table that maps hazards to clauses.
Annex D gives design examples for safety measures and sensing concepts, including enabling controls, contact and distance detection, and ways to reduce bypassing of interlocks. Annex E and Annex F give practical guidance on PPE selection and fume extraction design, while Annex G provides parameter data to support user information and radiation calculations.
Clause 6 and Table 1 connect safety requirements with verification methods, so the document is not only about design intent but also about how to check the finished HLM. Annex ZA links the standard to Directive 2006/42/EC for European conformity use.
Relations
- Effective Date
- 01-Dec-2026
- Referred By
SIST EN 17449:2022 - Safety of machinery - Safety requirements to finishing lines for metal strip - Effective Date
- 04-Nov-2026
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Frequently Asked Questions
SIST EN ISO 11553-2:2026 is a standard published by the Slovenian Institute for Standardization (SIST). Its full title is "Safety of machinery - Laser processing machines - Part 2: Safety requirements for hand-held or hand-operated laser processing machines (ISO 11553-2:2026)". This standard covers: This document deals with all significant hazards, hazardous situations or hazardous events relevant to hand-held or hand-operated laser processing machines (HLMs), when they are used as intended and under conditions of misuse which are reasonably foreseeable by the manufacturer. HLM is the machine, as defined in ISO 11553-1:2020, 3.7, in which laser radiation is generated, where the laser provides sufficient energy/power to cause a phase transition in a part of the workpiece and where the laser output or workpiece to be processed is guided manually or hand-held during the laser material processing. This document defines general design requirements of HLM. HLM includes the laser device, beam-guiding device (e.g. mirror, fibre, lenses), beam-shaping device (e.g. telescope, focusing), and controls. The laser assembly as an integral part of the HLM or only the laser processing head is hand-held or hand-operated during the laser material processing. This document does not apply — to laser processing machines which are remotely controlled by a manual controller (hand-operated controller), such as joy sticks, keyboard, etc., without touching a workpiece or a part mechanically connected with the laser material processing head by using the hand(s) of the operator (user) — to laser processing machines without a drive system which may not belong to machinery. And the laser processing apparatus without moving parts, which may not be considered as machinery in “Type C standard”. — to medical or cosmetic applications for the treatment of living human or animal tissue; — to weapon applications, (e.g. such as with regard to military applications, direct close combat.) NOTE “hand-operated laser processing machine” is synonymous with “hand-guided laser processing machine” in this document. Hand-operated laser processing machines often use manual force reduction means such as wheels, supports, etc., for manual positioning of the laser processing heads or the workpieces. It is applicable to HLMs using laser radiation to process materials. The purpose of this document is to draw attention to the hazards related to HLMs and to prevent personal injury. Depending on the application and the location/operating conditions of HLMs, a number of different significant hazards can arise. This document describes both the areas of hazards analysis and risk assessment as well as protective measures. Requirements dealing with noise as a hazard are covered by ISO 11553-3:2013. This document does not apply to laser products or equipment manufactured solely or expressly for applications which are excluded from the Scope of ISO 11553-1:2020. This document is not applicable for HLMs which have been manufactured before the date of publication of this standard.
This document deals with all significant hazards, hazardous situations or hazardous events relevant to hand-held or hand-operated laser processing machines (HLMs), when they are used as intended and under conditions of misuse which are reasonably foreseeable by the manufacturer. HLM is the machine, as defined in ISO 11553-1:2020, 3.7, in which laser radiation is generated, where the laser provides sufficient energy/power to cause a phase transition in a part of the workpiece and where the laser output or workpiece to be processed is guided manually or hand-held during the laser material processing. This document defines general design requirements of HLM. HLM includes the laser device, beam-guiding device (e.g. mirror, fibre, lenses), beam-shaping device (e.g. telescope, focusing), and controls. The laser assembly as an integral part of the HLM or only the laser processing head is hand-held or hand-operated during the laser material processing. This document does not apply — to laser processing machines which are remotely controlled by a manual controller (hand-operated controller), such as joy sticks, keyboard, etc., without touching a workpiece or a part mechanically connected with the laser material processing head by using the hand(s) of the operator (user) — to laser processing machines without a drive system which may not belong to machinery. And the laser processing apparatus without moving parts, which may not be considered as machinery in “Type C standard”. — to medical or cosmetic applications for the treatment of living human or animal tissue; — to weapon applications, (e.g. such as with regard to military applications, direct close combat.) NOTE “hand-operated laser processing machine” is synonymous with “hand-guided laser processing machine” in this document. Hand-operated laser processing machines often use manual force reduction means such as wheels, supports, etc., for manual positioning of the laser processing heads or the workpieces. It is applicable to HLMs using laser radiation to process materials. The purpose of this document is to draw attention to the hazards related to HLMs and to prevent personal injury. Depending on the application and the location/operating conditions of HLMs, a number of different significant hazards can arise. This document describes both the areas of hazards analysis and risk assessment as well as protective measures. Requirements dealing with noise as a hazard are covered by ISO 11553-3:2013. This document does not apply to laser products or equipment manufactured solely or expressly for applications which are excluded from the Scope of ISO 11553-1:2020. This document is not applicable for HLMs which have been manufactured before the date of publication of this standard.
SIST EN ISO 11553-2:2026 is classified under the following ICS (International Classification for Standards) categories: 13.110 - Safety of machinery; 31.260 - Optoelectronics. Laser equipment. The ICS classification helps identify the subject area and facilitates finding related standards.
SIST EN ISO 11553-2:2026 has the following relationships with other standards: It is inter standard links to SIST EN ISO 11553-2:2009, SIST EN 17449:2022. Understanding these relationships helps ensure you are using the most current and applicable version of the standard.
SIST EN ISO 11553-2:2026 is associated with the following European legislation: EU Directives/Regulations: 2006/42/EC, 2023/1230; Standardization Mandates: M/396, M/605. When a standard is cited in the Official Journal of the European Union, products manufactured in conformity with it benefit from a presumption of conformity with the essential requirements of the corresponding EU directive or regulation.
SIST EN ISO 11553-2:2026 is available in PDF format for immediate download after purchase. The document can be added to your cart and obtained through the secure checkout process. Digital delivery ensures instant access to the complete standard document.
Standards Content (Sample)
SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-december-2026
Nadomešča:
SIST EN ISO 11553-2:2009
Varnost strojev - Laserski obdelovalni stroji - 2. del: Varnostne zahteve za ročne
ali ročno upravljane laserske obdelovalne naprave (ISO 11553-2:2026)
Safety of machinery - Laser processing machines - Part 2: Safety requirements for hand-
held or hand-operated laser processing machines (ISO 11553-2:2026)
Sicherheit von Maschinen - Laserbearbeitungsmaschinen - Teil 2:
Sicherheitsanforderungen an handgeführte Laserbearbeitungsgeräte (ISO 11553-
2:2026)
Sécurité des machines - Machines à laser - Partie 2: Exigences de sécurité pour
machines de traitement laser portatives ou à commande manuelle (ISO 11553-2:2026)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN ISO 11553-2:2026
ICS:
13.110 Varnost strojev Safety of machinery
31.260 Optoelektronika, laserska Optoelectronics. Laser
oprema equipment
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.
EN ISO 11553-2
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
October 2026
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 13.110; 31.260 Supersedes EN ISO 11553-2:2008
English Version
Safety of machinery - Laser processing machines - Part 2:
Safety requirements for hand-held or hand-operated laser
processing machines (ISO 11553-2:2026)
Sécurité des machines - Machines à laser - Partie 2: Sicherheit von Maschinen -
Exigences de sécurité pour machines à laser portatives Laserbearbeitungsmaschinen - Teil 2:
ou actionnées manuellement (ISO 11553-2:2026) Sicherheitsanforderungen an handgeführte
Laserbearbeitungsgeräte (ISO 11553-2:2026)
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 29 August 2026.
CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this
European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references
concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN
member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by
translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management
Centre has the same status as the official versions.
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and
United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION
EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2026 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN ISO 11553-2:2026 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.
Contents Page
European foreword . 3
Annex ZA (informative) Relationship between this European Standard and the Essential
Requirements of Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 aimed to be covered . 4
European foreword
This document (EN ISO 11553-2:2026) has been prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 172
"Optics and photonics" in collaboration with Technical Committee CEN/TC 123 “Lasers and
photonics” the secretariat of which is held by DIN.
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an
identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by April 2027, and conflicting national standards
shall be withdrawn at the latest by April 2027.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject
of patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
This document supersedes EN ISO 11553-2:2008.
This document has been prepared under a standardization request addressed to CEN by the
European Commission. The Standing Committee of the EFTA States subsequently approves these
requests for its Member States.
For the relationship with EU Legislation, see informative Annex ZA, which is an integral part of this
document.
Any feedback and questions on this document should be directed to the users’ national standards
body/national committee. A complete listing of these bodies can be found on the CEN website.
According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the
following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria,
Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary,
Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal,
Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
Türkiye and the United Kingdom.
Endorsement notice
The text of ISO 11553-2:2026 has been approved by CEN as EN ISO 11553-2:2026 without any
modification.
Annex ZA
(informative)
Relationship between this European Standard and the Essential
Requirements of Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 aimed to be covered
This European Standard has been prepared under a Commission’s standardization request
C(2025)129 final Commission Implementing Decision of 20 January 2025 to the European
Committee for Standardization and to the European Committee for Electrotechnical
Standardization as regards machinery in support of Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 of the European
Parliament and of the Council (M/605) to provide one voluntary means of conforming to essential
requirements of Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14
June 2023 on machinery (OJ L 165, 29.6.2023).
Once this standard is cited in the Official Journal of the European Union under that Regulation,
compliance with the normative clauses of this standard given in Table ZA.1 confers, within the
limits of the scope of this standard, a presumption of conformity with the corresponding essential
requirements of that Regulation, and associated EFTA regulations.
Table ZA.1— Correspondence between this European Standard and Annex III of Regulation
(EU) 2023/1230
The relevant Essential Clause(s)/sub-clause(s) of Remarks/Notes
Requirements of Regulation this EN
(EU) 2023/1230
1.1 General remarks — —
1.1.2 Principles of safety
5.1 —
integration
1.1.6 Ergonomics 5.9 —
1.2 Control systems — —
1.2.1 Safety and reliability of —
5.2, 5.6.4, 5.7
control systems
1.2.2 Control systems 5.6.6.2, 5.6.7, 5.6.8, 5.7.7, 5.10 —
1.2.3 Starting 5.6.6.3, 5.7.5 —
1.2.4.1 Normal stop 5.7.5 —
1.2.4.3 Emergency stop 5.7.4 —
1.2.5 Selection of control or —
5.6.6.1, 5.10.1
operating modes
1.2.6 Failure of the power —
supply or communication 5.6.6.1
network connection
1.3 Protection against
— —
mechanical hazards
The relevant Essential Clause(s)/sub-clause(s) of Remarks/Notes
Requirements of Regulation this EN
(EU) 2023/1230
1.3.1 Risk of loss of stability 5.2 —
1.3.5 Risks related to a 5.2 —
combined machinery or related
product
1.3.6 Risks related to variations 5.2 —
in operating conditions
1.3.7 Risks related to moving 5.2 —
parts
1.4 Required characteristics of
— —
guards and protective devices
1.4.2 Special requirements for —
5.6.7, 5.6.8
guards
1.4.2.3 Adjustable guards —
5.6.8
restricting access
1.5 Risks due to other hazards — —
1.5.2 Static electricity 5.3 —
5.6.2, 5.6.2.2, 5.6.2.3, 5.6.3, —
1.5.4 Errors of fitting
5.6.6.1
1.5.5 Extreme temperatures 5.4, 5.6.2 —
1.5.11 External radiation 5.5 —
1.5.12 On laser radiation 5.6 all subclauses and 5.7.7 —
1.5.13 Emission of hazardous —
5.8
materials and substances
1.5.16 Lighting Clause 7 —
1.6 Maintenance — —
1.6.1 Machinery or related
7.4.6
product maintenance
1.7 Information Clause 5, 7 and 8 —
1.7.1 Information and warnings —
on the machinery or related Clause 8
product
1.7.1.1 Information and —
5.10, 7.4.9
information devices
1.7.1.2 Warning devices 5.11 —
1.7.2 Warning of residual risks 7.4 —
1.7.3 Marking of machinery or —
Clause 8
related products
The relevant Essential Clause(s)/sub-clause(s) of Remarks/Notes
Requirements of Regulation this EN
(EU) 2023/1230
1.7.4 Instructions for use Clause 7 —
1.7.4.1 General principles for —
7.2
drafting of instructions for use
1.7.4.2 Contents of instructions —
Clause 7
for use
2.2 portable hand-held and/or
— —
hand-guided machinery
2.2.1 General Clause 5, 5.1 —
2.2.1.1 Instructions for use Clause 7 —
WARNING 1 — Presumption of conformity stays valid only as long as a reference to this European
Standard is maintained in the list published in the Official Journal of the European Union. Users of
this standard should consult frequently the latest list published in the Official Journal of the
European Union.
WARNING 2 — Other Union legislation may be applicable to the product(s) falling within the scope
of this standard.
International
Standard
ISO 11553-2
Second edition
Safety of machinery — Laser
2026-08
processing machines —
Part 2:
Safety requirements for hand-held
or hand-operated laser processing
machines
Sécurité des machines — Machines à laser —
Partie 2: Exigences de sécurité pour machines à laser portatives
ou actionnées manuellement
Reference number
ISO 11553-2:2026(en) © ISO 2026
ISO 11553-2:2026(en)
© ISO 2026
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on
the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below
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Published in Switzerland
ii
ISO 11553-2:2026(en)
Contents Page
Foreword .v
Introduction .vii
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 2
3 Terms and definitions . 4
4 List of significant hazards . 8
4.1 General .8
4.2 Main hazards .8
4.3 Significant hazards and hazardous situations covered by this document .9
4.4 Reasons of laser radiation hazards due to emission of unintended laser radiation or a
misguided laser beam .11
4.5 Laser hazards regarding application . 12
5 Safety requirements and risk reduction measures .12
5.1 General . 12
5.2 Requirements related to mechanical hazards . 13
5.3 Requirements related to electrical hazards . 13
5.4 Requirements related to thermal hazards . 13
5.5 Requirements related to incoherent radiation hazards .14
5.6 Requirements related to laser radiation hazards .14
5.6.1 General .14
5.6.2 Design to avoid laser emission by beam delivery system. 15
5.6.3 Design to avoid laser emission for HLMs connected to an external laser assembly.17
5.6.4 Design to avoid laser hazards by misalignment of beam .18
5.6.5 Design to avoid laser emission by not properly designed HLH housing .18
5.6.6 Design to avoid hazardous laser radiation caused by HLH .18
5.6.7 Safety devices for scanning laser radiation (cleaning) . 20
5.6.8 Protective enclosure (workplace) . 20
5.7 Requirements related to control system .21
5.7.1 General requirements for safety and reliability of safety related control systems .21
5.7.2 Performance requirements . . 22
5.7.3 Electromagnetic compatibility requirements .24
5.7.4 Emergency stop control . 25
5.7.5 Unexpected-Start-up of HLM . 26
5.7.6 Laser assembly is used for several HLMs . 26
5.7.7 Provisions and controls for isolation of the laser beam . 26
5.8 Requirements related to Hazards related to materials and substances .27
5.9 Requirements related to ergonomic hazards .27
5.9.1 Design according to ergonomic principles .27
5.9.2 Ergonomics in design of portable hand-held and/or hand guided machinery . 28
5.10 Requirements related to Hazards from/to unauthorized or third parties . 28
5.10.1 Authorizing control device . 28
5.11 Requirements related to hazards caused by lack or inadequacy of visual or acoustic
warning means . 29
6 Verification of safety requirements and measures .29
6.1 General . 29
6.2 Methods for verification and validation . 29
6.3 Required verification and validation . .31
6.4 Verification and validation of protective safeguards .32
7 Information for user.32
7.1 General .32
7.2 Instruction handbook/Manual . 33
7.2.1 General . 33
iii
ISO 11553-2:2026(en)
7.2.2 Assembly and installation . 33
7.2.3 Procedure plan for the initial start-up . . 34
7.2.4 Commissioning and operating . 35
7.2.5 Selection of temporary protective measures . 35
7.3 Verification and validation of protective measures . 36
7.4 Information for use associated with the environment . 36
7.4.1 Lightning information for using HLM. 36
7.4.2 Moisture information for using HLM .37
7.4.3 Pollution information for using HLM .37
7.4.4 Snow, rain, water, wind and extreme temperatures information for using HLM .37
7.4.5 Use . 38
7.4.6 Maintenance/servicing .41
7.4.7 Decommissioning .41
7.4.8 Disposal .41
7.4.9 System information .41
7.4.10 Information how to act in emergency cases .42
8 Labelling .42
8.1 Information to be indicated in labels .42
8.2 Label styles .42
Annex A (informative) Representative types of hand-held or hand-operated laser processing
machines (HLMs) .44
Annex B (informative) Example of risk assessment for HLM . 47
Annex C (informative) Possible hazards related to hand-held or hand operated laser processing
machines (HLMs) . 51
Annex D (informative) Parameter information of a risk assessment of laser radiation and
examples of calculations .53
Annex E (informative) Examples for the design of technical safety measures for hand-held or
hand-operated laser processing machines (HLMs) .56
Annex F (informative) Recommendations for the selection of personal protective equipment
for use with hand-held or hand-operated laser processing, machines (HLMs) . 61
Annex G (informative) Design recommendations for fume extraction systems on process
nozzles .64
Annex H (informative) Examples of common control devices used in hand-held laser processing
machines . 67
Bibliography .70
iv
ISO 11553-2:2026(en)
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.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are described
in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the different types
of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the editorial rules of the
ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
ISO draws attention to the possibility that the implementation of this document may involve the use of (a)
patent(s). ISO takes no position concerning the evidence, validity or applicability of any claimed patent
rights in respect thereof. As of the date of publication of this document, ISO had not received notice of (a)
patent(s) which may be required to implement this document. However, implementers are cautioned that
this may not represent the latest information, which may be obtained from the patent database available at
www.iso.org/patents. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions
related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the World Trade
Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 172, Optics and photonics, Subcommittee SC 9,
Laser and electro-optical systems, in collaboration with the European Committee for Standardization (CEN)
Technical Committee CEN/TC 123, Lasers and photonics,in accordance with the Agreement on technical
cooperation between ISO and CEN (Vienna Agreement) and with IEC/TC 76, Optical radiation safety and laser
equipment.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO 11553-2:2007), which has been technically
revised.
The main changes are as follows:
a) The document was changed to type-C standard;
b) added dates to references in the whole document and main body of the text;
c) several terms and definitions were modified or newly added;
d) the covered hazards as well as the requirements concerning the hazards were added in more detail;
e) Clause 4 was rewrote with new structure, the Table 1 was newly added, serving to list the significant
hazards and hazardous situations;
f) Table 2 was newly added in Clause 4, serving to list the further hazards and hazardous situations;
g) Clause 5 was rewrote with new structure. Table 3 was newly added in Clause 5 to describe the work
place safety for HLM;
h) Several subclauses of Clause 5 were rewrote with more detail;
i) Table 3 was modified in Clause 6.
j) Several subclauses of Clause 7 were added with more information;
k) several subclause headings were modified and several technical requirements were amended;
v
ISO 11553-2:2026(en)
l) some of the lists were renumbered;
m) previous Annex B was deleted, and example of risk assessment for HLM was added as Annex B;
n) new Annex C, Annex D, Annex E, Annex F, Annex G and Annex H were added.
A list of all parts in the ISO 11553 series can be found on the ISO website/IEC website.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html.
vi
ISO 11553-2:2026(en)
Introduction
This document is a type-C standard as stated in ISO 12100:2010.
This document is of relevance particularly for the following stakeholder groups representing the market
players with regards to machinery safety:
a) hand-held or hand-operated laser processing machines (HLMs) manufacturers (small, medium and
large enterprises); including manufacturers of sub/part machines such as devices or devices assembly
related to laser radiation, as well as system integrators (small, medium, and large enterprises);
NOTE Devices or device assemblies include, but are not limited to, those for: guiding; shaping, delivery,
protective, locking, control, enabling, limiting, impeding, switching, exhaust, stop, loading/feeding, scanning and
warning devices.
b) health and safety bodies (regulators, accident prevention organizations, market surveillance, etc.).
Others can be affected by the level of machinery safety achieved with the means of the document by the
above-mentioned stakeholder groups:
c) machine users/employers (small, medium and large enterprises);
d) machine users/employees (e.g. trade unions, organizations for people with special needs);
e) service providers, e.g. for maintenance (small, medium and large enterprise);
f) consumers (in case of machinery intended for use by consumers);
g) bystanders.
The above-mentioned stakeholder groups have been given the possibility to participate in the drafting
process of this document.
The machinery concerned and the extent to which hazards, hazardous situations or hazardous events are
covered are indicated in the Scope of this document.
When requirements of this type-C standard are different from those which are stated in type-A or type-B
standards, the requirements of this type-C standard take precedence over the requirements of the other
standards for machines that have been designed and built according to the requirements of this type-C
standard.
The purpose of this document is to prevent serious and irreversible injuries to persons and damage to
property
— by listing potential hazards generated by hand-held or hand-operated laser processing machines;
— by describing the risk assessment procedure for all relevant hazards;
— by specifying safety measures and verification procedures necessary for reducing the risk caused by
specific hazardous conditions;
— by providing references to pertinent standards;
— by specifying the information which is to be supplied to the user so that they can establish proper
procedures and precautions at the workplace.
vii
International Standard ISO 11553-2:2026(en)
Safety of machinery — Laser processing machines —
Part 2:
Safety requirements for hand-held or hand-operated laser
processing machines
1 Scope
This document deals with all significant hazards, hazardous situations or hazardous events relevant to
hand-held or hand-operated laser processing machines (HLMs), when they are used as intended and under
conditions of misuse which are reasonably foreseeable by the manufacturer. HLM is the machine, as defined
in ISO 11553-1:2020, 3.7, in which laser radiation is generated, where the laser provides sufficient energy/
power to cause a phase transition in a part of the workpiece and where the laser output or workpiece to be
processed is guided manually or hand-held during the laser material processing.
This document defines general design requirements of HLM. HLM includes the laser device, beam-guiding
device (e.g. mirror, fibre, lenses), beam-shaping device (e.g. telescope, focusing), and controls. The laser
assembly as an integral part of the HLM or only the laser processing head is hand-held or hand-operated
during the laser material processing.
This document does not apply
— to laser processing machines which are remotely controlled by a manual controller (hand-operated
controller), such as joy sticks, keyboard, etc., without touching a workpiece or a part mechanically
connected with the laser material processing head by using the hand(s) of the operator (user)
— to laser processing machines without a drive system which may not belong to machinery. And the laser
processing apparatus without moving parts, which may not be considered as machinery in “Type C
standard”.
— to medical or cosmetic applications for the treatment of living human or animal tissue;
— to weapon applications, (e.g. such as with regard to military applications, direct close combat.)
NOTE “hand-operated laser processing machine” is synonymous with “hand-guided laser processing machine”
in this document. Hand-operated laser processing machines often use manual force reduction means such as wheels,
supports, etc., for manual positioning of the laser processing heads or the workpieces.
It is applicable to HLMs using laser radiation to process materials.
The purpose of this document is to draw attention to the hazards related to HLMs and to prevent personal
injury. Depending on the application and the location/operating conditions of HLMs, a number of different
significant hazards can arise. This document describes both the areas of hazards analysis and risk
assessment as well as protective measures.
Requirements dealing with noise as a hazard are covered by ISO 11553-3:2013.
This document does not apply to laser products or equipment manufactured solely or expressly for
applications which are excluded from the Scope of ISO 11553-1:2020. This document is not applicable for
HLMs which have been manufactured before the date of publication of this standard.
ISO 11553-2:2026(en)
HLMs include the following types:
a) HLMs which are designed as all-in-one laser assembly including the beam delivery/forming(shaping)
system and optional features such as gas nozzles, material (e.g. powder, wire) feed system;
b) HLMs where the relevant devices are connected by a beam guidance system (e.g. optical fibre) and
power/control cables to an external laser assembly device and which includes only the beam delivery/
forming(shaping) system and optional features such as gas nozzles, material (e.g. powder, wire) feed
system;
c) laser processing machines where the workpiece is manually moved under/relative to the laser beam
(see informative Annex A).
The intended use of HLMs covers both:
d) movement of elements or workpieces by hand to be processed under/relatively to stationary laser
beams as shielded , and
e) movement of the laser processing head (beam shaping device) by hand to move laser beam(s) over or
relative to elements or workpieces to be processed.
Laser processing machines, where laser processing is performed with hand-held or hand-operated
workpieces outside the fixed (neither hand-held nor hand-operated by the operator or user) laser processing
machines are out of the scope of this document. Such a fixed laser processing machine is to be covered by
ISO 11553-1:2020.
HLMs are intended for the industrial use and can be only operated by trained and authorized personnel in
indoor and/or outdoor environments/locations (e.g. cleaning of facades, statues).
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content constitutes
requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references,
the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 3864-1:2011, Graphical symbols — Safety colours and safety signs — Part 1: Design principles for safety
signs and safety markings
ISO 6385:2016, Ergonomics principles in the design of work systems
ISO 11145:2018, Optics and photonics — Lasers and laser-related equipment — Vocabulary and symbols
ISO 11553-1:2020, Safety of machinery — Laser processing machines — Part 1: Laser safety requirements
ISO 11553-3:2013, Safety of machinery — Laser processing machines — Part 3: Noise reduction and noise
measurement methods for laser processing machines and hand-held processing devices and associated auxiliary
equipment (accuracy grade 2)
ISO 12100:2010, Safety of machinery — General principles for design — Risk assessment and risk reduction
ISO 13732-1:2006, Ergonomics of the thermal environment — Methods for the assessment of human responses
to contact with surfaces — Part 1: Hot surfaces
ISO 13849-1:2023, Safety of machinery — Safety-related parts of control systems — Part 1: General principles
for design
ISO 13850:2015, Safety of machinery — Emergency stop function — Principles for design
ISO 13851:2019, Safety of machinery — Two-hand control devices — Principles for design and selection
ISO 14118:2017, Safety of machinery — Prevention of unexpected start-up
ISO 11553-2:2026(en)
ISO 14119:2024, Safety of machinery — Interlocking devices associated with guards — Principles for design and
selection
ISO 16321-1:2022, Eye and face protection for occupational use - Part 1: General requirements
ISO 16321-2:2021, Eye and face protection for occupational use — Part 2: Additional requirements for protectors
used during welding and related techniques
ISO 21904-1:2020, Health and safety in welding and allied processes — Equipment for capture and separation of
welding fume — Part 1: General requirements
ISO 20607:2019, Safety of machinery — Instruction handbook — General drafting principles
ISO 26800:2011, Ergonomics — General approach, principles and concepts
IEC 60204-1:2016/AMD1: 2021, Safety of machinery — Electrical equipment of machines — Part 1: General
requirements
IEC 60364-1:2025, Low-voltage electrical installations— Part 1: Fundamental principles, assessment of general
characteristics, and definitions
IEC 60529:1989/AMD1: 1999+ AMD2: 2013, Degrees of protection provided by enclosures (IP Code)
IEC 60825-1:2014, Safety of laser products — Part 1: Equipment classification and requirements
IEC 60825-4:2022, Safety of laser products — Part 4: Laser guards
IEC 61000-6-2:2016, Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) - Part 6-2: Generic standards - Immunity standard
for industrial environments
IEC 61000-6-3:2020, Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) - Part 6-3: Generic standards - Emission standard for
equipment in residential environments
IEC 61000-6-4:2018, Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) - Part 6-4: Generic standards - Emission standard
for industrial environments
IEC 61000-6-7:2014, Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) - Part 6-7: Generic standards - Immunity requirements
for equipment intended to perform functions in a safety-related system (functional safety) in industrial locations
IEC 62061:2021+AMD1: 2024, Safety of machinery — Functional safety of safety-related control systems
ISO 19818-1:2021, Eye and face protection — Protection against laser radiation — Part 1: Requirements and
test methods
IEC 61326-1:2020, Electrical equipment for measurement, control and laboratory use –EMC requirements –Part
1: General requirements
EN 1005-1:2001+AMD1: 2008, Safety of machinery - Human physical performance - Part 1: Terms and definitions
EN 1005-2:2003+AMD1: 2008, Safety of machinery Human physical performance Part 2: Manual handling of
machinery and component parts of machinery
EN 1005-3:2002+AMD1: 2008, Safety of Machinery - Human Physical Performance - Part 3: Recommended Force
Limits for Machinery Operation
EN 1005-4:2005+AMD1: 2008, Safety of machinery - Human physical performance - Part 4: Evaluation of
working postures and movements in relation to machinery
EN 1005-5:2007+AMD1: 2008, Safety of machinery - Human physical performance - Part 5: Risk assessment for
repetitive handling at high frequency
IEC 60974-5:2019, Arc welding equipment - Part 5: Wire feeders
ISO 11553-2:2026(en)
ISO 9355-1:1999, Ergonomic requirements for the design of displays and control actuators - Part 1: Human
interactions with displays and control actuators
ISO 9355-2:1999, Ergonomic requirements for the design of displays and control actuators - Part 2: Displays
ISO 9355-3:2006, Ergonomic requirements for the design of displays and control actuators - Part 3: Control
actuators
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO 11145:2018, ISO 11553-1:2020,
ISO 12100:2010, ISO 13849-1:2023, IEC 60825-1:2014, IEC 60825-4:2022 and the following apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https:// www .iso .org/ obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at https:// www .electropedia .org/
3.1
confined space
working area surrounded on all sides, or for the most part, by walls where they, on account of their
confinement or containment of materials, preparation or equipment, augment or can augment particular
hazards that considerably exceed the hazard potential normally prevailing at workplaces
3.2
disposal unit
equipment that captures and removes effluents and/or chemical pollutants (e.g. fumes, gases) and/or by
products during laser material processing passing these on for filtration
EXAMPLE Capture devices, pipes, filtration systems, ventilation systems.
3.3
hazard area
danger zone
any space within and/or around machinery in which a person can be exposed to a hazard
Note 1 to entry: There may be several hazard areas (danger zones) on the same workplace depending on the types of
hazards and relevant safety control measures a
...