Overview
ISO 11111-6:2005 - Textile machinery - Safety requirements - Part 6: Fabric manufacturing machinery specifies significant hazards and corresponding safety requirements for fabric manufacturing machinery. Intended to be used in conjunction with ISO 11111-1, this Type C standard covers machinery and related equipment for weaving, knitting and tufting, and addresses design and operational measures to reduce mechanical, electrical and process-related risks.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope and applicability
- Applies to all equipment intended for weaving (shuttle, rapier, projectile, air/water‑jet, pile, narrow fabric, jacquard), knitting (circular, flat, warp) and tufting.
- Hazard identification
- Lists significant hazards common to fabric manufacturing and machine‑specific risks (e.g., crushing, shearing, impact from sleys, gears and jacquard mechanisms).
- Start/stop and inadvertent start prevention
- Requirements to prevent unintended start-up: two‑button control devices, controls with distinct motions and other design measures to reduce accidental actuation.
- Guarding and safety devices
- Use of fixed guards, movable interlocked guards, trip devices and electro‑sensitive protective devices (AOPDs) (referenced to IEC 61496) to protect danger zones such as the reed/temple area and shed sides.
- Automatic restart controls
- Restart after procedures (e.g., broken pick removal or weft threading) is only permitted when guards/safety devices are engaged and an optical signal is activated to inform operators.
- Verification and information
- Clause on verification of safety measures and requirements for user information and documentation (machine use, maintenance, risk reduction).
- Ergonomics, noise, dust, fire
- Cross‑references to requirements for noise testing (ISO 9902 series), ergonomics, emissions, hot surfaces and other occupational safety considerations.
Practical applications
- Use ISO 11111-6:2005 to:
- Guide designers and manufacturers in safe design and construction of fabric manufacturing machines.
- Support safety assessments and risk reduction measures during installation or modernization of weaving, knitting or tufting lines.
- Define acceptance criteria for machine guarding, control systems and automatic functions in production and maintenance procedures.
- Typical outcomes: reduced accidental start incidents, clearer maintenance procedures, improved operator safety around moving parts (sley, reed, jacquard, rollers).
Who should use this standard
- Textile machine designers, OEMs and systems integrators
- Plant safety engineers, maintenance teams and machine operators
- Certification bodies and compliance auditors assessing textile machinery safety
Related standards
Keywords: ISO 11111-6:2005, textile machinery safety, fabric manufacturing machinery, weaving safety, knitting safety, tufting safety, machine guarding, AOPD, risk assessment.
