Overview
ISO 20957-1:2013 - "Stationary training equipment - Part 1: General safety requirements and test methods" is the international general standard that defines safety and test requirements for all types of stationary training equipment. It covers devices used in controlled training areas (sport halls, clubs, rehabilitation centres), domestic settings, and motor-driven equipment. The standard also addresses environmental aspects and specifies a classification system for equipment use (e.g., classes S, I, H). Where specific parts of ISO 20957 exist for particular machine types, those specific requirements take priority over this general part.
Key topics and technical requirements
ISO 20957-1:2013 establishes general safety requirements and test methods, including:
- Classification and scope: accuracy classes and usage classes for different application environments.
- Stability and external construction: requirements to prevent tipping and hazardous external features.
- Entrapment and accessible areas: rules to avoid pinch points and dangerous access to moving parts.
- Adjustment and locking mechanisms: safe adjustment procedures and strength tests for fasteners and locks.
- Ropes, belts, chains and guides: tensile and guide testing for load-bearing components.
- Hand grips and rotating components: testing of grips, removing force and rotating-handgrip safety.
- Endurance and isometric testing: durability tests and static load (isometric) requirements.
- Heart-rate systems and control modes: verification tests for heart-rate measurement and related control functions.
- Electrical safety: where applicable, reference to electrical safety principles.
- Loading definitions: intrinsic (bodymass) and extrinsic loading and maximum specified load marking.
- Care, maintenance, assembly instructions and marking: required documentation and labelling to ensure safe use and maintenance.
- Test methods and reporting: detailed test conditions, procedures (stability, tensile, endurance, etc.) and test-report requirements.
Practical applications and users
ISO 20957-1 is used by:
- Manufacturers and product designers to design compliant stationary training equipment (strength machines, treadmills, rowing machines, steppers, etc.).
- Test laboratories and certification bodies to perform standardized safety and endurance tests.
- Procurement and facility managers (gyms, hotels, rehabilitation centres, schools) to select and verify safe equipment.
- Regulators and conformity assessors for compliance checks and product safety oversight.
- Service and maintenance teams for guidance on care, assembly and marking that support long-term safe operation.
Keywords: ISO 20957-1, stationary training equipment, safety requirements, test methods, equipment classification, endurance testing, electrical safety, heart rate measurement, assembly instructions.
Related standards
- Other parts of ISO 20957 (Parts 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10) for specific equipment types (strength training, benches, treadmills, rowing machines, steppers, ellipticals, exercise bikes).
- Referenced norms: ISO 12100 (machine safety/risk assessment), ISO 6508-1 (hardness testing), EN 60335-1 and EN 60601-1 where electrical and medical-device safety overlap.
Open preview (PDF)Stationary training equipment — Part 1: General safety requirements and test methods