Overview - What ISO 22291:2022 covers
ISO 22291:2022 defines safety requirements and means of verification for wetlaid-nonwoven machinery used in nonwoven production. The standard applies to complete machines and key subsystems - including the approach flow system, headbox, wire section and jet head, hydroentangling unit, dryers, finishing, quality control systems (QCS), winders, drives and control systems. Annex C provides illustrative diagrams of typical wetlaid-nonwoven machinery and components. ISO 22291:2022 addresses all significant hazards and hazardous situations foreseeable by a manufacturer during normal use and foreseeable misuse, but excludes pressure hazards in steam-heated drying cylinders, equipment under pressure, and machines intended for explosive atmospheres. It is not retroactive to machines built before publication.
Key topics and technical requirements
The standard covers comprehensive machine-safety topics and verification steps, including:
- Risk assessment and design/risk minimization across machine life phases (design, installation, operation, maintenance)
- Protective measures: guarding, interlocks, emergency stops, start-up warnings, isolation and energy dissipation to prevent unexpected start-up
- Access and ergonomics: workplaces, means of access, elevated operating positions, walkways and servicing points
- Control and drive systems: electrical, hydraulic and pneumatic equipment, control logic and actuators
- Rotating parts and transmission: rolls, shafts, power transmission enclosures and braking systems
- Special operations: web threading (manual and automatic), cleaning/removal of broke, mobile handling devices, floor-mounted/overhead rails
- Hazard-specific protections: noise control, hot surfaces, static electricity, laser/radiation, fire prevention and material/chemical hazards
- Verification methods: procedures and means of verification for safety requirements and compliance evidence
Practical applications - who uses ISO 22291:2022
ISO 22291:2022 is intended for:
- Machine designers and manufacturers developing wetlaid-nonwoven equipment
- Plant managers and safety engineers performing risk assessments, commissioning and maintenance
- Procurement teams specifying safety requirements for new machinery
- Testing laboratories and conformity assessors conducting verification and validation
- Standards and compliance professionals aligning machine design with international safety best practices
Use cases include safe machine design, documented risk reduction, operator safety procedures, retrofitting safety upgrades, and supplier evaluation.
Related standards (commonly used together)
ISO 22291:2022 is typically used alongside general machine-safety and control standards such as:
These complementary standards help implement the control-system, electrical and risk-assessment requirements referenced in ISO 22291:2022.
Keywords: ISO 22291:2022, wetlaid-nonwoven machinery safety, safety requirements, headbox, hydroentangling, dryer, winder, risk assessment, machine safety standards.
