Overview
ISO 6016:2008 - "Earth‑moving machinery - Methods of measuring the masses of whole machines, their equipment and components" - specifies standardized procedures to determine the mass of earth‑moving machines, attachments, equipment and components. The standard covers use of weighbridges and force transducers, defines relevant mass terms (for example operating mass (OM), gross machinery mass (GMM), shipping mass (SM), rated payload (PL) and rated ballast mass (BM)) and sets out requirements for preparing, measuring and reporting mass data for machines defined under ISO 6165.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Measurement methods: Describes two principal methods - the single‑measurement method (simultaneous readings on weighbridges or suspended force transducers) and the cumulative measurement method (successive partial measurements summed to give total mass).
- Apparatus: Defines apparatus types - weighbridges, pressure/tension force transducers, decking and knife edges - and requires calibration and precision consistent with tolerances in ISO 9248.
- Preparation for testing: Machine must be clean and configured per manufacturer specification; operator, fuel and fluid levels set to defined states (e.g., OM includes operator 75 kg, full fuel and specified fluids); wheels/brakes and crawler contact must be correctly set; horizontal ground reactions must be zero.
- Measurement procedure details: Placement rules for weighbridges and transducers, use of decking/knife edges for crawlers, deduction of mass of slinging/decking from results, and recommendations for articulated machines (tested straight).
- Axle loads and components: Procedures for measuring axle load distribution and for determining masses of attachments, optional equipment or individual components.
- Reporting requirements: Test report must identify the machine (manufacturer, model, PIN), measurement method and apparatus, measurement results (including partial masses if cumulative method used) and specified defined masses (OM, GMM, SM, etc.).
Applications and who uses this standard
ISO 6016:2008 is intended for:
- Equipment manufacturers and designers documenting machine masses for identification plates and technical data.
- Test laboratories and conformity assessment bodies performing mass verification and certification.
- Fleet managers, transport and logistics planners calculating shipping weights and cargo loads.
- Regulatory bodies and authorities assessing axle loads, road use compliance, ROPS/brake approvals and safety standards.
- Engineers developing attachments, ballast configurations and stability analyses.
Keywords: ISO 6016:2008, earth‑moving machinery, mass measurement, weighbridge, force transducer, operating mass, axle load, cumulative measurement.
Related standards
- ISO 6165:2006 - Earth‑moving machinery - Basic types - Identification and terms and definitions
- ISO 9248:1992 - Earth‑moving machinery - Units for dimensions, performance and capacities, and their measurement accuracies
This standard provides a clear, repeatable framework for accurate mass measurement of construction machinery, supporting safety, transport planning and regulatory compliance.
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