GB12557-2024
Woodworking machines—Safety technical specification
木工机床 安全技术规范
GB 12557-2024 is a current mandatory Chinese national standard for Woodworking machines—Safety technical specification. It appears in the Electronics compliance cluster with a product safety focus and has an implementation date of Oct 1, 2025.
Applicability depends on product scope, certification route, competent authority notices and transition rules. Requst for the translation or verify source before using this record in a compliance decision.
Compliance overview
Scope and applicability
This standard specifies the safety technical requirements and testing methods for woodworking machines. It applies to fixed and movable woodworking machines such as sawing, planing, milling, drilling, mortising, turning, and grinding machines, excluding hand-held power tools. It is mandatory for all manufacturers of stationary and movable woodworking equipment entering the Chinese market. The standard serves as a general safety specification, while specific machine types may adopt corresponding ISO standards as recommended national standards.
Technical requirements
The standard outlines comprehensive safety requirements across several domains: 1. Control Systems: Safety-related components of control systems (SRP/CS) must meet specific performance levels (PLr) as defined in GB/T 16855.1-2018. This includes requirements for start, stop, emergency stop, braking of cutter axes, and mode selection. Control devices must be placed at a height between 600mm and 1800mm for safe and ergonomic operation. 2. Mechanical Hazards: The standard details requirements to mitigate mechanical risks, including stability, breakage during operation, and the design of tool holders and cutters. It specifies the use of flanges for circular saws and mandates automatic braking if the inertia run-down time exceeds 10 seconds. Protective devices, including fixed, movable, and interlocked guards, must be robust and not hinder machine adjustment or chip evacuation. 3. Prevention of Ejection and Access: Machines with ejection risks must be equipped with appropriate safety devices like riving knives for circular saws and anti-kickback fingers for planers. The standard also defines safety distances to prevent access to dangerous moving parts in both cutting and non-cutting zones. 4. Other Hazards: Requirements are set for fire and explosion prevention, noise emission limits (categorized by machine type), dust and chip emission control, and electrical equipment compliance with GB/T 5226.1-2019. It also covers pneumatics, hydraulics, electromagnetic compatibility, and laser safety (Class 2 or lower).
Testing methods
Compliance is generally verified through a combination of document review (checking drawings and circuit diagrams), physical inspection of the machine, measurements (e.g., dimensions, noise levels), and functional testing. Specific tests include: - Noise measurement: Conducted according to JB/T 9953-2020 to ensure sound pressure levels do not exceed the limits in Table 1. - Electrical safety tests: Including protective bonding circuit continuity verification, insulation resistance tests, and dielectric tests as per GB/T 5226.1-2019. - Functional checks: Verifying the operation of safety functions like emergency stops, braking systems, interlocks, and speed monitoring.
FAQs
What products are regulated under GB 12557-2024?
GB 12557-2024 applies to fixed and movable woodworking machines, including sawing, planing, milling, drilling, mortising, turning, and grinding machines, as well as multi-process and auxiliary machines. It excludes hand-held woodworking power tools.
Are there any updates from the previous version of GB 12557?
Yes, the 2024 version replaces GB 12557-2010. Key updates include the addition of requirements for manual reset control, stop detection and monitoring, speed monitoring of moving parts, time delay, and remote service. It also introduces new requirements for flanges on circular saw machines, hold-to-run controls, two-hand controls, and electro-sensitive protection equipment (ESPE).
How does GB 12557-2024 handle noise emission limits?
The standard sets specific maximum sound pressure level limits for different types of woodworking machines and production lines, ranging from ≤78 dB(A) to ≤90 dB(A). If a machine cannot meet these limits even after noise reduction measures, it must include specific noise emission data and instructions for further protective measures in its sales materials and manual.
The summary above provides a high-level overview of GB 12557-2024. To ensure complete compliance for your products entering the Chinese market, a precise and professional translation of the full technical specifications is essential. Purchase our high-quality English translation of GB 12557-2024 today to access all detailed parameters, tables, and testing procedures.
Applicability hints
- Type
- Safety
- CCS
- J65
- ICS
- 79.120.10
- Competent department
- Ministry of Industry and Information Technology
- Technical committee
- National Technical Committee on Woodworking Machines and Tools of Standardization Administration of China
Relationships
Replaces:GB 12557-2010