Standards Development

Scope

European standard EN 474-1:2006+A6:2019 “Earth-moving machinery. Safety. General requirements” was published in October 2019. This latest version normatively references ISO 13031:2016. However, when EN 474-1:2006+A6:2109 becomes harmonised (possibly in October 2021 it will be harmonised with a restriction, which will state “This publication does not concern clause B.2 - Quick couplers, of this standard but only in relation with EN 474-4:2006+A2:2012 requirements for backhoe loaders and EN 474-5:2006+A3:2013 requirements for hydraulic excavators, the application of which does not confer a presumption of conformity to the essential health and safety requirements 1.1.2. b), 1.1.2. c) and 1.3.3 of Annex I to Directive 2006/42/EC”. In order to overcome this restriction the draft standards FprEN 474-4 and FprEN 474-5 include additional safety requirements for quick couplers. These additional requirements mean that ISO 13031 and the EN 474 series will no longer be aligned. The intention of this new work item proposal is to amend ISO 13031 so that it aligns with the new, additional requirements of the EN 474 series with regard to quick coupler safety.

The technical changes being proposed for the amendment of ISO 13031 are:

Quick couplers shall have a means to minimise the possibility of an attachment being inadvertently dropped to the ground prior to correct engagement of the quick coupler system (i.e. fully engaged with the attachment in its working position). This means shall either:

• Provide automatic mechanical locking of the first pin contacted during the process of coupling. This automatic mechanical locking may be activated upon initial contact with the pin or upon activation of the engagement control. The mechanical lock shall only be able to be released as part of the disengagement function, or

• Prevent the lifting of the attachment until correct engagement is achieved, or

• Retain the attachment throughout the entire stroke of the bucket cylinder with the arm at an angle of 30° measured through the centreline of the boom pivot and bucket pivot, from vertical away from the operator’s station, according to figure x and with the coupler not fully engaged, or

• Provide an acoustic and a visual signal, at the operator’s station if the engagement is not complete with the attachment in its working position.

The requirements above shall be verified with a functional test. The test shall be performed with the attachments intended to be used according to the machine manufacturer’s instructions.

Purpose

The purpose of amending ISO 13031 would be to add the additional requirements that have recently been included in FprEN 474-4 and FprEN 474-5 so that both sets of standards have uniform requirements. This will greatly benefit OEMs and the suppliers of quick couplers as there will then only be one set of requirements, regardless of where the products are sold/used.