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ISO 10218-1:2025 is the current safety standard for industrial robots. ISO published it in February 2025. It replaces ISO 10218-1:2011, which ISO has withdrawn.
The standard tells robot makers which safety rules to follow when they design and build a robot. If your business makes, exports, imports or buys industrial robots, this standard affects your documents, contracts and risk reviews.
Global Certification Services (GCS) helps companies understand ISO 10218-1:2025 and move from the 2011 edition to the 2025 edition. We support manufacturers, exporters and buyers across the Middle East, Africa, Europe and Asia.
What Is ISO 10218-1:2025?
ISO 10218-1:2025 is the global safety standard for industrial robots. ISO/TC 299, the ISO robotics committee, develops and maintains it. Read our ISO/TC 299 robotics standards guide ( ISO/TC 299 Robotics Standards page.
The standard covers the robot itself, including its design, controls and built-in safety functions. It asks robot makers to do three things:
- Build safe design into the robot from the start
- Add protective measures to the robot
- Give users clear information on safe use
Your buyers, contracts and auditors will expect this edition.
Is ISO 10218-1:2011 Still Valid?
No. ISO withdrew ISO 10218-1:2011 when it published the 2025 edition.
If your manuals, contracts or supplier files still cite the 2011 edition, update them. Buyers and auditors expect the current version. Old references can slow down customer approvals and cross-border projects.
What Does ISO 10218-1:2025 Cover?
ISO 10218-1:2025 sets the safety rules for designing and building industrial robots. It includes:
- Safe design rules for robot makers
- Protective measures built into the robot
- Manuals, warnings and safety instructions
- Two robot classes, each with its own safety rules
- Robot features for collaborative applications
- Cybersecurity rules that affect robot safety
- A normal stop safety function
- Updated rules for each operating mode
What Does ISO 10218-1:2025 Not Cover?
This standard covers the robot, not the full robot cell. ISO 10218-2:2025 covers the cell, the surrounding equipment and the task. A robot that meets Part 1 still needs a Part 2 safety check before it goes into use.
ISO 10218-1 also builds on two base standards. ISO 12100 sets the general method for risk assessment. ISO 13849-1:2023 covers safety-related control systems.
ISO Standards
- ISO 9001 Certification
- ISO 14001 Certification
- ISO 45001 Certification
- ISO 22000 Certification
- ISO 27001 Certification
- ISO 13485 Certification
- ISO 50001 Certification
- ISO 37001 Certification
- ISO 21001 Certification
- ISO 41001 Certification
- ISO 22301 Certification
- ISO 27701 Certification
- ISO 42001 Certification
- ISO 21678 Certification
- ISO 22241 Certification
- ISO 22716 Certification
- ISO 26000 Certification
- ISO 27031 Certification
- ISO 46001 Certification
- ISO 80079-34 Certification
- SA 8000 Certification
- ISO 30401 Certification
- ISO 20121 Certification
What Changed in ISO 10218-1:2025?
The 2025 edition adds and clarifies several rules that the 2011 edition did not have.
Clearer Design Requirements
Robot makers now get clearer rules for safe design. The standard spells out what to build in before the robot leaves the factory.
Two Robot Classes
ISO 10218-1:2025 splits robots into two classes. Class I covers small, low-power robots that pose no significant hazard. Class II covers all other industrial robots. Each class has its own functional safety rules, so makers must confirm the class of each product.
Functional Safety Linked to Robot Class
The 2011 edition only implied many functional safety rules. The 2025 edition states them clearly and links them to the robot class. Makers and integrators can now see which safety level applies to which robot.
New Operating Mode Rules
The 2025 edition updates the rules for automatic, manual and teach modes. Each mode carries its own safety expectations.
Normal Stop Safety Function
The standard now requires a normal stop safety function. It sits alongside the emergency stop and protective stop. It gives the robot a defined, safe way to stop during normal work, and it reduces misuse of the emergency stop.
Cybersecurity That Affects Safety
The 2025 edition adds cybersecurity rules where a security gap could cause a physical hazard. As robots connect to more networks, this matters more. Our ISO/IEC 27001 certification support helps you build a wider information security system alongside these rules.
Collaborative Applications
Rules for robots that work near people used to sit in ISO/TS 15066. ISO 10218-2:2025 now holds most of those rules. ISO 10218-1:2025 covers the robot features that support collaborative applications.
Key Robotics Standards Developed by ISO/TC 299
These are the most important ISO/TC 299 documents for manufacturers and integrators.
ISO 10218-1:2025
This standard sets safety requirements for industrial robots themselves. It replaces the withdrawn 2011 edition and splits robots into two classes, so large heavy robots and smaller collaborative robots get different treatment.
ISO 10218-2:2025
This standard sets safety requirements for robot applications and robot cells. It replaces ISO 10218-2:2011 and now includes most of the collaborative robot requirements from ISO/TS 15066.
ISO/TS 15066:2016
This Technical Specification gave the first detailed cobot guidance. Most of its content now sits in ISO 10218-2:2025. ISO has flagged it for revision, and ISO/AWI 15066-1 is in development.
ISO/TR 20218-1:2018
This Technical Report covers end-effector design, which includes grippers and tooling. It supports safer tool design for industrial robots.
ISO/TR 20218-2:2017
This Technical Report covers manual load and unload stations in robot cells. It gives practical design guidance for these stations.
ISO 8373:2021
This standard defines robotics vocabulary. It replaces the withdrawn ISO 8373:2012.
ISO 9283:1998
This standard sets performance criteria and test methods for industrial robots. Buyers and makers use it to compare robots on equal terms.
ISO 13482:2014
This standard sets safety requirements for personal care robots. An updated edition is in development.
ISO 9409-1:2004
This standard defines the mechanical interface between a robot and its tool. It lets robots and end-effectors from different makers fit together.
ISO/PAS 5672:2023
This Publicly Available Specification sets test methods for force and pressure. It supports safety checks for collaborative applications.
ISO 22166-1:2021
This standard sets modularity requirements for service robots. It supports robot parts that you can swap and combine.
| Standard | Focus Area | Status |
| ISO 10218-1:2025 | Industrial robot safety | Published |
| ISO 10218-2:2025 | Robot applications and cells, incl. collaborative | Published |
| ISO/TS 15066:2016 | Collaborative robot guidance | Published, to be revised (most content now in ISO 10218-2:2025) |
| ISO/TR 20218-1:2018 | End-effector design | Published |
| ISO/TR 20218-2:2017 | Manual load/unload stations | Published |
| ISO 8373:2021 | Robotics vocabulary | Published |
| ISO 9283:1998 | Robot performance testing | Published |
| ISO 13482:2014 | Personal care robot safety | Published, under revision |
| ISO 9409-1:2004 | Mechanical interfaces | Published |
| ISO/PAS 5672:2023 | Force and pressure testing | Published |
| ISO 22166-1:2021 | Service robot modularity | Published |
Not sure which standards apply to your operation?