Updated ANSI/A3 standards address industrial robot safety

U.S. adoption of ISO 10218 will lead to safer, smarter industrial robots worldwide, says A3. Source: A3

The Association for Advancing Automation, or A3, this week published the revised ANSI/A3 R15.06-2025 American National Standard for Industrial Robots and Robot Systems – Safety Requirements. The updated standard is the most significant advance in industrial robot safety requirements in more than a decade, according to A3.

“This is more than a milestone in safety standardization. It’s a call to action,” stated Jeff Burnstein, president of A3. “Publishing this safety standard is perhaps the most important thing A3 can do, as it directly impacts the safety of millions of people working in industrial environments around the world.”

Ann Arbor, Mich.-based A3 is a leading advocate for the benefits of automating. Its members include over 1,400 manufacturers, component suppliers, systems integrators, end users, academic institutions, research groups, and consulting firms.

ANSI/A3 R15.06-2025 covers applications, robot cells

The revised standard is now available for purchase in protected PDF format, and it includes:

• Part 1: Safety requirements for industrial robots
• Part 2: Safety requirements for industrial robot applications and robot cells

A3 said it expects to publish Part 3, which will address safety requirements for users of industrial robot cells, later this year. Once available, Part 3 will be retroactively provided at no additional cost to anyone who purchases the full standard now.

R15.06 is the U.S. national adoption of ISO 10218 Parts 1 and 2 and is a revision of ANSI/RIA R15.06-2012. The Robotic Industries Association (RIA), which originally published the 2012 version of this standard, is now part of A3.

Editor’s note: A3’s Jeff Burnstein will participate in a panel on “Closing the Robotics Gap With China” at RoboBusiness 2025, which will be on Oct. 15 and 16 in Santa Clara, Calif. Registration is now open.

Key enhancements in industrial robot standards

• Clarified functional safety requirements that improve usability and compliance for manufacturers and integrators
• Integrated guidance for collaborative robot applications, consolidating ISO/TS 15066
• New content on end effectors and manual load/unload procedures, derived from ISO/TR 20218-1 and ISO/TR 20218-2
• Updated robot classifications, with corresponding safety functions and test methodologies
• Cybersecurity guidance, now included as part of safety planning and implementation
• Refined terminology, including the replacement of “safety-rated monitored stop” with “monitored standstill” for broader technical accuracy

“This standard delivers clearer guidance, smarter classifications, and a roadmap for safety in the era of intelligent automation,” said Carole Franklin, director of standards development for robotics at A3. “It empowers manufacturers and integrators to design and deploy safer systems more confidently while supporting innovation without compromising human well-being.”

Safety requirements available for purchase

The revised edition of the ANSI/A3 R15.06-2025 standard can be purchased globally through A3. Companies and professionals looking to stay compliant with the latest safety requirements can acquire the standard through the A3 Standards online store. Pricing starts at $655 U.S.

A3 hosts a number of industry-leading events, including the Humanoid Robot Forum, FOCUS: Intelligent Vision & Industrial AI Conference, International Robot Safety Conference, the A3 Business Forum, and Automate.

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