Standard UNI EN ISO 14122-3:2016

La UNI EN ISO 14122-3:2016 has been in force in Italy since 13 October 2016 and adopts EN ISO 14122-3:2016. (UNI)

It is therefore much more relevant than UNI 11996:2025 when designing a guardrail for piattaforma di lavoro collegata a un macchinario.

 

What it specifies for guardrails

For piattaforme, passerelle e pianerottoli, the standard specifies the following requirements, among others:

• if the potential fall height is maggiore di 500 mm, a guardrail must be installed;
• minimum guardrail height: 1.100 mm;
• the guardrail must have corrimano;
• deve esserci almeno un corrente intermedio or equivalent protection;
• the clear distance between the handrail and intermediate rail, and between the intermediate rail and toeboard, must be ≤ 500 mm;
• toe fermapiede/tavola fermapiede must have a minimum height of 100 mm;
• the toeboard must be positioned no more than 12 mm dal piano di calpestio;
• if there is an opening between the platform and the structure, machine or wall larger than 180 mm, a guardrail is required;

• if the opening is larger than 20 mm, a toeboard must always be provided.

   

The spacing between posts also matters. The standard gives a recommended value of preferibile ≤ 1.500 mm; if this spacing is exceeded, the strength of the posts and their fixings must be checked specifically.

 

La EN ISO 14122-3 is part of the following series of standards:

• 14122-1 → selection and general requirements for means of access;
• 14122-2 → piattaforme di lavoro e passerelle;
• 14122-3 → stairs, stepladders and guardrails;
• 14122-4 → fixed vertical ladders.

 

ISO specifies that part 3 must be used together with 14122-1 e riguarda mezzi di accesso non-powered , forming part of stationary machinery, including certain adjustable or movable parts of permanent means of access.

When considering piattaforma di lavoro intorno a un macchinario , the design must take account of 14122-2 + 14122-3, rather than only 14122-3.

 

In pratica:

piattaforma → UNI EN ISO 14122-2
platform guardrail → UNI EN ISO 14122-3

Standard 14122-3 covers more than geometrical dimensions. It also includes strength requirements for guardrails and their fixings, so the supporting structure must also be checked for a product intended to be placed on the market.