Functional Safety Certification for Inventory Robots: ISO 3691-4 Explained

Date
2027-03-26
Location
Online
Host
Zach L

About this event

A Standards Interpretation Session for Machine Safety Specialists pursuing functional safety certification. A live 30-minute standards interpretation session on ISO 3691-4 (Driverless Industrial Trucks) for inventory robots, built for machine safety specialists pursuing functional safety certification. What We'll Cover: What ISO 3691-4 (Driverless Industrial Trucks) requires and how its scope applies to inventory robots Mapping ISO 3691-4 clauses to the certification evidence assessors expect System-specific hazards and safety functions typical of inventory robots Common findings that delay certification, and how to avoid them A practical readiness roadmap for machine safety specialists preparing for assessment Related topics: ISO 3691-4 · Inventory Robots · functional safety certification

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About ISO 3691-4 (Driverless Industrial Trucks)

This event covers the compliance, engineering, and verification requirements defined by ISO 3691-4.

ISO 3691-4 specifies safety requirements for driverless industrial trucks (AGVs and autonomous variants) and their systems: personnel detection, speed control, load handling, and the operating-zone regime governing where and how functions apply.

What it regulates

Truck safety functions (person detection fields, emergency/protective stops, speed limits per zone type, warning indication), operating zone classification (confined, restricted, operational/public interplay), and system commissioning.

Who must comply

AGV/AMR vendors selling globally, site owners defining zones with integrators — the truck-side EN counterpart harmonized for the Machinery framework.

Key requirements of ISO 3691-4

  • Personnel detection requirements and exceptions per zone class
  • Operating zones: confined zones permitting reduced detection with compensating site measures
  • Speed, steering and braking safety-function integrity expectations
  • Interfaces to site: floor, clearances, and pedestrians

Key concepts: ISO 3691-4

Zone-based safety concept
Safety achieved jointly by truck functions and site rules — neither alone suffices.
Confined zone
A physically restricted area where reduced sensing is allowed because personnel access is controlled by the site.
Protective field scaling
Detection fields growing with speed so stopping occurs before contact.

Frequently asked questions: ISO 3691-4

Can an AGV run without a laser scanner?

Only in zones where the standard's exceptions apply (e.g., confined zones with controlled access) and compensating measures exist; in areas shared with pedestrians, compliant person detection with speed-scaled fields is required.

Standard information based on the published text of ISO 3691-4 (Driverless Industrial Trucks). Event content is provided by the host. For authoritative guidance, consult the official standard body.