What Is ISO 10218 and How Does It Apply to Cobot Installations?
ISO 10218 is the core international safety standard for industrial robots, split into two parts: ISO 10218-1 for robot manufacturers, and ISO 10218-2 for integrators and end users installing a robot into a workcell. The 2025 revision folded in the collaborative-robot requirements previously covered by ISO/TS 15066.
What does each part of the standard cover?
ISO 10218-1 sets safety requirements for the robot itself — mechanical design, control systems, and stopping functions. ISO 10218-2 addresses how that robot is installed, safeguarded and integrated into a complete workcell, which is the part most relevant to a manufacturer bringing in a cobot palletiser.
What changed in the 2025 update?
ISO 10218-1:2025 and ISO 10218-2:2025 came into force on 1 April 2025 — the first major update since 2011. The collaborative-application requirements previously published separately as ISO/TS 15066:2016 were folded directly into the revised ISO 10218 series, alongside new cybersecurity, functional-safety and robot-classification requirements.
How does this affect an actual installation?
In practice, this is why every Reeco installation includes a thorough safety audit — confirming the specific workcell, not just the robot itself, meets current integration requirements.
Frequently asked
What is ISO 10218?
The core international safety standard for industrial robots, split into ISO 10218-1 (robot manufacturers) and ISO 10218-2 (integrators and end users).
Does ISO 10218 cover collaborative robots specifically?
Yes — the 2025 revision folded in the collaborative-application requirements previously covered separately by ISO/TS 15066:2016.
When did the current version take effect?
ISO 10218-1:2025 and ISO 10218-2:2025 came into force on 1 April 2025.
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Confirm your installation is compliant
Every Reeco installation includes a thorough safety audit against current standards.
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