ISO/TS 15066:2016 is an ISO document about safety for collaborative industrial robot systems. Its full title is “Robots and robotic devices — Collaborative robots.” It was published in February 2016 by ISO/TC 299 Robotics. It works alongside ISO 10218-1 and ISO 10218-2, not as a standalone document.
As of June 2025, ISO still lists ISO/TS 15066:2016 as published. But ISO has marked it “to be revised.” A replacement, ISO 15066-1, is under development but not yet published. The 2025 editions of ISO 10218-1 and ISO 10218-2 now include collaborative application requirements directly.
What Is ISO 10218-2:2025?
ISO/TS 15066 is a safety document for industrial robots that work alongside people. It sets out safety requirements for collaborative robot systems and their work environment. It supplements ISO 10218-1 and ISO 10218-2. It does not replace them.
A “TS” means Technical Specification. This is an official ISO document, but it is not a full International Standard. It was published this way because collaborative robotics was still developing at the time.
Is ISO/TS 15066 Still Valid?
Yes. ISO/TS 15066:2016 is still published and active.
ISO has marked it “to be revised” (stage 90.92) as of June 2025. That means a revision is planned — but the document has not been withdrawn. It is still the active reference for collaborative robot safety guidance.
Always check the official ISO page before referencing this document in contracts or compliance work. Confirm which document your client, contract, or regulator requires.
What Is ISO 15066-1?
ISO 15066-1 is the planned replacement for ISO/TS 15066:2016. It is not yet published.
Its working title is: “Collaborative Safety – Physical contact with robots — Part 1: Biomechanical thresholds and data.”
ISO approved this new project in June 2025. It is registered under ISO/TC 299’s work programme at an early stage. No publication date has been set. Until it is published, ISO/TS 15066:2016 remains the reference to use.
Monitor the official ISO project page for updates.
What Does ISO/TS 15066 Cover?
ISO/TS 15066 covers safety requirements for collaborative industrial robot systems. Here is a simple overview:
- Safety requirements for the workspace where people and robots work together
- Guidance that supplements ISO 10218-1 and ISO 10218-2
- The four collaborative operation methods (explained below)
- Risk assessment guidance for human-robot interaction
- Biomechanical data for power and force limiting applications (informative annex)
What Is Outside the Scope of ISO/TS 15066?
ISO/TS 15066 only applies to industrial robots as defined in ISO 10218-1 and ISO 10218-2. It does not apply to non-industrial robots. Its safety principles can be useful in other areas of robotics, but the document is not written for them.
ISO Standard vs ISO Technical Specification – What Is the Difference?
ISO International Standard
A full International Standard has complete agreement from ISO members. It goes through a long development and approval process before publication.
ISO Technical Specification
A Technical Specification is published when full agreement has not yet been reached, or when the subject is still developing. It is an official ISO document, but it has less formal weight than a full standard.
Why ISO/TS 15066 Was Published as a TS
Collaborative robotics was a new and fast-moving field in 2016. The biomechanical data behind collaborative safety needed more development. Publishing as a TS allowed ISO to give industry useful guidance while that data matured. ISO 15066-1 will carry this forward as the full standard.
The Four Collaborative Operation Methods in ISO/TS 15066
ISO/TS 15066 defines four ways a robot and a person can work together safely.
Safety-Rated Monitored Stop
The robot stops when a person enters the shared workspace. It only restarts when the person has left or a safe condition is confirmed. A safety-rated monitoring function handles the detection and control.
Example: An operator steps into the robot’s zone to reposition a part. The robot stops automatically. It restarts when the operator steps back.
Risk assessment is still required. The stop condition and restart process must be defined and tested.
Hand Guiding
The operator moves the robot by hand, usually through a device near the end-effector. This is common during setup or when exact positioning needs human input.
Example: A technician guides the robot arm to a precise starting point for a new production run.
Even in hand-guiding mode, the risk of contact must be assessed. Speed limits and safety controls still apply.
Speed and Separation Monitoring
The robot and person can move in the same space at the same time, as long as a safe distance is kept. The robot slows down or stops if the person gets too close.
Example: A worker moves near a robot that is picking parts. The robot tracks the distance and adjusts its speed to stay safe.
No formula or numeric value is defined here — these must come from the official ISO document.
Power and Force Limiting
The robot is designed so that any contact with a person stays within safe limits. This allows intentional or accidental contact without causing injury.
Example: An operator and a robot assemble a product together. The robot can touch the operator’s hand without causing harm, because its force is controlled.
This method relies on biomechanical data. That data is in ISO/TS 15066 and will be updated in ISO 15066-1.
Biomechanical Limits in ISO/TS 15066
ISO/TS 15066 includes informative biomechanical data to support power and force limiting applications. This data covers how contact between a robot and different parts of the human body should be assessed.
There are two types of contact the document addresses:
- Transient contact – brief, short-duration contact between the robot and a person
- Quasi-static contact – contact where the person is pressed or held between the robot and a fixed surface
The document provides guidance and data related to different body regions. These values must be taken from the official ISO/TS 15066:2016 text. They are not reproduced here because they are safety-critical and subject to copyright.
ISO/PAS 5672:2023 covers test methods for measuring forces and pressures in human-robot contact. This is a related document that supports practical implementation of power and force limiting applications.
The planned ISO 15066-1 will update and expand on this biomechanical data.
How ISO/TS 15066 and ISO 10218:2025 Work Together
ISO/TS 15066:2016 was written to work with the 2011 editions of ISO 10218-1 and ISO 10218-2.
In February 2025, ISO published new editions: ISO 10218-1:2025 and ISO 10218-2:2025. These replaced the 2011 editions. The 2025 series now includes collaborative application requirements directly — requirements that were previously only in ISO/TS 15066.
The 2025 series also uses new terminology. It uses “collaborative application” instead of “collaborative robot” or “collaborative operation.”
| Document | Type | Status | Collaborative Content |
| ISO/TS 15066:2016 | Technical Specification | Published, to be revised | Dedicated guidance for collaborative operation |
| ISO 10218-1:2025 | International Standard | Published Feb 2025 | Collaborative application requirements included |
| ISO 10218-2:2025 | International Standard | Published Feb 2025 | Collaborative application requirements included |
| ISO 15066-1 | International Standard | Under development | Planned focus: biomechanical thresholds and data |
| ISO/PAS 5672:2023 | Publicly Available Spec | Published | Test methods for human-robot contact forces |
Read ISO/TS 15066 alongside the 2025 ISO 10218 series. Do not rely on any single document alone.
Collaborative Robot vs Collaborative Application
A collaborative robot is a robot designed to work near people. A collaborative application is the full picture — the robot, the tool, the task, the workspace, and the people involved.
The 2025 ISO 10218 series uses “collaborative application” because safety depends on more than the robot alone. The tool, workpiece, speed, and layout all affect the risk level.
A robot sold as a “cobot” is not automatically safe. Every collaborative application needs its own risk assessment. There are no shortcuts.
Risk Assessment for Collaborative Applications
Risk assessment is required for every collaborative application. ISO/TS 15066 supports this process, but it does not replace the risk assessment requirements in ISO 10218-1 and ISO 10218-2.
A practical risk assessment for a collaborative application should cover:
- What tasks will the robot and person do together?
- Which of the four collaborative methods applies?
- What is the workspace layout, and what safeguards are in place?
- What are the hazards from the tool, workpiece, or robot motion?
- Which body regions could be involved in contact?
- How will the application be tested and verified?
Every application is different. Always assess the actual setup — not a generic “cobot” assumption.
Is ISO/TS 15066 a Certification?
No. ISO/TS 15066 is not a certification.
ISO publishes technical documents. ISO does not issue certificates to companies or products.
What Conformity Looks Like
Demonstrating conformity with ISO/TS 15066 is done through testing and validating the specific collaborative application. It is an engineering and safety activity — not a product certification process.
Can You Get a Certificate?
Some third-party organizations may offer testing or assessment of collaborative applications. ISO/TS 15066 does not define a specific certification scheme. Do not claim a robot or company is “ISO/TS 15066 certified” — that is not a defined status.
Who Uses ISO/TS 15066?
| Who | Why They Use It |
| Robot manufacturers | To design robots that meet collaborative safety requirements |
| System integrators | To build and validate safe collaborative applications |
| Industrial companies | To operate collaborative applications safely on the production floor |
| Safety engineers | To carry out risk assessments for human-robot interaction |
| EHS and ergonomics teams | To evaluate body contact risks and workplace safety |
| Compliance managers | To confirm which standards apply to their operations |
| Procurement teams | To specify correct safety requirements in supplier contracts |
How to Use ISO/TS 15066 Today – Step by Step
1. Check the Current ISO Status
Go to the official ISO page for ISO/TS 15066:2016 and confirm its current status before using it in any document.
2. Identify Which Documents Apply to Your Requirements
Find out whether your contract, client, or regulator references ISO/TS 15066:2016, ISO 10218-1:2025, ISO 10218-2:2025, or a combination.
3. Read ISO/TS 15066 With ISO 10218-1:2025 and ISO 10218-2:2025
These documents work together. The 2025 editions now include collaborative application requirements. Use all relevant documents together.
4. Define Your Collaborative Application
Clearly describe the task, robot, tool, workspace, and people involved. Identify which collaborative method applies.
5. Carry Out a Task-Based Risk Assessment
Assess the specific application based on the tasks and contact situations involved. Use the guidance in ISO/TS 15066 and the requirements in ISO 10218:2025.
6. Verify and Validate the Application
Test the application against the identified requirements. For power and force limiting, reference ISO/PAS 5672:2023 for test methods.
7. Monitor ISO 15066-1 Development
Track the ISO 15066-1 project page. When published, it will replace ISO/TS 15066:2016. Update your documentation when that happens.
ISO/TS 15066 and Regulatory Compliance
ISO/TS 15066 is a technical document. It is not a law.
Whether it applies to your organization — and how — depends on:
- The country you operate in
- The regulations that apply to your industry or equipment
- What your contracts or clients require
- Whether a regulator references it directly
Applying ISO/TS 15066 does not automatically mean legal compliance. Always confirm your specific obligations with a qualified legal or regulatory expert.
Checklist Before Applying ISO/TS 15066
Use this checklist before referencing ISO/TS 15066 in your collaborative application work:
- Verified current ISO status of ISO/TS 15066:2016 on the official ISO page
- Confirmed which documents your contract, client, or regulator requires
- Obtained and reviewed ISO 10218-1:2025 and ISO 10218-2:2025
- Defined the collaborative application clearly (task, robot, tool, workspace)
- Identified which collaborative operation method applies
- Identified all contact situations and body regions involved
- Planned or completed a task-based risk assessment
- Identified measurement approach for forces and pressures (ISO/PAS 5672:2023)
- Planned verification and validation testing
- Confirmed safeguarding and layout requirements
- Checked local regulations for any specific obligations
- Documented findings and kept records
- Started monitoring ISO 15066-1 development for future updates
How ISO Certifications UAE Can Help
Collaborative robot safety standards are changing. ISO/TS 15066:2016 is under revision. ISO 10218-1:2025 and ISO 10218-2:2025 are new. Understanding how these documents apply to your operations takes time and expertise.
ISO Certifications UAE can support your organization with:
- Explaining what ISO/TS 15066 and the ISO 10218:2025 series require
- Identifying which standards and editions apply to your collaborative applications
- Carrying out a gap review against current requirements
- Supporting documentation development for risk assessments
- Reviewing your readiness ahead of internal or external audit
- Connecting collaborative robot safety work with ISO 9001 and ISO 45001 management system certification
We are an ISO consulting service ISO Certification Services. We are not a certification body, testing laboratory, or part of ISO. We help you understand the requirements and prepare your organization.
If you run or plan collaborative robot applications and need guidance on ISO/TS 15066 and the 2025 ISO 10218 series, contact ISO Certifications UAE.
Talk to an Expert About Collaborative Robot Safety
ISO/TS 15066:2016 is still active, but the standards around it are changing. If you need help understanding which documents apply to your operations, how to align with the 2025 ISO 10218 series, or how to prepare your documentation, our team is ready to help.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is ISO/TS 15066?
ISO/TS 15066 is an ISO document that covers safety for collaborative industrial robot systems. It tells companies what safety requirements to follow when robots and people share a workspace. It works alongside ISO 10218-1 and ISO 10218-2.
Is ISO/TS 15066 still valid?
Yes. ISO/TS 15066:2016 is still published and active. ISO has marked it for revision, but it has not been removed. You can still use it as a safety reference today.
What will replace ISO/TS 15066?
A new document called ISO 15066-1 is being developed. It will focus on biomechanical thresholds and data for physical contact. It is not published yet, so ISO/TS 15066:2016 is still the one to use for now.
How does ISO/TS 15066 relate to ISO 10218:2025?
ISO/TS 15066 was written to supplement the 2011 editions of ISO 10218. The new 2025 editions now include collaborative application requirements directly. Use ISO/TS 15066 alongside ISO 10218-1:2025 and ISO 10218-2:2025 for a complete picture.
What are the four collaborative operation methods?
The four methods are: safety-rated monitored stop, hand guiding, speed and separation monitoring, and power and force limiting. Each one describes a different way to keep people safe when working near a robot.
Does ISO/TS 15066 include force and pressure limits?
Yes. ISO/TS 15066 includes an informative annex with biomechanical data for power and force limiting applications. The actual values must be taken from the official ISO document — they are not reproduced here because they are safety-critical.
Is ISO/TS 15066 a certification?
No. ISO/TS 15066 is a technical document, not a certification. ISO does not issue certificates. Conformity with ISO/TS 15066 is shown through testing and validating your specific application — not by getting a certificate.