EN 709:1997/FprA4

Agricultural and forestry machinery - Pedestrian controlled tractors with mounted rotary cultivators, motor hoes, motor hoes with drive wheel(s) - Safety

N 944 refers

Maschinen für die Land- und Forstwirtschaft - Einachstraktoren mit angebauter Fräse, Motorhacken, Triebradhacken - Sicherheit

Matériel agricole et forestier - Motoculteurs avec fraises portées, motobineuses et fraises à roue(s) motrice(s) - Sécurité

Kmetijski in gozdarski stroji - Enoosni traktorji s priključenim prekopalnikom, motorni prekopalniki in motorni prekopalniki s pogonskim(a) kolesom(a) - Varnost

General Information

• Status: Not Published
• ICS: 65.060.10 - Agricultural tractors and trailed vehicles
• ICS: 65.060.20 - Soil-working equipment
• Technical Committee: CEN/TC 144 - Tractors and machinery for agriculture and forestry
• Drafting Committee: CEN/TC 144/WG 4 - Portable machines and pedestrian controlled machines
• Current Stage: 5060 - Closure of Vote - Formal Approval
• Start Date: 23-Sep-2009
• Due Date: 30-May-2009
• Completion Date: 23-Sep-2009
• Directive: 2006/42/EC - Directive 2006/42/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 May 2006 on machinery, and amending Directive 95/16/EC (recast)
• Directive: 98/37/EC - Machinery
• Mandate: M/079 - Mandate to CEN and CENELEC for standardization in the field of machines
• Mandate: M/396 - Mandate to CEN and Cenelec for standardisation in the field of machinery
• Ref Project: SIST EN 709:1998/FprA4:2009 - Agricultural and forestry machinery - Pedestrian controlled tractors with mounted rotary cultivators, motor hoes, motor hoes with drive wheel(s) - Safety

Relations

• Merged Into: EN 709:1997+A4:2009 - Agricultural and forestry machinery - Pedestrian controlled tractors with mounted rotary cultivators, motor hoes, motor hoes with drive wheel(s) - Safety
• Effective Date: 18-Jan-2023
• Amends: EN 709:1997 - Agricultural and forestry machinery - Pedestrian controlled tractors with mounted rotary cultivators, motor hoes, motor hoes with drive wheel(s) - Safety
• Effective Date: 21-Nov-2009
• Amends: EN 709:1997 - Agricultural and forestry machinery - Pedestrian controlled tractors with mounted rotary cultivators, motor hoes, motor hoes with drive wheel(s) - Safety
• Effective Date: 22-Dec-2008

Overview

EN 709:1997/FprA4 is a European standard developed by CEN that focuses on the safety requirements for pedestrian controlled agricultural and forestry machinery. This includes pedestrian controlled tractors equipped with mounted rotary cultivators, motor hoes, and motor hoes with drive wheels. The standard addresses essential safety aspects to ensure the protection of operators during machine operation, supporting compliance with the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC.

Prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 144, EN 709:1997/prA2:2007 amendment outlines the design, performance, and testing criteria critical for reducing risks associated with these machines in agriculture and forestry applications.

Key Topics

• Engine Speed and Control Definitions
  Introduces the concept of maximum operating engine speed, defining it as the highest speed achievable when the machine manufacturer’s specifications are followed with tools engaged.

• Engine Stopping Device
  A mandatory engine stopping device must be incorporated to enhance emergency control measures.

• Hold-to-run Control Requirements
  The hold-to-run controls must be designed to prevent accidental engagement of tools or wheels without intentional operator action. The force required to maintain these controls engaged is also specified - not exceeding 25 N for single handlebar controls and 30 N when operable by either hand. Special testing methods define accurate force measurement.

• Brake Systems
  Pedestrian tractors must have both service and parking brake systems capable of stopping and holding the tractor on a 30% slope. Specific braking distance requirements and testing procedures are detailed: stopping distance of 0.19 m per 1 km/h speed, tested on a level, hard surface. The parking brake’s holding force and activation methods-including automatic parking brake engagement-are also specified.

• Tool Stopping Performance
  Safety mandates fast tool stopping times:

  • Pedestrian controlled tractors must stop tools within 1 second after releasing the hold-to-run control.
  • Motor hoes must stop tools within 2 seconds.
    Testing involves extensive run-in procedures, repeated stop/start cycling, and monitoring for consistency across 5000 cycles to confirm reliable brake function.

• Maximum Travel Speed Limits
  Speed limits for safety: maximum 8 km/h forward and 3.6 km/h reverse for both pedestrian controlled tractors and motor hoes with drive wheels.

Applications

EN 709 applies to manufacturers, safety inspectors, and operators involved with:

• Pedestrian controlled tractors used for soil cultivation in agriculture and forestry
• Motor hoes for soil tillage with or without powered drive wheels
• Designing and testing equipment to ensure operator safety compliance before market release
• Ensuring adherence to European Machinery Directive regulations related to agricultural machinery safety
• Setting performance benchmarks for braking systems and control ergonomics in hand-operated machinery

This standard helps reduce the risk of accidents related to machine tool engagement, movement control, and emergency stopping, providing a safer working environment for operators in agricultural and forestry settings.

Related Standards

• EC Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC - EN 709 supports compliance with essential health and safety requirements defined in this directive.
• EN 836:1997 and EN 12733:2001 - Reference standards for definitions related to engine speeds that inform EN 709 parameters.
• Other relevant CEN/TC 144 standards covering tractors and agricultural machinery safety may complement requirements in EN 709.

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Keywords: EN 709:1997, pedestrian controlled tractors, rotary cultivators, motor hoes, agricultural machinery safety, machinery directive compliance, brake systems, hold-to-run control, tool stopping time, CEN standard, forestry machinery.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
SIST EN 709:1998/oprA2:2007
01-december-2007
.PHWLMVNLLQJR]GDUVNLVWURML(QRRVQLWUDNWRUMLVSULNOMXþHQLPSUHNRSDOQLNRP
PRWRUQLSUHNRSDOQLNLLQPRWRUQLSUHNRSDOQLNLVSRJRQVNLPDNROHVRPD9DUQRVW
Agricultural and forestry machinery - Pedestrian controlled tractors with mounted rotary
cultivators, motor hoes, motor hoes with drive wheel(s) - Safety
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 709:1997/prA2
ICS:
65.060.10 Kmetijski traktorji in prikolice Agricultural tractors and
trailed vehicles
65.060.20 Oprema za obdelovanje tal Soil-working equipment
SIST EN 709:1998/oprA2:2007 en
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EUROPEAN STANDARD
DRAFT
EN 709:1997
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
prA2
September 2007
ICS 65.060.10; 65.060.20
English Version
Agricultural and forestry machinery - Pedestrian controlled
tractors with mounted rotary cultivators, motor hoes, motor hoes
with drive wheel(s) - Safety
Matériels agricoles et forestiers - Motoculteurs avec fraises
portées, motobineuses et fraises à roue(s) motrice(s) -
Sécurité
This draft amendment is submitted to CEN members for enquiry. It has been drawn up by the Technical Committee CEN/TC 144.
This draft amendment A2, if approved, will modify the European Standard EN 709:1997. If this draft becomes an amendment, CEN
members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for inclusion of this amendment
into the relevant national standard without any alteration.
This draft amendment was established by CEN in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made
by translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN Management Centre has the same
status as the official versions.
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland,
France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal,
Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom.
Recipients of this draft are invited to submit, with their comments, notification of any relevant patent rights of which they are aware and to
provide supporting documentation.
Warning : This document is not a European Standard. It is distributed for review and comments. It is subject to change without notice and
shall not be referred to as a European Standard.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION
EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG
Management Centre: rue de Stassart, 36  B-1050 Brussels
© 2007 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN 709:1997/prA2:2007: E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

EN 709:1997/prA2:2007 (E)
Contents Page
Foreword.3
1 Modification to Clause 3 .4
2 Modification to Clause 5.3 .4
4 Modification to Clause 5.5 .4
5 Modification to Clause 5.11 .6
Annex ZA (informative) Relationship between this European Standard and the Essential
Requirements of EC Directive 2006/42/EC, Machinery Directive.10
EN 709:1997/prA2:2007 (E)
Foreword
This document (EN 709:1997/prA2:2007) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 144 “Tractors
and machinery for agriculture and foresrty”, the secretariat of which is held by AFNOR.
This document is currently submitted to the CEN Enquiry.
This document has been prepared under a mandate given to CEN by the European Commission and the
European Free Trade Association, and supports essential requirements of EC Directive(s).
For relationship with EC Directive(s), see informative Annex ZA, which is an integral part of this document.
EN 709:1997/prA2:2007 (E)
1 Modification to Clause 3
Add the following new definition:
"3.7
maximum operating engine speed
highest engine speed obtainable when adjusted in accordance with the machine manufacturer’s specifications
and/or instructions with the tools engaged
NOTE Adapted from EN 836:1997 and EN 12733:2001."
2 Modification to Clause 5.3
rd
Between the 3 and the last paragraph, add the following text:
"An engine stopping device shall be provided."
4 Modification to Clause 5.5
st
At the end of the 1 paragraph add the following text and the new Figure 3 and Figure 4 and renumber the
following figures:
“Releasing the hold-to-run control(s) shall not stop the engine. For electrical powered machines, this
requirement does not apply.
The force required to maintain the hold-to-run control in engaged position shall not exceed 25 N when the
hold-to-run control is located on only one handlebar.
If the hold-to-run control is located so that it can be operated by either, or both, hands when they are holding
the handle-grips the force required to maintain the hold-to-run control in the engaged position shall not exceed
30 N.
The measuring of these values shall be carried out with the following method:
The Measurement shall be performed with a device having an accuracy of ± 0,5% (e.g. dynamometer) with
the engine stopped. The force (F) required to maintain the hold-to-run control shall be measured at 10 mm
from the end of the hold-to-run control. The hold-to-run control is pressed on the handlebar/handle-grips, see
Figure 3.
NOTE The values of 25 N and 30 N are under evaluation by WG 4.
EN 709:1997/prA2:2007 (E)
Figure 3a
Figure 3b
Figure 3c
Key
1 free end of the hold-to-run control
F force required to maintain the hold-to-run control
Figure 3 – Locations of the force F
EN 709:1997/prA2:2007 (E)
The hold-to-run control shall be designed or guarded so that the tool or wheels can not move without
intentional action (e.g. a manual control requiring two different action to be operated). This requirement shall
be verified by functional test. This requirement shall not be applied if the hold-to-run control is located below
the handle-grip (see Figure 4).

Figure 4 – Example of hold-to-run control located below the handle-grip"
5 Modification to Clause 5.11
Delete 5.11 and replace with the following text:
"5.11.1 General
For pedestrian controlled tractors a service and parking brake systems shall be provided to stop the
pedestrian controlled tractor’s motion in both forward and reverse directions, if a force of more than 250 N,
applied at the centre of the wheel axle and parallel to the slope, is required to hold the pedestrian controlled
tractor, with the tool touching the ground, on a 30 % (16,7°) slope.
NOTE The 250 N value is under evaluation by WG 4.
Service and parking brake systems shall be tested in accordance with 5.11.2 and 5.11.3.
For the test the pedestrian controlled tractor shall be equipped with the tyres recommended by the
manufacturer having the least tread area in contact with the test surface.
If steering-assist brakes are also used for service brakes, it shall be possible to connect them in a way that
they apply both brakes with equal force.
If the pedestrian controlled tractor is equipped with steering brakes, these shall be capable of being combined
or activated simultaneously.
5.11.2 Service brake
5.11.2.1 Perf
...