ISO 21120:2025

Machinery for forestry — Forestry mulching equipment — Terms, definitions and commercial specifications

This document identifies and defines terms, specifies a means of classification, provides dimensional characteristics and commercial specifications, and gives a nomenclature of components for mulching equipment (in other words, mulching attachment carriers and mulching attachments) used in forestry and related operations. Its aim is to establish a uniform method of describing the various configurations of these types of forestry machines. Machines for mulching which have been designed for feeding by hand are not covered by this document.

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General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 09-Jan-2025
• ICS: 01.040.65 - Agriculture (Vocabularies)
• ICS: 65.060.80 - Forestry equipment
• Technical Committee: ISO/TC 23/SC 15 - Machinery for forestry
• Drafting Committee: ISO/TC 23/SC 15/WG 3 - Woody biomass reduction machinery, terminology and safety
• Current Stage: 6060 - International Standard published
• Start Date: 10-Jan-2025
• Due Date: 13-Feb-2026
• Completion Date: 10-Jan-2025

Overview

ISO 21120:2025 provides internationally recognized terminology, standardized definitions, and commercial specifications for forestry mulching equipment. This standard applies specifically to mulching attachment carriers and mulching attachments used in professional forestry and related operations. It does not cover hand-fed mulching machines. By establishing uniform terms and a systematic classification, ISO 21120:2025 supports clear communication, product comparison, and safe operation across global markets in the forestry sector.

Key focus areas of the standard include:

• Standardized terminology for mulching equipment components
• Means of classification for various machine configurations
• Dimensional characteristics and commercial specifications
• Nomenclature for enhanced clarity and reference

Key Topics

ISO 21120:2025 addresses several practical topics relevant to forestry equipment manufacturers, users, and stakeholders:

• Terms and Definitions: Provides detailed definitions for major equipment components, such as mulching attachment carriers, mulching attachments, rotors, tools, anvils, and skid shoes.
• Classification Types: Defines configurations based on drive type (PTO, hydraulic, self-powered), rotor type (drum, disc), tool type (fixed, swing/flail), and mount type (limited reach, boom, loader).
• Dimensional Characteristics: Standardizes measurement criteria for height, width, length, ground clearance, mulching width, rotor diameter, lift height, reach, and below-grade depth.
• Mass Specifications: Establishes definitions for overall mass for both carriers and attachments, referencing different operational scenarios.
• Commercial Specifications: Outlines the key commercial features that should be reported, covering engine or motor type, power, dimensions, mass, and configuration details.

Applications

ISO 21120:2025 delivers practical value for several industry applications, helping to streamline product development, comparison, and usage of forestry mulchers:

• Design and Manufacturing: Equipment manufacturers use the standard to ensure their machines comply with international requirements for naming, specification, and dimensioning. This benefits product development, technical documentation, and competitive analysis.
• Procurement and Tenders: Buyers and procurement specialists can reference standard definitions and specifications for clear, comparable bidding documents and contracts.
• Operational Safety: By clarifying nomenclature and configuration specifics, the standard enhances operator understanding and safe equipment use.
• Maintenance and Support: Forestry contractors, maintenance staff, and fleet managers benefit from unified terminology to identify components and prescribe the correct maintenance procedures or spare part ordering.
• Regulatory Compliance: Firms seeking compliance with international forestry equipment standards can rely on ISO 21120:2025 for product certification and legal conformity in various jurisdictions.

Related Standards

For comprehensive understanding and implementation, the following standards are closely associated with ISO 21120:2025:

• ISO 6814: Machinery for forestry - Mobile and self-propelled machinery - Terms, definitions and classification
• ISO 9249: Earth-moving machinery - Engine test code - Net power
• ISO 14396: Reciprocating internal combustion engines - Additional engine power measurement methods

These related standards help ensure seamless integration across forestry machinery, supporting both manufacturers and users in achieving standardized performance and safety benchmarks.

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Keywords: ISO 21120, forestry mulching equipment, standard terminology, mulching attachment carriers, mulching attachments, machinery classification, commercial specifications, forestry standards

Standards Content (Sample)

International
Standard
ISO 21120
First edition
Machinery for forestry — Forestry
2025-01
mulching equipment — Terms,
definitions and commercial
specifications
Reference number
© ISO 2025
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on
the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below
or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
3.1 General terms .1
3.2 Terms related to mulching attachment carrier .2
3.3 Terms related to to mulching attachment .2
3.4 Terms related to mulching equipment type .3
3.4.1 Drive type .3
3.4.2 Rotor type .3
3.4.3 Tool type .3
3.4.4 Mount type . . .4
3.5 Terms related to dimensional characteristics.4
3.5.2 Mulching attachment carrier .4
3.5.3 Mulching attachment .5
3.5.4 Mulching equipment . .5
3.6 Terms related to masses .6
4 Commercial specifications . 6
4.1 Mulching attachment carrier .6
4.1.1 Internal combustion engine .6
4.1.2 Electric motor .6
4.1.3 Undercarriage .6
4.1.4 Mulching attachment carrier mass .7
4.2 Mulching attachment .7
4.2.1 Drive type .7
4.2.2 Rotor type .7
4.2.3 Dimensional characteristics .7
4.2.4 Mulching attachment mass .8
4.3 Mulching equipment .8
Annex A (informative) Dimensional characteristics of forestry mulching equipment. 9
Annex B (informative) Nomenclature of forestry mulching equipment .13
Bibliography .18

iii
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through
ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee
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with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are described
in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the different types
of ISO document should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the editorial rules of the
ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
ISO draws attention to the possibility that the implementation of this document may involve the use of (a)
patent(s). ISO takes no position concerning the evidence, validity or applicability of any claimed patent
rights in respect thereof. As of the date of publication of this document, ISO had not received notice of (a)
patent(s) which may be required to implement this document. However, implementers are cautioned that
this may not represent the latest information, which may be obtained from the patent database available at
www.iso.org/patents. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
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related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the World Trade
Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 23, Tractors and machinery for agriculture and
forestry, Subcommittee SC 15, Machinery for forestry.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html.

iv
Introduction
The figures in this document are intended to illustrate machine concepts for rather than any existing
machines or all possible configurations (see Annexes A and B).

v
International Standard ISO 21120:2025(en)
Machinery for forestry — Forestry mulching equipment —
Terms, definitions and commercial specifications
1 Scope
This document identifies and defines terms, specifies a means of classification, provides dimensional
characteristics and commercial specifications, and gives a nomenclature of components for mulching
equipment (in other words, mulching attachment carriers and mulching attachments) used in forestry and
related operations. Its aim is to establish a uniform method of describing the various configurations of these
types of forestry machines.
Machines for mulching which have been designed for feeding by hand are not covered by this document.
2 Normative references
There are no normative references in this document.
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https:// www .iso .org/ obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at https:// www .electropedia .org/
3.1 General terms
3.1.1
mulching attachment carrier
self-propelled machine for carrying a mulching attachment (3.1.2)
Note 1 to entry: Mulching attachment carriers are defined by their design configuration and operational purpose.
EXAMPLE Skid-steer loader, excavator, tractor with forestry application features.
3.1.2
mulching attachment
device affixed to and propelled by a mulching attachment carrier (3.1.1) and designed for the purpose of
mulching (3.1.3)
3.1.3
mulching
reduction of trees, brush, or parts of trees on site with a grinding or shredding action, leaving the resulting
material on the forest or worksite floor
[SOURCE: ISO 6814:2009, 2.16, modified to add: or worksite]

3.1.4
mulching equipment
mulching attachment carrier (3.1.1) equipped with a mulching attachment (3.1.2)
Note 1 to entry: Mulching equipment can be classified by how they are configured (for example, drive type, rotor type,
tool type, mount type) and combination of these types. See 3.4
3.2 Terms related to mulching attachment carrier
3.2.1
undercarriage
base of the mulching equipment (3.1.4) that provides mobility
Note 1 to entry: An undercarriage typically has endless tracks or wheels, or a combination of both.
3.2.2
maximum ground speed
maximum forward speed able to be obtained on level ground based on the nominal design capacity of the
mulching attachment carrier (3.1.1) with tyres or endless tracks
Note 1 to entry: The tyre size will be the largest diameter drive tyres as specified by the mulching attachment carrier
manufacturer for the mulching attachment carrier (3.1.1).
3.3 Terms related to to mulching attachment
3.3.1
rotor
rotating component with tools (3.3.2) that strikes and reduces material it comes in contact with
Note 1 to entry: The rotor typically has an axis that is either horizontal (drum type) or vertical (disc type).
3.3.2
tool
material engaging element mounted to the rotor (3.3.1) that grinds, shreds, tears, or cuts material
EXAMPLE Tooth, hammer.
3.3.3
anvil
reaction element or elements located close to the rotor (3.3.1) which restrains engaged material while it is
struck
...