ISO 31915-3:2026

Aircraft ground support equipment — General requirements — Part 3: Vibration measurement methods and reduction

This document is applicable to whole body vibration as a significant hazard. It also specifies the methods for determining the vibration emission transmitted to the whole body of drivers standing or seated on freely moveable ground support equipment (GSE) when driving, for purposes of type evaluation and declaration. This document also specifies methods for verifying vibration emission. This document is applicable to self-powered GSE only. The test results do not apply to the determination of whole body vibration exposure of persons. This document is intended to be used in conjunction with the different parts of the EN 1915 series and the EN 12312 series. This document does not apply to GSE manufactured before the date of its publication.

Matériel au sol pour aéronefs — Exigences générales — Partie 3: Vibrations, réduction et méthodes de mesure

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 25-Jun-2026
• ICS: 13.160 - Vibration and shock with respect to human beings
• ICS: 49.100 - Ground service and maintenance equipment
• Technical Committee: ISO/TC 20/SC 9 - Air cargo and ground equipment
• Drafting Committee: ISO/TC 20/SC 9 - Air cargo and ground equipment
• Current Stage: 6060 - International Standard published
• Start Date: 26-Jun-2026
• Due Date: 06-Dec-2027
• Completion Date: 26-Jun-2026

Relations

• Consolidates: FprEN ISO 31915-3 - Aircraft ground support equipment - General requirements - Part 3: Vibration measurement methods and reduction (ISO/FDIS 31915-3:2026)
• Effective Date: 12-Feb-2026

Overview

ISO 31915-3:2026, Aircraft ground support equipment - General requirements - Part 3: Vibration measurement methods and reduction establishes internationally recognized procedures for measuring and reducing whole body vibration (WBV) emissions from self-powered ground support equipment (GSE) used at airports. This standard is aimed at mitigating WBV hazards for drivers standing or seated on freely moveable GSE during operation. It details standardized testing, evaluation, and declaration methods for vibration emissions, supporting the advancement of safety and comfort in airport ground operations. The standard is relevant for equipment manufacturers, fleet operators, regulatory bodies, and safety professionals seeking to ensure compliance and best practice in vibration risk management.

Key Topics

• Whole Body Vibration as a Hazard: Addresses WBV as a significant risk for GSE operators, highlighting the health implications of vibration exposure.
• Standardized Measurement Methods: Specifies procedures for measuring vibration transmitted to drivers-whether standing (on footplates) or seated (on seat pans)-following defined parameters such as test track setup, measurement location, and environmental conditions.
• Vibration Reduction Strategies: Outlines design and technical approaches for minimizing vibration, including the use of pneumatic tyres, suspension systems, vibration-isolated cabins, and seat suspension enhancements.
• Valid Test Procedures: Defines requirements for valid test runs, measurement instrumentation, and accuracy of speed and vibration data, ensuring reliable results for type evaluation.
• Verification and Declaration: Provides guidance for verifying and reporting vibration emission values, including how to document and declare results in compliance with related standards like EN 12096.

Applications

ISO 31915-3:2026 is specifically applicable to self-powered, moveable GSE (such as tugs, belt loaders, and container loaders) employed in civil airport ground operations. Practical applications include:

• Type Evaluation of Equipment: Manufacturers and purchasers use the standard’s procedures for comparative type testing, determining whether GSE models meet vibration emission criteria.
• Regulatory Compliance: Serves as a reference for regulatory bodies and airport authorities to enforce health and safety requirements concerning operator exposure to vehicle-induced vibration.
• Product Development and Design: Engineers apply the standard’s vibration reduction recommendations to improve GSE comfort and operator safety.
• Procurement and Safety Audits: Airport operators can standardize evaluation, procurement, and ongoing safety assessments of their GSE fleets based on ISO 31915-3 test results and declarations.
• User Information: Ensures comprehensive documentation and communication of vibration emission data and reduction methods in user manuals and technical materials.

Notable Limitations

• Not for Personal Exposure Assessment: The standard is not intended for field measurement of daily vibration exposure for individual operators.
• Applies only to Post-Publication GSE: Covers equipment manufactured after the standard’s publication date.

Related Standards

To ensure consistency and comprehensive coverage, ISO 31915-3:2026 is designed for use alongside several key standards:

• EN 1915 series - General safety requirements for aircraft ground support equipment
• EN 12312 series - Specific requirements for various types of GSE
• EN 1032:2003+A1:2008 - Mechanical vibration, testing of mobile machinery to determine vibration emission values
• EN 12096:1997 - Declaration and verification of vibration emission values
• ISO 12100:2010 - Safety of machinery, general principles for risk assessment and risk reduction

Adherence to ISO 31915-3:2026 supports harmonization across international GSE safety practices, ensuring safer airport working environments and improved GSE product reliability.

For comprehensive details, operators and manufacturers should consult the full ISO 31915-3 document and the referenced standards above.

Standards Content (Sample)

International
Standard
ISO 31915-3
First edition
Aircraft ground support
2026-06
equipment — General
requirements —
Part 3:
Vibration measurement methods
and reduction
Matériel au sol pour aéronefs — Exigences générales —
Partie 3: Vibrations, réduction et méthodes de mesure
Reference number
© ISO 2026
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
4 List of hazards. 2
5 Safety requirements and/or protective risk reduction measures . 2
5.1 General .2
5.2 Vibration reduction .2
5.3 Quantities to be measured .3
5.4 Instrumentation .3
5.4.1 General .3
5.4.2 Transducers .3
5.4.3 Frequency weighting .4
5.4.4 Integration time .4
5.4.5 Speed .4
5.5 Measurement location .4
5.6 Set up and equipment .4
5.6.1 Test track .4
5.6.2 Equipment and condition of the GSE .6
5.6.3 Drivers .6
5.6.4 Environmental parameter .6
5.7 Measurement procedure and validity .6
5.7.1 Speed .6
5.7.2 Test procedure.7
5.7.3 Validity of test .7
5.7.4 Coefficient of variation .7
5.7.5 Reported vibration values .7
5.8 Test report .8
5.9 Declaration of vibration emission values .8
6 Verification of the safety requirements . 9
7 Information for use . 9
Annex A (informative) List of significant hazards . 10
Annex B (informative) Guidance for reporting vibration data .11
Bibliography .12

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
has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations,
governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely
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
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions
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 20, Aircraft and space vehicles, Subcommittee
SC 9, Air cargo and ground equipment, in collaboration with the European Committee for Standardization
(CEN) Technical Committee CEN/TC 274, Aircraft ground support equipment, in accordance with the
Agreement on technical cooperation between ISO and CEN (Vienna Agreement).
A list of all parts in the ISO 31915 series can be found on the ISO website.
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 aim of this document is to deal with vibration as a hazard and to provide methods for the measurement
and reduction of vibration emission transmitted to the whole body of drivers of ground support equipment
(GSE) when driving. See EN 1032:2003+A1:2008 for determining whole body vibrations under stationary
operating conditions and hand-arm vibrations.
The results obtained can also be used to compare GSE of the same category or a given GSE when equipped
with different seats or tyres, etc.
Fitting different seats, changing the tyre specification, etc. can lead to different vibration values. Due to
the specific operation of GSE, however, EN 1032:2003+A1:2008 cannot be applied directly for whole body
vibration under driving conditions, and therefore, the preparation of this document for GSE has become
necessary.
This document cannot be used for field measurements to determine the daily exposure of the driver to
vibration.
This document is a type-C standard as stated in ISO 12100.
This document is of relevance, in particular, for the following stakeholder groups representing the market
players with regard to machinery safety:
— machine manufacturers (small, medium and large enterprises);
— health and safety bodies (regulators, accident prevention organisations, market surveillance etc.)
Others can be affected by the level of machinery safety achieved with the means of the document by the
above-mentioned stakeholder groups:
— machine users/employers (small, medium and large enterprises);
— machine users/employees (e.g. trade unions, organizations for people with special needs);
— service providers, e.g. for maintenance (small, medium and large enterprises);
— consumers (in case of machinery intended for use by consumers).
The above-mentioned stakeholder groups have been given the possibility to participate at the drafting
process of this document.
When requirements of this type-C standard are different from those which are stated in type-A or type-B
standards, the requirements of this type-C standard take precedence over the requirements of the other
standards for machines that have been designed and built according to the requirements of this type-C
standard.
The machinery concerned and the extent to which hazards, hazardous situations and events are covered are
indicated in the scope of this document.

v
International Standard ISO 31915-3:2026(en)
Aircraft ground support equipment — General
requirements —
Part 3:
Vibration measurement methods and reduction
1 Scope
This document is applicable to whole body vibration as a significant hazard. It also specifies the methods for
determining the vibration emission transmitted to the whole body of drivers standing or seated on freely
moveable ground support equipment (GSE) when driving, for purposes of type evaluation and declaration.
This document also specifies methods for verifying vibration emission. This document is applicable to self-
powered GSE only.
The test results do not apply to the determination of whole body vibration exposure of persons.
This document is intended to be used in conjunction with the different parts of the EN 1915 series and the
EN 12312 series.
This document does not apply to GSE manufactured before the date of its publication.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content constitutes
requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references,
the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies
ISO 2041:2018, Mechanical vibration, shock and condition monitoring — Vocabulary
ISO 5805:1997, Mechanical vibration and shock — Human exposure — Vocabulary
ISO 12100:2010, Safety of machinery — General principles for design — Risk assessment and risk reduction
EN 1032:2003+A1: 2008, Mechanical vibration — Testing of mobile machinery in order to determine the
vibration emission value
EN 1915-1:2023, Aircraft ground support equipment — General requirements — Part 1: Basic safety
requirements
EN 12096:1997, Mechanical vibration — Declaration and verification of vibration emission values
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO 12100:2010, EN 1915-1:2023,
ISO 2041:2018 and ISO 5805:1997 and the following 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
wheel mean diameter
arithmetic mean of each of the outside diameters of the load bearing wheels
EXAMPLE If the first wheel of the ground support equipment (GSE) (3.3) has the diameter D , the second wheel
diameter D etc., the wheel mean diameter equals
DDD
12 n
n
where n is the total number of wheels.
Note 1 to entry: The outside diameter D is the maximum in service diameter specified by the tyre's manufacturer.
3.2
seat pan
seat surface on which the driver is seated
3.3
ground support equipment
GSE
piece of moveable or stationary equipment, whether or not powered or self-propelled, purposed, designed,
built and used for ground handling, servicing or field maintenance of civil transport aircraft on the ramp
area of an airport
4 List of hazards
This list of risks and hazards (given in Annex A, Table A.1) is based on ISO 12100:2010 and contains the
hazards and hazardous situations, as far as they are dealt with in this document, identified by risk
assessment as significant for this type of machinery and which requir
...