ISO 10726:2020

Portable chain-saws - Chain catcher - Dimensions and mechanical strength

This document specifies the mechanical strength and dimension requirements, and the corresponding test method for the chain catcher of chain-saws.

Scies à chaîne portatives — Enrouleur de chaîne — Dimensions et résistance mécanique

Le présent document spécifié les exigences dimentionnelles et de résistance mécanique, ainsi que la méthode d'essai correspondante, pour l'enrouleur de chaîne des scies à chaîne.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 14-May-2020
• ICS: 65.060.80 - Forestry equipment
• Technical Committee: ISO/TC 23/SC 17 - Manually portable (hand-held) powered lawn and garden equipment and forest machinery
• Drafting Committee: ISO/TC 23/SC 17/WG 4 - Safety
• Current Stage: 9093 - International Standard confirmed
• Start Date: 10-Nov-2025
• Completion Date: 13-Dec-2025

Relations

• Revises: ISO 10726:1992 - Portable chain saws - Chain catcher - Dimensions and mechanical strength
• Effective Date: 23-Apr-2020

Overview

ISO 10726:2020 is an international standard that defines the dimensions and mechanical strength requirements for chain catchers on portable chain-saws. The chain catcher is a crucial safety component designed to limit potential injury resulting from chain derailment or breakage during saw operation. This standard specifies requirements for chain catcher positioning, size, material integrity, and the testing methodology to ensure reliable performance under impact conditions.

Developed by ISO Technical Committee ISO/TC 23 (Tractors and machinery for agriculture and forestry), Subcommittee SC 17 (Manually portable forest machinery), ISO 10726:2020 updates and replaces the original 1992 edition. The standard promotes enhanced safety, consistency, and durability of chain catchers in forestry and related industries.

Key Topics

• Mechanical Strength Requirements
  The chain catcher, its mounting, and the saw body must withstand impact tests without cracks or tears. The requirement allows some bending but prohibits structural damage, ensuring the catcher reliably contains the chain in case of failure.

• Dimensional Specifications
  Chain catchers must be positioned as far forward on the saw body as practicable and extend at least 5 mm from the center-plane of the guide bar. This positioning helps maximize the catcher’s effectiveness in intercepting a derailed chain.

• Test Methods
  The standard prescribes a pendulum hammer test:

  • Impact energy: 7.5 J ± 0.3 J
  • Impact face width: 7 mm ± 0.2 mm
  • Pendulum arm length: 700 mm ± 5 mm
  • Test temperature: –25 °C ± 3 °C (room temperature permitted if metal)
    During testing, the chainsaw is fixed upside down, and the pendulum strikes the chain catcher along the guide bar center-plane to simulate real-world impact conditions.

• Material Recommendations
  Materials should be selected to avoid unnecessary damage to the chain upon contact, balancing strength and wear characteristics.

Applications

ISO 10726:2020 applies specifically to portable chain-saws used in forestry, agriculture, landscaping, and various woodcutting tasks. It benefits manufacturers, safety inspectors, equipment designers, and end-users by providing:

• Enhanced Operator Safety
  Reducing the risk of injury from chain breakage or derailment by defining robust catcher design and performance criteria.

• Quality Assurance for Manufacturers
  A clear, testable specification helps manufacturers build chain catchers that comply with international safety expectations.

• Regulatory Compliance
  Facilitates conformance to safety regulations across global markets by adhering to an internationally recognized standard.

• Product Development and Improvement
  Helps design teams optimize chain catcher dimensions and material properties to improve durability and reduce chain damage.

Related Standards

To complement ISO 10726:2020, professionals can consider several other standards related to chainsaw safety and forestry machinery:

• ISO 11681 - Safety requirements for forest machines and machines for tree care.
• ISO 11041 - Portable chain-saws - Safety requirements and testing.
• ISO 17281 - Portable hand-held mechanical chainsaws - Noise measurement.
• ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1 & 2 - Procedures and editorial rules for developing and maintaining ISO standards.

These standards collectively provide a comprehensive framework for manufacturing, testing, and operating portable chain-saws safely and effectively.

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By implementing ISO 10726:2020, industry stakeholders ensure that portable chain-saws are equipped with chain catchers that meet stringent mechanical strength and dimensional criteria-ultimately fostering safer forestry practices and improved equipment reliability.

Standards Content (Sample)

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 10726
Second edition
2020-05
Portable chain-saws — Chain catcher
— Dimensions and mechanical
strength
Scies à chaîne portatives — Enrouleur de chaîne — Dimensions et
résistance mécanique
Reference number
©
ISO 2020
© ISO 2020
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]
Fax: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii © ISO 2020 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword .iv
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Dimensions . 1
5 Requirements . 1
6 Test procedure . 1
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 documents 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).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights. Details of
any patent rights identified during the development of the documen
...

NORME ISO
INTERNATIONALE 10726
Deuxième édition
2020-05
Scies à chaîne portatives — Enrouleur
de chaîne — Dimensions et résistance
mécanique
Portable chain-saws — Chain catcher — Dimensions and mechanical
strength
Numéro de référence
©
ISO 2020
DOCUMENT PROTÉGÉ PAR COPYRIGHT
© ISO 2020
Tous droits réservés. Sauf prescription différente ou nécessité dans le contexte de sa mise en œuvre, aucune partie de cette
publication ne peut être reproduite ni utilisée sous quelque forme que ce soit et par aucun procédé, électronique ou mécanique,
y compris la photocopie, ou la diffusion sur l’internet ou sur un intranet, sans autorisation écrite préalable. Une autorisation peut
être demandée à l’ISO à l’adresse ci-après ou au comité membre de l’ISO dans le pays du demandeur.
ISO copyright office
Case postale 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Genève
Tél.: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]
Web: www.iso.org
Publié en Suisse
ii © ISO 2020 – Tous droits réservés

Sommaire Page
Avant-propos .iv
1 Domaine d'application . 1
2 Références normatives . 1
3 Termes et définitions . 1
4 Dimensions . 1
5 Exigences . 1
6 Mode opératoire d'essai . 1
Avant-propos
L'ISO (Organisation internationale de normalisation) est une fédération mondiale d'organismes
nationaux de normalisation (comités membres de l'ISO). L'élaboration des Normes internationales est
en général confiée aux comités techniques de l'ISO. Chaque comité membre intéressé par une étude
a le droit de faire partie du comité technique créé à cet effet. Les organisations internationales,
gouvernementales et non gouvernementales, en liaison avec l'ISO participent également aux travaux.
L'ISO collabore étroitement avec la Commission électrotechnique internationale (IEC) en ce qui
concerne la normalisation électrotechnique.
Les procédures utilisées pour élaborer le présent document et celles destinées à sa mise à jour sont
décrites dans les Directives ISO/IEC, Partie 1. Il convient, en particulier de prendre note des différents
critères d'approbation requis pour les différents types de documents ISO. Le présent document a été
rédigé conformément aux règles de rédaction données dans les Directives ISO/IEC, Partie 2 (voir www
.iso .org/ directives).
L'attention est attirée sur le fait que certains des éléments du présent document peuvent faire l'objet de
droits de propriété intellectuelle ou de droits analogues. L'ISO ne saurait être tenue pour responsable
de ne pas avoir identifié de tels droits de propriété et averti de leur existence. Les détails concernant
les références aux droits de propriété intellectuelle ou autres droits analogues identifiés lors de
l'élaboration du document sont indiqués dans l'Introduction et/ou dans la liste des déclarations de
brevets reçues par l'ISO (voir www .iso .org/ brevets).
Les appellations commerciales éventuellement mentionnées dan
...