New ANSI/A3 R15.06-2025 U.S. Standard Updates Safety Rules for Industrial Robots
The Association for Advancing Automation (A3) has released the updated ANSI/A3 R15.06-2025 standard for industrial robot safety, marking the first major revision in more than a decade. The standard aligns with ISO 10218 Parts 1 and 2 and replaces the 2012 edition originally published by the Robotic Industries Association.
The 360-page standard covers requirements for both industrial robots (Part 1) and robot applications/cells (Part 2). A third part, focused on safe use of robot cells, is expected later this year and will be provided at no additional cost to current buyers.
The new version provides expanded guidance for manufacturers, integrators, and end users of robot systems, including:
- Clearer functional safety requirements to ease compliance.
- Integrated collaborative robot guidance, consolidating ISO/TS 15066.
- New sections covering end-effectors and manual load/unload procedures.
- Updated robot classifications, safety functions, and test methods.
- Cybersecurity considerations tied directly to safety planning.
- Revised terminology, such as replacing "safety-rated monitored stop" with "monitored standstill".
What This Means for Manufacturers
For facilities deploying or expanding automation, the revised standard places greater emphasis on risk assessment and personnel protection. Manufacturers and system integrators will need to account for cybersecurity as a safety factor, follow new guidance for collaborative applications, and re-evaluate robot classifications and safety functions when specifying or upgrading equipment. The addition of Part 3 later this year will provide end-users with further guidance on the safe operation of robot cells.
A3 states that the update is designed to provide manufacturers and integrators with clearer direction while accommodating advancements in automation technology, including collaborative and intelligent systems.
The ANSI/A3 R15.06-2025 standard is now available through the A3 Standards Store, with pricing starting at $655.
About the Author
Laura Davis
Editor-in-Chief, New Equipment Digest
Laura Davis is the editor in chief of New Equipment Digest (NED), a brand part of the Manufacturing Group at EndeavorB2B. NED covers all products, equipment, solutions, and technology related to the broad scope of manufacturing, from mops and buckets to robots and automation. Laura has been a manufacturing product writer for eight years, knowledgeable about the ins and outs of the industry, along with what readers are looking for when wanting to learn about the latest products on the market.