Z62.3-11

(reaffirmed 2021)

Chain saw kickback

REVISED MAY 2012

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Update No. 1

Z62.3-11 May 2012

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Title: Chain saw kickback — originally published October 2011

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October 2011

Title: Chain saw kickback

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Z62.3-11

Chain saw kickback

®A trademark of the Canadian Standards Association, operating as “CSA Group”

Published in October 2011 by CSA Group A not-for-profit private sector organization

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ISBN 978-1-55491-712-9

© 2011 Canadian Standards Association

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form whatsoever without the prior permission of the publisher.

© Canadian Standards Association Chain saw kickback

Contents

Technical Committee on Chain Saws vi

Preface viii

1. Scope 1

   
   

2. Reference publications 1

   
   

3. Definitions and abbreviations 2

   1. Definitions 2

   2. Abbreviations 3

      
      

4. Kickback performance requirements 3

   1. Saw chains 3

      1. General 3

      2. Replacement saw chains 3

      3. Low-kickback saw chain 4

   2. Chain saws 4

      1. General 4

      2. Class A chain saws 4

      3. Class B chain saws 4

      4. Class C chain saws 4

      5. Reduced-kickback guide bars 4

         
         

5. Kickback test — Chain saws 4

   1. General 4

   2. Equipment 5

   3. Physical measurements 5

      1. General 5

      2. Measurements 5

      3. Measurement of chain saw coordinates 6

   4. Chain saw and saw chain preparation 6

      1. General 6

      2. Chain saw preparation 6

      3. Saw chain preparation 6

   5. Apparatus set-up, test procedure, and measurements 7

      1. General 7

      2. Chain saw preparation 7

      3. Preparation of kickback test machine 8

      4. Test procedure 9

      5. Measurements 9

      6. Additional testing requirements 9

      7. Kickback machine — Measurement of horizontal friction 10

      8. Kickback machine — Measurement of rotary friction 11

      9. Kickback energy computation 12

   6. Kickback test program 13

      1. General 13

      2. Kickback energy determination 13

      3. Data analysis 13

   7. Chain brake test procedure 13

      1. General 13

         
         

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         Z62.3-11 © Canadian Standards Association

         
         

         
         

      2. Chain brake energy measurement procedure 13

      3. Chain brake actuation angle procedure 15

      4. Chain brake stopping time measurement procedure 16

      5. Chain brake energy calculations 16

   8. Computed kickback angle computation 16

      1. General 16

      2. Values 16

      3. Computation 17

         
         

6. Kickback test — Replacement saw chain 17

   1. General 17

   2. Equipment 17

   3. Generic kickback unit preparation 17

   4. Test procedure 18

      1. Test sequence 18

      2. Measurements and calculations 18

      3. Additional testing requirements 18

      4. Termination of test sequence 19

   5. Kickback test program 19

      1. Kickback energy computation 19

      2. Computation 19

         
         

7. Markings 20

   1. Chain saw powerheads 20

      1. All chain saw powerheads 20

      2. Chain saw powerheads — Electric- or gasoline-powered, up to 80 cm3 displacement 20

      3. Kickback level labelling 20

   2. Replacement saw chain packaging 21

      1. General 21

      2. Low-kickback replacement chain 21

      3. Replacement chain sold for specific chain saw models 21

      4. Non-low-kickback replacement chain 21

Annexes

A (informative) — Kickback machine — Chain saw balancing procedure 32

B (informative) — Kickback machine — Velocity adjustment 36 C (informative) — Additional marking information 37 D (informative) — Test record forms 39

E (informative) — Procedure for hardness testing of medium-density fibreboard (MDF) 43

F (informative) — Preparation and adjustment of the generic kickback unit (GKU) 44

Tables

1. — Replacement saw chain test sample 22

2. — Selection chart for kickback acceptance limits 22

3. — Reduced-kickback guide bar nose radii 22

4. — Test sequence 23

5. — Optional test sequence 24

6. — Kickback computation program inputs when using the GKU 24

Figures

1. — Typical bar nose radius 25

2. — Computed kickback angle 25

3. — Coordinate measurements (left side view) 26

   
   

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   © Canadian Standards Association Chain saw kickback

   
   

   
   

4. — Saw chain tension adjustment 27

5. — Installation of saw/cradle/clamp assembly 27

6. — Adjustment of rack/horizontal restraining assembly 28

7. — Adjustment of rotary restraining system 29

8. — Adjustment of chain brake actuator 30

9. — Specimen exit angle measurement 31

October 2011 v

Z62.3-11 © Canadian Standards Association

Preface

This is the fourth edition of CSA Z62.3, Chain saw kickback. It supersedes the previous editions, published in 2004, 1996, and 1990.

This Standard arose from a need to reduce injuries and fatalities in the Canadian forest industry caused by incidents from chain saw kickback. Saw chain designs were modified to produce chains that would reduce the degree of kickback. It therefore became important to evaluate the kickback performance of these chains and to determine the extent of their effectiveness.

The original intent was to prepare a Standard that would evaluate only the performance of so-called low-kickback chain without the influence of safety features such as chain brakes. Chain saws, however, are normally sold as complete units, so it became necessary to develop a dual approach. This Standard therefore addresses the performance of chain as part of a complete chain saw unit, as well as chain purchased separately as replacement chain.

Major revisions to this edition include the following:

1. addition of definitions for computed kickback angle with brake, computed kickback angle without brake, and chain stopping angle. These terms are now used throughout this Standard to aid in the understanding of computed kickback angle within the context of each clause.

2. addition of a definition and requirements for a reduced-kickback guide bar;

3. lowered acceptance limits for kickback on Class A and B chain saws;

4. introduction of the generic kickback unit (GKU) to qualify low-kickback replacement chain. The intent of the Technical Committee on Chain Saws is for the GKU to replace the list of chain saws in Table 1, although Table 1 has been retained in this edition to allow laboratories time to transition to use of the GKU.

   The design of the GKU is intended to closely emulate the kickback performance of the chain saws listed in Table 1 for each respective chain family, except 1/4 chain pitch (trade size). Achieving this objective required four design iterations and over five years of development. Verified by conducting round robins with several experienced laboratories in North America, the GKU has shown itself to be capable of reproducing equivalent computed kickback angles compared to the manufacturer’s original evaluated values for the 3/8 mini, 3/8 standard, and 0.325 chain families.

   New Clause 6 specifies the test methods for replacement saw chain and new Annex F provides set-up and operating instructions for the GKU; and

5. to further reduce sources of variability in kickback testing, a new test procedure and acceptance limits have been created for the hardness of medium-density fibreboard. The new test procedure is specified in Annex E.

   Compliance of new products with the requirements of this Standard is expected within one year after

   publication (two years for products existing at the time of publication).

   This Standard is considered suitable for use for conformity assessment within the stated scope of the Standard.

   This Standard was prepared by the Technical Committee on Chain Saws, under the jurisdiction of the Strategic Steering Committee on Occupational Health and Safety, and has been formally approved by the Technical Committee.

   
   

   October 2011

   
   

   Notes:

   1. Use of the singular does not exclude the plural (and vice versa) when the sense allows.

   2. Although the intended primary application of this Standard is stated in its Scope, it is important to note that it remains the responsibility of the users of the Standard to judge its suitability for their particular purpose.

   3. This publication was developed by consensus, which is defined by CSA Policy governing standardization — Code of good practice for standardization as “substantial agreement. Consensus implies much more than a simple majority, but not necessarily unanimity”. It is consistent with this definition that a member may be included in the Technical Committee list and yet not be in full agreement with all clauses of this publication.

      
      

      viii October 2011

      © Canadian Standards Association Chain saw kickback

      
      

      
      

   4. To submit a request for interpretation of CSA Standards, please send the following information to inquiries@csa.ca and include “Request for interpretation” in the subject line:

      1. define the problem, making reference to the specific clause, and, where appropriate, include an illustrative sketch;

      2. provide an explanation of circumstances surrounding the actual field condition; and

      3. where possible, phrase the request in such a way that a specific “yes” or “no” answer will address the issue. Committee interpretations are processed in accordance with the CSA Directives and guidelines governing standardization and are published in CSA’s periodical Info Update, which is available on the CSA website at https://standardsactivities.csa.ca.

   5. CSA Standards are subject to periodic review, and suggestions for their improvement will be referred to the appropriate committee. To submit a proposal for change to CSA Standards, please send the following information to inquiries@csa.ca and include “Proposal for change” in the subject line:

      1. Standard designation (number);

      2. relevant clause, table, and/or figure number;

      3. wording of the proposed change; and

      4. rationale for the change.

October 2011 ix

© Canadian Standards Association Chain saw kickback

Z62.3-11

Chain saw kickback

1. Scope

   
   

   1.1

   This Standard specifies kickback performance requirements for gasoline-powered chain saws, 80 cm3 (4.88 in3) engine displacement and smaller, Classes 1A, 1B, and 1C, and electric chain saws, Classes 2A, 2B, and 2C, intended for forestry and other wood-cutting applications, as defined in CSA Z62.1.

   
   

   1.2

   This Standard also specifies kickback performance requirements for replacement saw chains.

   
   

   1.3

   This Standard also specifies kickback marking requirements.

   
   

   1.4

   In CSA standards, “shall” is used to express a requirement, i.e., a provision that the user is obliged to satisfy in order to comply with the standard; “should” is used to express a recommendation or that which is advised but not required; and “may” is used to express an option or that which is permissible within the limits of the standard.

   Notes accompanying clauses do not include requirements or alternative requirements; the purpose of a note accompanying a clause is to separate from the text explanatory or informative material.

   Notes to tables and figures are considered part of the table or figure and may be written as requirements.

   Annexes are designated normative (mandatory) or informative (nonmandatory) to define their application.

   
   

   1.5

   The values given in SI units are the units of record for the purposes of this Standard. The values given in parentheses are for information and comparison only.

   
   

2. Reference publications

This Standard refers to the following publications, and where such reference is made, it shall be to the edition listed below, including all amendments published thereto.

CSA (Canadian Standards Association)

Z62.1-11

Chain saws

ANSI (American National Standards Institute)

B175.1-2011

Safety Requirements for Gasoline Powered Chain Saws

ISO (International Organization for Standardization)

6535:2008

Portable chain-saws — Chain brake performance

October 2011 1