What is ISO 15871 about?
ISO 15871 specifies requirements for indicator lights to show the status of freight-container-handling spreaders and grappler’s arms.
ISO 15871 is applicable to:
- Container-handling spreaders with twist locks for handling freight containers
- Grappler arms for handling semi-trailers
Who is ISO 15871 for?
ISO 15871 on indicator lights is applicable to:
- Grappler arm operators
- Container handlers
- Industrial truck manufacturers
Why should you use ISO 15871?
Industrial trucks are mainly used for freight handling in various industries. It’s vital that the machine operators have knowledge about the functioning of the trucks. ISO 15871 provides guidelines for operating and understanding the functioning of indicator lights. Indicator lights are used to inform the operator about the status of the rear arms. Using which the operators can perform tasks related to container handling. This will increase the efficiency of the tasks.
What’s changed since the last update?
ISO 15871:2019 supersedes ISO 15871:2000, which has been technically revised.
The main change in ISO 15871:2019 compared to ISO 15871:2000 is the minimum luminous intensity for other types of light sources has been added, e.g., LED, expressed in cd (candela).

