What the standard is
EN ISO 20957 is a series of standards for stationary training equipment. Part 1 sets general safety requirements and test methods, and further parts cover specific equipment types such as strength machines, treadmills, stationary bikes, benches and free weights. For a professional buyer, the series is the reference for how a machine should be built, how it should be tested and what the manual and labelling must say.
Two points are worth stating clearly. First, a standard is a method, not a stamp. A product does not become safe because a supplier mentions a number. Second, harmonised standards help show that a product meets EU safety rules, but the legal duty to place only safe products on the market stays with the importer. We write this from the position of an importer, and we do not claim that any product in this guide is certified unless a report is in front of us.
Classes: home and studio
The standard separates equipment by intended use. The class letter tells you where it may be used:
- Class H is for home use. Loads, duty cycles and robustness are set for a household.
- Class S is for studio or commercial use, such as gyms, clubs, hotels and fitness rooms. Requirements are stricter, because many people use the equipment every day.
If you are fitting out a gym or a studio, you need class S equipment. A class H machine is fine in a home, but putting it in a commercial gym does not match its intended use. Check this on the test report and the product label rather than on a product listing, because a listing may use the word “commercial” loosely.
Accuracy classes
Some equipment, such as treadmills and bikes that display power or speed, falls into accuracy classes marked with a letter. Class A means the equipment shows accurate values, and class B is for equipment where the display is indicative only. The accuracy class tells you whether you can trust a displayed figure. If you sell to clients who follow programmes by watts or speed, ask which class the equipment is tested to. Where the standard has no accuracy class for a product type, there is nothing to ask for.
What the standard does not cover
Not every product in a fitness range is a stationary training machine. Simple accessories such as bands, mats, ropes and hoops are not covered by this series. They are consumer products under the General Product Safety Regulation and may be tested for materials and chemicals instead. Electrical products such as treadmills also need electrical safety compliance under separate EU rules. See the other guides in our guides section on materials and rules.
What to ask a supplier
When a factory says its machine meets “international standards”, the sentence tells you nothing. Ask specific questions and expect specific answers:
- Which part of EN ISO 20957 does this product fall under?
- Which class is it tested to, H or S, and, where relevant, accuracy class A or B?
- Can you send the test report, and which laboratory issued it?
- Does the report cover the exact model and version you are quoting, or a similar one?
- What is the maximum user weight, and is it in the manual?
- Does the manual exist in the language of the country where you will sell?
If a report does not exist, ask the factory to say so plainly. Many simple products will not have one. You then decide whether the risk is acceptable for the use you have in mind, or whether a test is needed before you buy in volume.
Reading a test report
A report is only useful when it matches the product you receive. Check the model name, the date, the standard and its edition, the class and the stated maximum user weight. Look at what was actually tested: strength, stability, braking, sharp edges, labelling. A report for one frame size does not automatically cover another. When the specification changes, for example a different weld, a thinner tube or a new pad, the report may no longer apply.
Labels, manuals and warnings
The standard asks for instructions on assembly, use and maintenance, and for warnings on the product. In the EU, the General Product Safety Regulation (EU) 2023/988 also requires information that lets the buyer identify the product and the economic operator: type or batch, name and postal address, e-mail address, and safety information in the language of the country of sale. We add this data as the importer for goods sold through us.
For a buyer, the practical point is that a good manual shows a careful factory. Missing weight limits, poor translations and unclear assembly drawings are early warnings.
Which products matter in practice
| Product group | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Power racks, Smith machines, cable machines | Class S for commercial use; stability and load tests; maximum user weight |
| Benches | Class and load rating; locking of adjustment mechanisms |
| Barbells, plates, dumbbells | Tolerance of marked weight; collars and fixings; materials |
| Treadmills, walking pads | Electrical compliance and CE, EN ISO 20957 where it applies, user weight |
| Bands, mats, ropes | Not under this series; material and chemical rules apply |
Browse the strength machines and racks and free weights ranges to see what factories offer, and the quality page for what we request on each product type.
Buying for a gym or studio
If you equip a commercial space, put the class requirement into the purchase order. Specify class S, the standard and the maximum user weight for each machine, and ask for the test report before you pay the balance. Include spare parts and service questions in the discussion, especially for cardio equipment, where a broken part can take a machine out of use for weeks. Our gym fit-out service covers the whole list in one order.
If you are not sure which class a project needs, talk to us before you choose equipment. It is easier to fix a specification than a delivered machine.
