This document specifies the methodology for determining the kickback potential of gasoline-powered and electric-powered (including battery powered) chain-saws, complete with guide bar and saw-chain.

This document has been demonstrated to be an accurate method of measurement for evaluating computed kickback angles and energy associated with chain-saw kickback for electric-powered chain-saws (including battery powered) and gasoline-powered chain-saws with engine capacity up to 80 cm³. It is not intended to evaluate chain-saws with an engine capacity of above 80 cm³. Furthermore, because of physical size limitations of the kickback machine, it is not intended for testing of units with guide bar cutting length in excess of 63 cm.

Modifications to the methodology for determining the kickback potential introduced in this edition are aimed to have a better reproducibility of the results; test results obtained according to the previous methodology still maintain their validity.