Which torque tools does ISO 6789 cover?
Applies to: ISO 6789:2003, ISO 6789-1:2017, ISO 6789-2:2017 · Updated 2026-10-27
Technical review: Alston Hsiao (Chieh-Jen Hsiao), CTO, STAND
ISO 6789 covers hand-operated indicating and setting torque tools used for controlled tightening. Both torque wrenches and torque screwdrivers may fall within its scope. Having “torque” in a product name is not enough to establish that the standard applies.
Start with how force is applied and what the tool is used for
When reviewing tool information, first establish whether the tightening torque is applied by a person and how the tool indicates or controls torque. The scope of ISO 6789:2003 concerns controlled tightening of bolted connections. The 2017 Part 1 scope explicitly addresses controlled tightening of screws and nuts and divides hand torque tools into Type I indicating tools and Type II setting tools.
Both types include wrenches and screwdrivers, so a small tool shaped like a screwdriver is not automatically outside the scope. Conversely, a powered or impact tightening tool cannot be assigned to the standard's hand-tool classifications solely because it has a torque setting. If a product combines several operating modes, ask the manufacturer to explain which functions and conditions its claim of applicability covers.
Distinguish electronic measurement from powered drive
A hand torque tool can use electronic measurement. A tool to which the user applies force by hand, while electronics measure and display torque, may still fall within ISO 6789's hand-tool scope. The fact that it needs a battery does not, by itself, exclude it.
Conversely, a motor-driven tool does not become a hand torque tool merely because it offers a numerical setting or torque display. Consider the source of force, the measurement method, and the action at the target torque separately, and check the type identified in the product documentation. If classification is unclear, clarifying the functions is more reliable than deciding applicability from a test result alone.
Once the tool is within scope, choose the relevant part
After confirming that the hand torque tool is within scope, identify the correct document reference. The 2003 edition combines tool requirements and calibration procedures in one standard. The 2017 Part 1 addresses conformance testing and marking, while Part 2 addresses tool calibration and measurement uncertainty. Being within scope is only the starting point for checking requirements; it does not mean that the product has passed testing.
Part 2 also addresses torque measurement devices used to calibrate tools and specifies corresponding calibration requirements. This does not turn those devices into Type I or Type II hand tools for tightening, nor does it establish that all dynamic or impact measurements are covered. When purchasing or arranging calibration, identify the tool under test, the measurement device used, and the work required separately.