13Chainsaw Safety Manual
English / USA
a) Saws with a displacement of less 
than 3.8 cubic inches (62 cm³)
– must, in their original condition, 
meet a 45° computer derived 
kickback angle when equipped with 
certain cutting attachments,
– and must be equipped with at least 
two devices to reduce the risk of 
kickback injury, such as a chain 
brake, low kickback chain, reduced 
kickback bar, etc.
b) Saws with a displacement of 
3.8 cubic inches (62 cm³) and above
– must be equipped with at least one 
device designed to reduce the risk 
of kickback injury, such as a chain 
brake, low kickback chain, reduced 
kickback bar, etc.
The computer derived angles for saws 
below 3.8 cubic inch (62 cm³) 
displacement are measured by applying 
a computer program to test results from 
a kickback test machine.
!Warning!
The computer derived angles of § 5.11 
of ANSI B 175.1-2000 may bear no 
relationship to actual kickback bar 
rotation angles that may occur in real life 
cutting situations.
In addition, features designed to reduce 
kickback injuries may lose some of their 
effectiveness when they are no longer in 
their original condition, especially if they 
have been improperly maintained. 
Compliance with § 5.11 of ANSI B 175.1-
2000 does not automatically mean that 
in a real life kickback the bar and chain 
will rotate at most 45°.
!Warning!
In order for powerheads below 3.8 cubic 
inch (62 cm³) displacement to comply 
with the computed kickback angle 
requirements of § 5.11 of ANSI B 175.1-
2000 use only the following cutting 
attachments:
– bar and chain combinations listed 
as complying in the "Specifications" 
section of the instruction manual or
– other replacement bar and chain 
combinations marked in 
accordance with the standard for 
use on the powerhead or
– replacement chain designated 
"low kickback saw chain.“
See the section on "Low kickback saw 
chain and reduced kickback bars."
Devices for reducing the risk of 
kickback injury
STIHL recommends the use of the 
STIHL Quickstop chain brake on your 
powerhead with green labeled reduced 
kickback bars and low kickback chains.
!Warning!
To reduce the risk of injury, never use a 
saw if the chain brake does not function 
properly. Take the saw to your local 
STIHL servicing dealer. Do not use the 
saw until the problem has been rectified. 
STIHL Quickstop chain brake
STIHL has developed a chain stopping 
system designed to reduce the risk of 
injury in certain kickback situations. It is 
called a Quickstop chain brake. The 
Quickstop chain brake is standard 
equipment on your STIHL chainsaw.