TechArchive

Original article date: September 1997

There are now 16 EU Directives stipulating mandatory CE marking, of which the infamous Machinery Directive is just one. This overview from Klockner-Moeller.

Your machine must be demonstrably safe – it must perform its functions without causing injury or damage to health. As a rule, you are permitted to provide the certification for this yourself and refer to the “responsible authorities” in special cases. This should also be certified externally by affixing the CE marking.

A risk assessment must be made for the entire machine, as well as for its associated parts. If the conclusion is reached that a circuit or component failure in protective devices may cause a danger, then additional measures must be taken to reduce the risks in the event of a fault. This procedure must be executed carefully and documented in every case.

To date, there are 16 different Directives with compulsory marking requirements (see Fig 1) and a large and rapidly growing number of EN standards (harmonised European standards). Their aim and purpose is to assist the free movement of goods within the European Union on the basis that each member state will have similar requirements for ensuring that minimum safety levels for users are met..

Since the beginning of 1995, CE marking has been made obligatory for compliance with the Machinery Directive 89/332/EEC, which stipulates the general requirements placed on the safety of machines and the health of the user/operator. This is perhaps the most familiar of the industrial EC Directives.

From 1997, the Low-Voltage Directive 73/23/EEC requires the mandatory CE marking of electrical equipment. The fulfillment of safety objectives is meant to ensure protection from hazards caused by electrical current in low-voltage devices. These include electrical switching devices, conductors, cables, wires and installation components with a voltage range of 50 to 1000V AC and 75 to 1500V DC.

The marking of products compliant with the EMC Directive 89/336/EEC has been compulsory since 1996. The EMC Directive stipulates two basic requirements placed on the electromagnetic compatibility of devices: emitted interference; and interference immunity. Different requirements are placed on the one hand on industrial applications, and on the other hand on home, business, trade, light industry, small companies, offices and laboratories.

EU Directives are a type of superordinate Directive. The Directives must be converted by all member states into national legislation. For example, with the ninth decree, the Machinery Directive became part of the Device Safety Regulations in Germany. The EU Directives are primarily there to ensure a standard and binding legal framework. However, only the basic requirements are specified without technical details, in order not to impair technological developments.

The European standards (EN standards) are transposed into the national standards of each member within the European Union. National standards with contents not complying with EN standards are withdrawn.

Only the valid (white paper) EN standards are to be used. As long as there are no EN standards for a particular field, or only drafts, then the national standards can and should be used. In practice, the draft standards (prEN…) published in the EC Official Journal are used by the responsible authority as the basis of conformity assessment.

A schedule for implementing the EC Machinery Directive Measures

Creating a factory standard

• Identifying the relevant directives
• Researching the standards

Preparing technical documentation

• Listing the basic requirements
• Identifying the hazards
• Describing solutions
• Assessing risk
• Establishing test criteria

Integrating the safety concept

• Design solutions
• Protective devices: in accordance with standards

prototype testing

other procedures

• Warning of residual hazards

Creating test reports

Preparing operating instructions

• Basic safety chapter
• Special danger notes
• Translating operating instructions

Creating a declaration of conformity

Affixing the CE marking

Seeing your way through safety specs

Klockner-Moeller has produced a comprehensive manual outlining safety specifications for machines and plant. The broad range of topics include:

• Emergency stops
• Preventing restarts
• Repair and maintenance safety
• Monitoring moveable guards
• Enabling setting
• Safe operation
• Protection against electrical shock
• Safety-related engineering in accordance with EN 60204-1 (1992)

EU requirements foe safe performance of equipment are listed within each section. A summary of the safety standards which apply and their codes is given in a separate table with a brief outline of content. The company’s own solutions are given on each facing page., with help on choosing the right circuit, control gear and safety-related protective devices.

Klcokner-Moeller

Tel: 01296 393322

Fax: 01296 21854

Contact: Steve Rickard

September 1997