Self Certify and CE Mark your Machinery

The objective of the "Safety of Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC is to harmonize the national regulations concerning the design, manufacture and supply of machinery by defining 'essential requirements' to ensure its safe use and to remove barriers of trade between the member states of the European Union.

The most important information that is not getting through to U.S. Machinery manufacturers is that self-certification is permitted for all machinery and allows you entrance to all European countries.

The only exception is machinery listed in ANNEX IV of the directive, which are circular saws, band saws, presses, devices for lifting persons, underground working machines, etc. (Pretty much all high risk equipment.) A complete listing can be found HERE.).

If you determine that ANNEX IV does not apply, the next step is to review the directive's definition of machinery.

'MACHINERY' means:
An assembly,fitted with or intended to be fitted with a drive system other than directly applied human or animal effort, consisting of linked parts or components, at least one of which moves, and which are joined together for a specific application, An assembly of machines which, in order to achieve the same end, are arranged and controlled so that they function as an integral whole,
An assembly referred to in the first indent, missing only the components to conect it on site to sources of energy and motion,

An assembly referred to in the first and second indents, ready to be installed and able to function as it stands only if mounted on a means of transport, or installed in a building or a structure,

Assemblies of machinery referred to in the first, second and third indents or partly completed machinery (an assembly which is allmost machinery but which cannot in itself perform a specific application), in order to achieve the same end, are arranged and controlled so that they function as an integral whole,

An assembly of linked parts or components, at least one of which moves and which are joined together, intended for lifting loads and whose only power source is directly applied human effort.

The Machinery Directive contains 48 'Essential Requirements', probably better known as 'EHSR'. The EHSR lay down the necessary elements for protecting consumers, workers, property and the environment. Compliance with the ESHR is mandatory. Only products complying with EHSR may be placed on the market and/or put into service

Only after the manufacturer has demonstrated compliance with the 'Essential Health and Safety Requirements' is he allowed to place the CE marking on the product.

One of the major obstacles to complying with the EHSR is the style in which they are written. Another obstacle for US Machinery manufacturers is the directive requirement that the Technical File be made available to European Authorities quickly- usually taken to mean 48 hours.

QNET can assist you in properly interpreting the Machinery Directive as it applies to your product, determine the European Standards that apply and advise on specific action needed to comply with the 'Essential Health and Safety Requirements'.

QNET can prepare a Advisory Technical File for your product that will comply fully with the Machinery Directive. For further details click here-MACHINERY