Viewpoint: it’s not only the Machine Directive to which you need to adhere

Machinery end users must consider more than the Machinery Directive and deal with the complex process of identifying which other standards may be relevant.

Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC

All machines supplied in the European Economic Area must comply with the Machinery Directive, which defines a machine as:

• An assembly fitted with, or intended to be fitted with, a drive system other than directly applied manual or animal effort, consisting of linked parts or components, at least one of which moves, and which are joined together for a specific application
• Machinery referred to above that is missing only the components to connect it on site or to sources of energy and motion
• Lifting apparatus whose only power source is directly applied manual effort
• An assembly of machines and/or partly completed machinery which, in order to achieve the same end, are arranged and controlled to function as an integral whole
• Interchangeable equipment which is assembled with machinery or a tractor in order to change its function.

The EMC Directive 2014/30/EU

Many machine builders assume that if each individual electrical or electronic component in a machine carries the CE marking, then the entire machine will also meet EMC requirements. However, that is not the case and the relevant tests must be conducted.

Low Voltage Directive 2014/35/EU

Equipment operating at voltage between 50v and 1,000v AC and 75v and1500v DC must comply with the Low Voltage Directive (LVD).

The requirements under the LVD are:

• That the product is electrically safe
• The product has been constructed in accordance with accepted good engineering practice
• The product has been designed and constructed in accordance with the Principal Elements of the Safety Objectives of the LVD
• Electrical equipment is designed and constructed to ensure that it is safe when connected to the electricity supply, by providing a level of protection against electric shock.

Pressure Equipment Directive 97/23/EC

The Pressure Equipment Directive (PED) is mandatory for equipment operating at a pressure greater than 0.5 bar, and is wide ranging as it impacts upon design, production, final inspection/test, marking and labelling and instructions for use/ maintenance. Therefore, in most companies no single person will be able to resolve all issues.

ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU

The ‘ATEX’ Directive provides the technical requirements for equipment intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres. The directive therefore covers a surprisingly large range of manufacturing sites.

PUWER

The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) requires users of work equipment to carry out risk assessment and provide work equipment that is suitable for its intended task without putting persons at risk.

It requires that inspections are carried out:

• After installation and before being put into service for the first time; or after assembly at a new site or in a new location to ensure that it has been installed correctly and is safe to operate
• After work equipment has been exposed to any conditions causing deterioration, which is liable to cause a dangerous situation
• At suitable intervals; and
• Each time that exceptional circumstances have occurred that are liable to jeopardise the safety of work equipment. The results of these inspections have to be documented and kept.

• Neil Dyson is business line manager for machinery safety at TUV SUD