Directives and StandardsDirectives and Standards are of great importance for manufacturers of machines and safety components. EU Directives giving requirements for the minimum level of health and safety are mandatory for manufacturers to fulfill. In every member country the Directives are implemented in that country’s legislature. A new Machinery Directive, 2006/42/EC, came into force on December 29, 2009. The objectives of the Machinery Directive, 98/37/EC, are to maintain, increase and equalize the safety level of machines within the members of the European Community. Based on this, the free movement of machines and products between the countries in this market can be achieved. The Machinery Directive is developed according to “The New Approach” which is based on the following principles:
Harmonized StandardsHarmonized Standards give support on how to fulfill the requirements of the Machinery Directive. The relationship is illustrated by the diagram below. Within ISO (The International Organization for Standardization) work is also ongoing in order to harmonize the safety standards globally in parallel with the European standardization work. One consequence of this is that many existing EN-standards will, when revised, change numbers. For example, EN 954-1 will — when revised — change to EN ISO 13849-1. Jokab Safety has staff members actively participating in groups working on ISO and EN standards.
The Machinery Directive for Machines and Safety ComponentsFrom the Machinery Directive 98/37/EC 2. For the purposes of this Directive: - an assembly of linked parts or components, at least one of which moves, with the appropriate actuators, control and power circuits, etc., joined together for a specific application, in particular for the processing, treatment, moving or packaging of a material, - an assembly of machines which, in order to achieve the same end, are arranged and controlled so that they function as an integral whole, - interchangeable equipment modifying the function of a machine, which is placed on the market for the purpose of being assembled with a machine or a series of different machines or with a tractor by the operator himself in so far as this equipment is not a spare part or a tool; The definition of a machine can cover everything from hand-held portable machines to production lines. There are exclusions—e.g. machinery for medical use used in direct contact with patients, means of transport, i.e. vehicles and their trailers intended solely for transporting passengers and agricultural and forestry tractors. The Machinery Directive is valid also for 2. ...'safety components' means: - a component, provided that it is not interchangeable equipment, which the manufacturer or his authorized representative established in the Community places on the market to fulfill a safety function when in use and the failure or malfunctioning of which endangers the safety or health of exposed persons. Safety components are e.g. light curtains, safety relays and safety PLCs. |
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Directives and Standards
Directives and Standards
