Machinery Directive Assessments The Machinery Directive? - The Machinery Directive 98/37/EC, consolidating the original Machinery Directive 89/392/EEC and its amendment directives (91/ 368/EEC, 93/44/EEC, and 93/68/EEC) into one Directive. - Great Britain: The Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 1992 (SI 1992 3070) - Compliance with directive has been mandatory since 1996 How do We Define Machinery?

Article 1 of the Machinery Directive specifies its scope as follows. Machinery is: - An assembly of linked parts or components of which at least one moves. - 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. - Safety components according to annex IV of the Directive.

This means that all machinery products are covered by the Machinery Directive unless excluded by chapter 3 of Article 1. However, "at least one of which moves" means that static assemblies such as shelving, racking etc. are excluded.

Even though the directive says "linked together", machinery which is sold in dismantled form for the ease of transport has to comply with the Directive, too. Moreover, machinery where the risks are mainly of electrical origin is excluded by chapter 5 of Article 1. Such machinery is covered by the Low Voltage Directive.

As for other Directives, the Machinery Directive applies for products which are placed on the EU market for the first time. This definition means that used machines shall comply with the directive if they are imported from a non-EU member state. Machines that have already been in service in the EU prior mandatory date of the Directive do not need to comply.

What are Annex-IV Machines?

The Machinery Directive makes a clear distinction between "ordinary machines" and machines considered being particularly dangerous (Annex IV-machines). As for both machine types different conformity assessment procedures are specified, it is important to find out whether the machine is within the scope of Article IV. Annex IV-machines will require a Notified Body sign-off. Examples of these (but not exhaustive) are:

- Circular saws, sawing machines. - Hand-fed surface planing machines for woodworking. - Thicknessers for one-side dressing. - Band saws. - Combined wood working machines. - Hand-fed tenoning machines. - Hand-fed vertical spindle moulding machines. - Portable chain saws. - Presses including press breaks for cold working of metals. - Injection or compression machines for plastics or rubber moulding. - Machinery for underground work (e.g., machinery on rails, hydraulic-powered roof supports, or internal combustion engines). - Manually loaded trucks for collection of household refuse incorporating compression mechanisms. - Guards and detachable transmission shafts with universal joints. - Vehicle-servicing lifts. - Devices for lifting persons who are at risk of falling more than three meters. - Machines for the manufacture of pyrotechnics. - Safety Components: - Electrosensitive devices (e.g., nonmaterial barriers, sensor mats, electromagnetic detectors, light curtains, etc.). - Two-handed controls. - Automatic movable screens. - Roll-over protection structures (ROPS). - Falling-object protective structures (FOPS).

Depending on the type of machinery and the components, there are other directives beside the Machinery Directive that may be applied to the product. Some of them are the EMC Directive, the Low Voltage Directive and the Simple Pressure Vessel Directive, Pressure Equipment Directive (97/23/EC).

Which Standards are Applicable?

The standards for the Machinery Directive can be split into three main groups:

Type A
Apply to all machinery and are essential reading for machinery builders (e.g. EN 292:Safety of machinery/Terminology).

Type B
Are laterally inter-linked and generally divided into B1 and B2 standards:

	-	'B1' Standards Apply to all machinery and are designed to promote the essential factors mentioned in the Directive
	-	'B2' Standards These are "apply when used" Standards, i.e.., if a particular safety device is chosen for a machine, then it must be manufactured to the relevant standard

Type C
These are special to type standards and will identify over 600 different types of machinery and will inform manufacturers and users of the specific safety precautions and devices which are required to be used (e.g. EN 201: Injection moulding machines for plastics)

What are the Three Conformity Assessment Paths to Meet the Requirements of the Machinery Directive?

Path I

Path II

Path III

Created By Brett Walton

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