Understanding and complying with the Machinery Directive is crucial for manufacturers in the European Union and UK. This directive sets the safety standards for machinery sold in the EU/UK. However, the directive’s language can be hard to understand. To help, the European Union provides a guidance document that explains the directive’s requirements in simpler terms.
What Is the Machinery Directive Guidance Document?
The Machinery Directive Guidance Document is a detailed resource that helps clarify the terms and rules in the Machinery Directive. This 465-page document is essential for anyone involved in designing, producing, or regulating machinery in the EU. It offers clear definitions of what qualifies as machinery and provides instructions on how to apply the directive.
For example, the directive defines machinery as “an assembly with a drive system that has linked parts, at least one of which moves, and is joined together for a specific task.” The definition of machinery includes many types of equipment but excludes items like hand-driven tools. Understanding these definitions helps ensure your machinery complies with the directive.
How to Access the Guidance Document
You can easily access the guidance document by searching “Machinery Directive Guide” online. The top result should take you to the European Commission’s website. From there, you can find and download the document. This guide is useful for anyone working with machinery, helping you understand the directive and ensuring compliance.
Key Definitions: What Is Machinery?
One of the main challenges in complying with the Machinery Directive is knowing what qualifies as machinery. The guidance document provides a clear list of what falls under this category. Machinery is defined as any assembly with a drive system, consisting of linked parts, where at least one part moves. If equipment has no moving parts, it may be subject to other directives, such as the Low Voltage Directive.
Additionally, if machinery is designed to have a drive system but is sold without one, it still qualifies as machinery. This information helps manufacturers determine whether their products need to comply with the directive and how to meet all safety requirements.
Complete vs. Partly Completed Machinery
The guidance document also explains the difference between complete and partly completed machinery. Complete machinery is fully functional and meets all the essential health and safety requirements in the directive. These machines are CE marked, showing that they have passed all required safety criteria.
Partly completed machinery, on the other hand, is almost complete but cannot function on its own. This type of machinery does not receive a CE mark. Instead, it comes with a declaration of incorporation, outlining the safety requirements it meets. The final manufacturer or end user must ensure the complete machine complies with all relevant safety requirements before selling it or putting it into service.
For example, industrial robots are often sold as partly completed machinery. They require additional parts and customisation before they can perform specific tasks. Once integrated, the final machine must undergo safety assessments to ensure it meets all standards and essential safety requirements.
How to Use the Guidance Document
To use the guidance document effectively, you should apply it to your specific machinery. For example, if you work with equipment powered by human or animal effort, the document clarifies when such equipment falls under the Machinery Directive. If machinery operates only through direct human or animal effort, like a manual hand drill, it is not covered by the directive. However, lifting machinery is an exception and is covered by the directive.
The document also explains how machinery that stores energy through manual effort, like in springs or hydraulic systems, can still be considered machinery. This is because the stored energy allows the machinery to operate after the manual effort has stopped, making it fall under the directive.
Understanding these details helps manufacturers determine the correct classification for their products and ensures they follow the proper compliance procedures.
Regular Reference to the Guidance Document
For anyone involved in machinery safety, the Machinery Directive guidance document should be a regular reference tool. It not only helps clarify complex definitions but also provides practical examples you can apply to real-world scenarios.
Whether you’re designing new machinery, integrating partly completed machinery into a larger system, or figuring out if your product falls under the directive, this document is invaluable. At Knox Thomas, we use this guide regularly to help our clients navigate the complexities of the Machinery Directive, ensuring their machinery is safe and compliant.
Conclusion
The Machinery Directive guidance document is a vital resource for manufacturers, engineers, and compliance officers. It offers clear, detailed explanations of the directive’s requirements, helping ensure that machinery on the market is safe and compliant. By using this guidance, you can avoid potential pitfalls and ensure your products meet the highest safety standards.
At Knox Thomas, we are dedicated to helping our clients understand and implement these standards, ensuring their machinery is both safe and legally compliant.
