Machine Directives in the EU

Machine Directives in the EU

Machine directives The machine directive for the EU passed in 1989 and updated in 1998 was used to achieve harmonizing of the regulations for safety of machines in EU countries. The machine directive has been implemented since the 1st of June 1995 in the national laws of every EU country and EU preaccession country.

Requirements The machine directive defines basic security and safety requirements for machines and safety equipment which are required for use. These basic security and safety requirements are supplemented by a group of detailed requirements for certain machine types.

Validity

The machine directive is valid for machines and safety equipment. The term machine is a general term and includes a wide range of machines and systems.  A unit consisting of a group of components or equipment, mostly with at least one moving part, as well as operating machines, control loops, etc., which is used for a certain purpose, such as processing, handling, moving and preparing a material  A unit consisting of machines which work together in such a manner that they are considered to function as a whole  Exchangeable equipment used to change the function of machine which can be obtained and added to a machine or a group of machines or a by service personnel, as long as this equipment is not a replacement part or tool Safety equipment, which is not exchangeable equipment, a component which the manufacturer (or authorized personnel) places on the market with the intent of guaranteeing safety and the failure of this component can danger the security or safety of persons in the work area.

Exceptions A group of products are excluded from this: People moving equipment, boilers, atomic systems, weapons, etc.