Posted to News on 16th Dec 2009, 21:44
CE marking machine guards to Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC
Procter Machine Guarding has published a new White Paper that explains the requirements for CE marking guards under the new Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC. Previously, under the old Machinery Directive, machine guards did not need to be CE marked. However, under the new Directive that comes into force on 29 December 2009, machine guards do need to have the CE mark applied - but only under certain circumstances. [See this Guide to the new Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC - Ed.]
There is no transition period between the old and new Directives, so it is essential that companies building machines or partly-completed machines - and those performing final assembly, importing machinery for use in the European Economic Area or modifying machinery - be aware of the new requirements. In addition, companies that manufacture guards, whether standard, bespoke or assembled from aluminium framework systems, need to understand when they should and should not CE mark guards and/or supply a Declaration of Conformity.
The White Paper, entitled CE marking of machine guards to the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC, was written by Jeremy Procter, who is a Member of BSI's MCE/3 committee, former Convenor of the European Standards Committee responsible for Machine Guards (CEN TC114 WG11), and Managing Director of Procter Machine Guarding. As such, he has extensive knowledge of the new Machinery Directive and the harmonised machinery safety standards. Furthermore, the White Paper has been prepared in the light of clarification provided by the HSE (Health and Safety Executive) and taking into account the European Commission's Guide to application of the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC, which was published in early December 2009.
Procter's White Paper considers the question of What is a guard? in terms of the definitions and clarification in the new Machinery Directive and the relevant harmonised standard, EN 953:1997 +A1:2009 Safety of machinery. Guards. General requirements for the design and construction of fixed and movable guards.
A series of seven scenarios then describe various situations in which guards do and do not need to be CE marked, with the information provided in a simple-to-understand format, but with notes to explain the underlying reasoning.
To order a PDF copy of this publication, go to the Free Downloads section of the company's website or email [email protected].
