Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC
Part I Introduction
Directive 2006/42/EC is a revised version of the Machinery Directive, the first version of which was adopted in 1989. The new Machinery Directive has been applicable since 29th December 2009. The Machinery Directive thus has a dual objective: to permit the free movement of machinery within the internal market whilst ensuring a high level of protection of health and safety.
Part II Scope
This directive applies to the following products：
(a) machinery：
— an assembly, fitted with or intended to be fitted with a drive system other than directly applied human or animal effort, consisting of linked parts or components, at least one of which moves, and which are joined together for a specific application,
— an assembly referred to in the first indent, missing only the components to connect it on site or to sources of energy and motion,
— an assembly referred to in the first and second indents,ready to be installed and able to function as it stands only if mounted on a means of transport, or installed in a building or a structure,
— assemblies of machinery referred to in the first, second and third indents or partly completed machinery referred to in point (g) which, in order to achieve the same end, are arranged and controlled so that they function as an integral whole,
— an assembly of linked parts or components, at least one of which moves and which are joined together, intended for lifting loads and whose only power source is directly applied human effort;
(b) interchangeable equipment: means a device which, after the putting into service of machinery or of a tractor, is assembled with that machinery or tractor by the operator himself in order to change its function or attribute a new function, in so far as this equipment is not a tool
(c) safety components: means a component which serves to fulfil a safety function, independently placed on the market, the failure and/or malfunction of which endangers the safety of persons, and not necessary in order for the machinery to function, or for which normal components may be substituted in order for the machinery to function.
An indicative list of safety components is set out in Annex V, which may be updated in accordance with Article 8(1)(a);
(d) lifting accessories
(e) chains, ropes and webbing
(f) removable mechanical transmission devices
(g) partly completed machinery: means an assembly which is almost machinery but which cannot in itself perform a specific application. A drive system is partly completed machinery. Partly completed machinery is only intended to be incorporated into or assembled with other machinery or other partly completed machinery or equipment, thereby forming machinery to which this Directive applies
Part III Standards and other applicable directives
Standard:
Machinery should be manufactured in conformity with harmonized standards, the references to which have been published in the Official Journal of the European Union. And in conformity with a harmonized standard shall be presumed to comply with the essential health and safety requirements covered by such a harmonised standard.
Other applicable directives:
Products under MD may also need to comply with other directives like LVD, EMC ATEX, PED etc according to the product or environment in use
Part IV Machinery CE Certification procedure
Step 1: Determine the category of the machine (under Annex IV of machinery directive or not)
Step 2: Prepare the machine and basic documents like instructions diagrams
Step 3: Arrange test on site and training (if under Annex IV, engineer assigned by notified body must involve)
Step 4: Prepare TCF (Technical Construction File) and submit to notified body
Step 5: Notified body issue certificate
Part V Placing on the market and putting into service
1. Before placing machinery on the market and/or putting it into service, the manufacturer or his authorised representative shall:
(a) ensure that it satisfies the relevant essential health and safety requirements set out in Annex I;
(b) ensure that the technical file referred to in Annex VII,part A is available;
(c) provide, in particular, the necessary information, such as instructions;
(d) carry out the appropriate procedures for assessing conformity in accordance with Article 12;
(e) draw up the EC declaration of conformity in accordance with Annex II, part 1, Section A and ensure that it accompanies the machinery;
(f) affix the CE marking in accordance with Article 16.
2. Before placing partly completed machinery on the market, the manufacturer or his authorised representative shall ensure that the procedure referred to in Article 13 has been completed.
3. For the purposes of the procedures referred to in Article 12, the manufacturer or his authorised representative shall have, or shall have access to, the necessary means of ensuring that the machinery satisfies the essential health and safety requirements set out in Annex I.
4. Where machinery is also the subject of other Directives relating to other aspects and providing for the affixing of the CE marking, the marking shall indicate that the machinery also conforms to the provisions of those other Directives.