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SAI Guide: CE Marking Basics
If you are a US manufacturer, the first time you hear about CE marking may be due to a request by a potential customer located in Europe. Excited about the new opportunity, you search the web for helpful articles on what CE marking is. Luckily, you have made it to the right space! This article is meant to help you understand what it is and to push you in the right direction for applying the marking on your product.
The CE mark stands for “Conformité Européenne”, and it indicates that the product meets the European Union’s health, safety, and environmental requirements, allowing it to be sold within the European Economic Area (EEA). It is a manufacturer’s declaration that their product complies with all relevant EU regulations. The CE marking is similar to North America’s UL and CSA marks, however, the CE mark is mandatory and can be acquired by the manufacturer. When that happens, the manufacturer takes full responsibility for ensuring their product complies with the requirements.
In order to affix the CE mark to your product, all applicable European legislation must be reviewed, and all product-specific standards followed. The following 6 sections details the process for obtaining European Compliance.
1. EU Directives
EU Directives serve as the main legislative backbone for ensuring compliance in the European Union. All countries in the EU must adhere to the requirements of these EC Directives, and they cannot have less strict or more demanding product requirements. All EC Directives are meant to protect the health and safety of Europe’s citizens. These directives span several industries, but they serve as your starting point as you begin to unravel what is required to ensure your machine is compliant to all legislation in Europe. Although there are many different directives, the following are those typically needed to be adhered to for machinery and electronics.
Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC
The Machinery Directive is your starting point in ensuring your machine is compliant to European laws. This directive defines a “machinery” as:
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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, irrespective of whether the assembly is able to function on its own or only when joined together.
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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.
This Directive can also be used to regulate “partly completed machinery”, an assembly or equipment which is incorporated or assembled with other machinery or equipment to form machinery in the sense of this Directive. “Partly completed machinery” has also sometimes been termed partial machinery or machinery not ready for use.
Please note that in 2027, the Machinery Directive will be replaced by the Machinery Regulation. Check out our quick guide on the differences and learn how your machine is affected.
Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Directive 2014/30/EC
The EMC Directive ensures all applicable machinery and electronics have a limited electromagnetic emissions. In order to comply with the EMC Directive, passing test reports for both EMC emissions and EMC immunity of the equipment must be available. Specifically, these tests include radiated emissions, conducted emissions, radiated immunity, and conducted immunity. Almost every type of electronic equipment or machine will need to adhere to the EMC Directive.
ATEX Directive 2014/34/EC
The ATEX Directive (equipment for potentially explosive atmospheres) refers to machinery and electronics that will be used in a potentially explosive atmosphere. If an ATEX marking is required, than your product must adhere to the ATEX Directive. Fundamentally, an ATEX mark ensures that your piece of equipment will not serve as a source of ignition in an explosive environment.
Low Voltage Directive
The Low Voltage Directive is for all electrical devices (appliances, cables, power supplies, etc.) that have a voltage rating of 50 – 1000 VAC or 75 – 1500 VDC. This is an important directive of which to be aware if your products are not machines but do fall into the voltage ratings. For a more detailed review of all the European Directives and a guide to help you determine which ones your product needs to adhere, check out the SAI guide below:
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