Machinery

TUV Rheinland of North America, Inc. offers domestic and international testing and certification services for Industrial Machinery. We offer CE Marking services to those manufacturers needing to export their machinery to the EU. State-of-the-art testing services are available to make sure machinery complies with such requirements as sound, laser and electromagnetic emissions.

In the United States, TUV Rheinland is a NRTL and can test to the applicable UL standards. For the semiconductor industry, we provide SEMI/S2 guideline assessments for producers of semiconductor manufacturing equipment.

As an NRTL, we can "list" machinery to insure acceptance by local authorities having jurisdiction. For unlisted equipment, we provide Field Evaluation Services at the installation site.

ATEX Directive

The ATEX Directive addresses equipment and protective systems intended for use in, or in conjunction with, potentially explosive atmospheres. The scope of the directive includes safety devices, controlling devices and regulating devices. Also subject to ATEX Directive requirements is equipment intended for use outside potentially explosive atmospheres but required for, for contributing to, the safe functioning of equipment and protective systems.

The ATEX Directive became available for use in March 1996 mandatory on July 1, 2003. The ATEX Directive is a New Approach directive for CE Marking and replaces three Old Approach directives- 76/117/EEC, 79/196/EEC (9) and 82/130/EEC.

We help with the following:

ATEX approval or an explosion risk-related analysis
Assistance in defining equipment groups and categories
Support in creating Ex-Proof documentation (also required by the ATEX 137 and BetrSichV) and also by interpreting measures to improve workers' safety
Testing and certification for protection/detection equipment and systems
Assistance in completing hazard analysis and risk assessments on equipment and machines (e.g. application of the RASE guideline for determining the potential ignition source, as well as the consequences involved with mechanical or electrical equipment and protective systems).

CE Marking for Machinery

Export Requirements for Machinery

The European Machinery Directive 98/37/EC requires that almost all machinery products bear the CE Marking and be accompanied by the proper documentation (i.e., EU-Type Test Certificate). Non-compliant products may be removed from the market. Customs officials could also stop equipment at any European Union border if the CE Marking is not affixed, and if the proper declaration and documentation are not available.

Machinery Directive Scope

The Machinery Directive 98/37/EC applies to both machinery and specific safety components (such as light curtains, two-hand controls, etc.) Most components are not required to bear the CE Marking. Most safety components require CE Marking, some even if they contain non moving parts.

Machinery is defined as:

an assembly of linked parts or components (at least one of which moves with the appropriate actuators, controls and power circuits) joined for a specific application, in particular for the processing, treatment, moving for packaging of material;
an assembly of machines that, in order to achieve the same end, are arranged and controlled so that they function as an integral whole;
interchangeable equipment modifying the function of a machine that is supplied for the purpose of being assembled with a machine (or a series of different machines or with a tractor) by the operators themselves insofar as this equipment is not a spare part or tool.

Products Covered Include:

Woodworking Machines
Packaging Equipment
Injection Molding Machines
Printing and Paper Machines
Hydraulic Presses
Semiconductor Manufacturing Equipment
Control and Measuring Equipment
Construction Equipment
and more

Machinery Assessment and Certification

TUV Rheinland of North America, Inc. can provide assessment and certification services to a variety of national and international specifications to the Machinery Directive. Our parent company in Germany is an EU Notified Body.

We can help with the following:

Determining which types of certification procedures, applicable directives, harmonized standards and documentation are necessary to complete the CE Marking and declaration process
Performing TUV Rheinland type testing for the TUV Rheinland Mark
Testing according to the relevant standards here in the United States at TUV Rheinland or at the manufacturing site
Helping manufacturers assemble a Technical Documentation File and/or Technical Construction File with all papers, test reports and certificates as required
Providing Certificates to the directives
Issuing (US) NRTL and SEMI certificates

Machinery Directive Requirements

In most cases, the following three directives will guide you through the CE Marking process: Machinery Directive, Low-Voltage Directive and EMC Directive. Each directive contains its own specific requirements, generally concerning design, manufacture, intended use, test reports and technical documentation from a Notified/Competent Body, as well as supporting schematics and diagrams.

To view the details of these directives, click here.

Each of these directives requires that:

1.Paperwork shows compliance with the directive(s)
2.Reference is made to the harmonized standards to which the equipment conforms
3.CE Marking is accompanied by a Declaration of Conformity
4.Technical file is available from the manufacturer or its authorized European representative

CE Marking and Airborne Noise Emission

The European Commission has identified airborne noise in the environment as one of the main local environmental problems in Europe. Requirements for airborne noise emissions by equipment for use outdoors needs to be harmonized. At the same time a high level of environmental and consumer protection needs to be achieved, without creating any obstacles for the free movement of the equipment within the EU market.

Directive 2000/14/EC regulates the noise emission in the environment by equipment for use outdoors. It will be mandatory to comply with Directive 2000/14/EC starting January 3, 2002. The Directive covers various types of equipment for use outdoors, which are divided into two groups:

- Equipment subject to noise limits (article 12)

- Equipment subject to noise marking only (article 13)

The manufacturer, or his authorized representative, placing the equipment on the market shall be responsible for ensuring that the equipment is in conformity with the provisions of the Directive and any other Directives that apply to it. The manufacturer is offered different modules regarding conformity assessment procedures (i.e., Annex V-VIII). For equipment subject to noise limits (article 12), a notified body has to check conformity with the Directive's provisions in both the design phase and production phase.

EQUIPMENT SUBJECT TO NOISE LIMITS (ARTICLE 12):

Builder's hoists for the transport of goods (combustion engine driven)
Compaction machines
Compressors (< 350kW)
Concrete breakers and picks (handheld)
Construction winches (combustion engine driven)
Dozers (< 500kW)
Dumpers (< 500kW)
Excavators, hydraulic or rope operated (< 500kW)
Excavator-loaders (< 500kW)
Graders (< 500kW)
Hydraulic power packs
Landfill compactors, loader type with bucket (< 500kW)
Lawnmowers
Lawn trimmers / lawn edge trimmers
Lift trucks, combustion engine driven (counterbalanced)
Loaders (< 500kW)
Mobile cranes
Motor hoes (< 3kW)
Paver finishers
Power generators (< 400kW)
Tower cranes
Welding generators

Whether the product is listed under article 12, or article 13, the manufacturer, or his authorized representative, must ensure that the equipment is marked with their certified guaranteed sound power level and issue an EC Declaration of Conformity. A copy of every EC Declaration of Conformity must be sent to the responsible authority of the member state in which the equipment is placed on the market. A copy must also be sent to the European Commission in Brussels to enable them to monitor noise levels. Some equipment was already subject to noise limits as laid down in previous EU Directives.

Directives repealed and replaced by 2000/14/EC
Directive 79/113/EEC
Directive 84/532/EEC
Directive 84/533/EEC
Directive 84/534/EEC
Directive 84/535/EEC
Directive 84/536/EEC
Directive 84/537/EEC
Directive 84/538/EEC
Directive 86/662/EEC

In cases where machinery does not fall into the scope of the EU Directive 2000/14/EC, it will still be expected to meet the required European noise emission regulations, e.g., 98/37/EC (Machinery Directive).

TUV Rheinland has the capability to provide state-of-the-art sound testing and technical experts with the understanding of these requirements. If you are a machinery manufacturer and are unsure of how these requirements affect you, please feel free to contact us.

TUV Rheinland can offer the entire scope of services for all legally required certifications, and more.

CE Marking for all Types of Products