European directives are based on the new approach in order to provide free movement of goods in the single market
New approach directives are based on the following principles:
- Harmonisation is limited to essential requirements
- Only products fulfilling the essential requirements may be placed on the market and put into service
For simplification, we can say that 3 types of directives could concern the mechanical transmission industry:
- Security directives
- Protection of workers directives against physical agents
- Environmental directives
SOME NEWS ABOUT SECURITY DIRECTIVES
EMC: Electromagnetic Compatibility directive is currently under revision
LVD: Low Voltage Directive: discussions in the commission to update this directive
EC MACHINERY DIRECTIVE 2006/42/EC
In 2009 Eurotrans finalized a Position Paper about the classifying of Gears, Gearboxes, Geared Motors, Transmission Elements and Transmission Chains according to the EU Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC. It can be a helpfull guideline/interpretation for our members.
Preliminary remarks:
The comments below are intended to provide the industry with a guide as to how gears, gearboxes, geared motors, transmission elements and transmission chains could be incorporated. In order to identify criteria for incorporation, the legal requirements are analyzed and reference is made to publications by the Commission.
Legal foundation / EC Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC:
Partly completed machinery is defined in Article 2 g of the Directive as follows: “g) “Partly completed machinery” is a totality which almost forms a machine but in itself cannot fulfill any particular function. A drive system may constitute partly completed machinery. Partly completed machinery is intended only for installation in other machinery or other partly completed machinery or pieces of equipment or for combination with these, in other then to form machinery within the meaning of the Directive;” Partly completed machinery does not as such perform a particular function. Its intended purpose is to be installed in completed machinery or a totality of machines (system), which will be CE-marked. Nonetheless, partly completed machinery must already have a character such that it “almost forms a machine”.
EUROTRANS Position Paper 01/2010
- English Version
ATEX
2 Directives
94/9/CE – 23 March 1994 – Application 1st July 2003 concerning Equipment and Protective Systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres
99/92/CE – 16 December 1999 – Application 1st July 2003 concerning the minimum requirements for improving the safety and health protection for workers potentially at risk from explosive atmospheres
Point about harmonized standards giving presumption of conformity to the Directive
EN 1127 – Explosive atmospheres – explosive prevention and protection
Part 1: Basic concepts and methodology published in 1997
Part 2: Basic concepts and methodology for mining published in 2000
EN 13463 – Non electrical equipment for potentially explosive atmosphere
Part 1: Basic methodology and requirements - published in September 2002
Part 2: Protection by flow restriction enclosure - still in project
Part 3: Protection by flameproof enclosure “d” – still in project
Part 4: Protection by Internet Safety
Part 5: Protection by constructional safety “c” – published in March 2004
Part 6: Protection by control of ignition source “b” – still in project
Part 7: Protection by pressurisation
Part 8: Protection by liquid immersion “k” – published in January 2004
PROTECTION OF WORKERS DIRECTIVES
In 1994, EU Commission proposed to establish a directive concerning the protection of workers from risks due to exposure to physical agents
4 directives about this subject:
Mechanical vibrations:
Directive adopted on the 25 June 2002, published on the 6 July 2002
application 6 July 2005
Noise Directive:
adopted on the 6 February 2003, published on the 15 February 2003
application 15 February 2006
EMF Directive concerning the exposure to electromagnetic fields
Directive adopted on the 29 April 2004 and published on the
30 April 2004
application 30 April 2007
Optical influences
ENVIRONMENTAL DIRECTIVES
IPPC: Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control end of the Transitional period : 30 October 2007
Obligation to implement best available techniques
regarding environment by the 30 October 2007
IPP: Integrated product policy
- Green paper published in February 2001
- Communication from the commission on the 18 June 2003
Integration of Environment in the design process
Life-cycle data available
VOCS : Volatile Organic Compounds
To reduce emissions to comply with the emission limits
To introduce a reduction scheme
Waste Management
End of life vehicles – Directive 2000/53/EC
Ensure that components of vehicles placed on the market after the 1st July 2003 don’t contain mercury, hexavalent chromium, cadmium. . .
Member states must set up collection systems for end of life vehicles and for waste used parts
Waste electrical and electronic equipment (2002/96/EC)
REACH: Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and the Council concerning Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Electricals
- Mercer study about the impact
- Discussions in the European Community (decision: note before November)
- Possible impact on industrial users with disappearance of certain chemical products
EUP: Directive concerning products using energy. Discussion in the Parliament Project in September 2004