Products for Safe Systems

Pneumatics

Important

The material in this presentation is for guidance only and is not an authoritative interpretation of the law Users are strongly recommended to acquaint themselves with all relevant applicable standards

Contents

Introduction Machinery Directive Five steps to compliance Risk Assessment Essential Health and Safety Requirements

Practical considerations EN 418 EN 574 EN 954 EN 983 Guidance

Technical file Declaration of Conformity and Declaration of Incorporation CE Mark

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Introduction

Recent changes in European legislation through the introduction of New Approach Directives are affecting industry globally
Of course they are applied directly throughout the EEC but anybody exporting into Europe will also need to consider their requirements

Introduction

One such Directive is the Machinery Directive. This has far reaching implications for anyone manufacturing machinery for use within the EEC
This directive does not directly affect pneumatic components, but it does affect the machinery on which they are used

1957 EEC Treaty of Rome

One of the aims of the Treaty of Rome is to promote ease of trading and free movement of goods between member states of the EEC by the removal of barriers to trade
This is achieved through the European Commission drafting proposals to the Council of Ministers who are the main law making body

1957 EEC Treaty of Rome

These proposals are adopted as New Approach Directives and each member state has to implement them into their own national law after a transitional period
This ensures all member states are working to one common set of requirements covering a wide range of topics

1957 EEC Treaty of Rome

Machiner y Directive

ElectroMagnetic Compatibility Directive

Pressure Equipment Directive

Low Voltage Directive

Employers & Manufacturers

Responsibility for Machinery Factory compliance rests with Directive Inspectorate employers using Risk machinery and Assessment manufacturers EN Standards of machinery

Employers & Manufacturers

Responsibility for Machinery Factory compliance rests with Directive Inspectorate employers using Risk machinery and Assessment manufacturers EN Standards of machinery The problems are solved with a helping hand and products for safe systems

Machinery Directive 89/392/EEC

Machinery Directive

The Machinery Directive affects virtually all machinery that employs pneumatic components, therefore the way in which pneumatics are applied becomes very important since they often have a bearing on safety In order to ensure compliance it is important to appreciate the necessary requirements

What is a machine ?

The directive gives three definitions

Definition 1

(What is a machine ?)

An assembly of linked parts or components, at least one of which moves, joined together for a specific application

Definition 2

(What is a machine ?)

An assembly of machines which, in order to achieve the same end, are arranged and controlled so that they function as an integral whole

Definition 3

(What is a machine ?)

Interchangeable equipment modifying the function of a machine which is supplied for the purpose of being assembled with a machine by the operator himself in so far as this equipment is not a spare part or a tool

What is a machine ?

A common misconception occurs where a pneumatic cylinder is sometimes considered to be a machine Whilst the pneumatic cylinder satisfies the first two requirements, i.e., it is an assembly of linked parts and when power is applied some of them do move, however, it does not meet the third requirement, it is not manufactured for a specific purpose

Components

The Directive also covers safety components described as: components which are supplied separately to fulfill a safety function when in use and the failure or malfunctioning of which endangers the safety or health of exposed persons

Five steps to compliance

The route to compliance can be broken down in

Risk Assessment
EHSRs (Essential Health and Safety Requirements) Technical File Declaration of Conformity / Incorporation CE Mark

Step 1
Risk Assessment

Risk assessment

The purpose of risk assessment is to identify any hazards associated with machinery and to evaluate the levels of risk

Risk assessment

It is always preferable to design the hazard out of the machine thus eliminating its associated risk For those hazards that cannot be designed out, adequate safeguards must be designed in to reduce the level of risk Risk assessment is a series of logical steps to enable, in a systematic way, the examination of the hazards associated with machinery

Risk assessment

What is a hazard ? Anything that has the potential to do harm, a source of possible injury or damage to health What is a risk ? The likelihood of the hazard causing harm and the degree of harm that could be caused What is a hazardous situation ? Any situation in which people are exposed to a hazard

Step 2
Essential Health and Safety Requirements (EHSR)

EHSR

The Essential Health and Safety Requirements (EHSR) is a list of basic requirements given in the Machinery Directive Machinery must meet these EHSRs

Essential Health and Safety Requirements

EHSR

Manufacturers must decide which of the EHSRs apply to his machine, then ensure they are met. Three EHSRs apply to all machinery, these are:

1.1.2 deals with the principles of safety integration and requires that machinery be safe throughout the foreseeable lifetime of the machine 1.7.3 Machinery must be marked legibly and indelibly with the minimum particulars given in the EHSRs such as name and address of the manufacturer, serial number etc., 1.7.4 All necessary instructions must accompany the machine, again, the list is given in the EHSRs

EHSR

The onus of demonstrating how the machine has met the relevant EHSRs is placed with the manufacturer By far the most effective method is to manufacture the machine in conformity with published European Norm (EN) standards EN standards ensure that any EHSRs covered by them, will be complied with

EHSR

When an EN standard is approved, it is then given the status of a national standard in all member states of CEN (European Committee for standardisation) without alteration EN standards will eventually replace existing national standards, ultimately, this will lead to all member states working to one common set of standards thus eliminating a barrier to trade

EHSR

CEN Members are Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom

EHSR

The obligations laid down by the EHSRs apply only when the corresponding hazard exists for the machine in question Documentive evidence of how the EHSRs were met has to be provided in the technical file Machinery manufactured in conformity with specified published European standards (EN) will be presumed to comply with Essential Health and Safety Requirements covered by those standards

Examples of EN standards

EN 292 parts 1 & 2 Safety of machinery - Basic concepts, general principles for design
EN 574 Safety of machinery - Two hand control devices - Functional aspects - Principles for design EN 983 Safety of machinery - safety requirements for fluid power systems and their components Pneumatics EN 954-1 Safety of machinery - Safety-related parts of control systems - Part 1: General principles for design

Step 3
Technical File

Technical File

Comprises : drawings of the machine and control circuits a list of standards used risk assessment used copy of the machine instructions

any relevant technical report or certificate obtained from a competent body

Technical File

The technical file is the manufacturers proof of compliance This file is not required to exist as a single unit, but must be able to be assembled within a minimum time period commensurate with the circumstances if requested to do so This information must also be available for up to ten years after the last machine was first supplied

Step 4
Declaration of Conformity and Declaration of Incorporation

Declaration of Conformity

For a stand alone machine that is able to function in its own right a Declaration of Conformity should be issued This declaration provides basic information such as the manufacturers name and address and particulars of the machine to which it refers It is signed by the duly appointed responsible person or his authorised representative

Declaration of Incorporation

For a machine that is knowingly supplied to be assembled into or with other machines, then a Declaration of Incorporation should be supplied This provides similar information to the declaration of conformity

Step 5
The CE mark

CE Mark

Any machine first supplied after 1/1/1995 within the EEC must comply with the Machinery Directive and bear the CE mark

CE Mark

This Directive is not restricted to exports but applies to machinery supplied within the home market and to machinery manufactured solely for in-house use Any machinery imported from outside the EEA will have to comply Machinery exported outside the EEA is not required to comply since these Directives only apply within the EEA

CE Mark

In cases where a Declaration of Incorporation is supplied, then no CE mark is applied The manufacturer assembling various machines together to form another machine has the responsibility to follow the process of compliance and affix the mark to the final assembly

CE Mark

The CE mark must not be treated as a mark of safety or any standard of approval It is simply there to inform market inspectors that in the opinion of the manufacturer, the product in question complies with all directives that apply to it It should therefore be allowed entry into their markets

Practical considerations

Simple machine

This is a simple machine with two moving parts, there are many ways in which the machine can be controlled Some may not be as safe as others Risk assessment can help develop a safe satisfactory method of control

NORGREN

NORGREN

NORGREN

Simple machine

One way could be to use fixed fully enclosing guards Although the machine is now safe, it cannot be accessed by the operator for loading and unloading Other methods must be used that will allow the machine to be operated whilst maintaining an adequate level of safety

NORGREN

NORGREN

NORGREN

Branches to products
As applicable to statements from various European Norms (ENs)

Branches to products

EN 418 Emergency stop valves

EN 983

EN 574 Two hand control EN 954 Categories

Monitored dump valve

Pressure relief valves Locking / braking cylinders Blocking fittings Soft start valve Locking ball valves Tamper resistant kits Coalescing silencers Silencers

Guidance

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