European Union (EU) Directives
NOTE:
The information contained in this section is intended as a guideline and is based on our
interpretation of the various standards and requirements. Since the actual standards are issued by other
parties, and in some cases governmental agencies, the requirements can change over time without
advance warning or notice. Changes or additions to the standards can possibly invalidate any part of the
information provided in this section.
This area of certification and approval is absolutely vital to anyone who wants to do business
in Europe. One of the key tasks that faced the EU member countries and the European
Economic Area (EEA) was the requirement to bring several similar yet distinct standards
together into one common standard for all members. The primary purpose of a single
standard was to make it easier to sell and transport goods between the various countries and
to maintain a safe working and living environment. The Directives that resulted from this
merging of standards are now legal requirements for doing business in Europe. Products that
meet these Directives are required to have a CE mark to signify compliance.
Member Countries
As of January 1, 2007, the members of the EU are Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy,
Latvia, Lithonia, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia,
Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and United Kingdom. Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway together
with the EU members make up the European Economic Area (EEA) and all are covered by
the Directives.
Applicable Directives
There are several Directives that apply to our products. Directives may be amended, or added,
as required.
•
Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive (EMC)
— this Directive attempts to ensure that devices,
equipment, and systems have the ability to function satisfactorily in an electromagnetic
environment without introducing intolerable electromagnetic disturbance to anything in that
environment.
•
Machinery Safety Directive
— this Directive covers the safety aspects of the equipment,
installation, etc. There are several areas involved, including testing standards covering both electrical
noise immunity and noise generation.
•
Low Voltage Directive
— this Directive is also safety related and covers electrical equipment that
has voltage ranges of 50–1000VAC and/or 75–1500VDC.
•
Battery Directive
— this Directive covers the production, recycling, and disposal of batteries.
Compliance
Certain standards within each Directive already require mandatory compliance. The EMC
Directive, which has gained the most attention, became mandatory as of January 1, 1996.
The Low Voltage Directive became mandatory as of January 1, 1997.
Ultimately, we are all responsible for our various pieces of the puzzle. As manufacturers, we
must test our products and document any test results and/or installation procedures that are
necessary to comply with the Directives. As a machine builder, you are responsible for
DL205 Installation and I/O Manual, 2nd Edition
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Appendix A: European Union Directives (CE)
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