The Machinery Directive, history and evolution

Legislative framework

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The history of the Machinery Directive has its roots in Decree 459 of 24/07/1996, which entered into force on 21/09/1996, and marks for the first time the receipt in Italy of the European Directive 89/392/CEE of 14/06/1989, then amended by Directives 91/368/CEE, 93/44/CEE and 93/68/CEE. Directive 89 /392/CEE lays down the essential requirements for safety and health protection (RESS) to be met by machinery at the time of its design, manufacture and operation before it is placed on the market.

Subsequently, the Directive underwent some revisions by the European Commission:

Directive 98/37/CE of 22/06/1998: this is a re-publication of the text of Directive 89/392/CEE as amended by Directives 91/368/CEE , 93/44/CEE and 93/68/CEE . Therefore, there is nothing new with the Italian legislation.
Directive 98/79/CE of 27/10/1998:excludes machinery for medical use. Directive 98/79/CEE is transposed in Italy by Legislative Decree 332/2000
Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC of 17/05/2006: it repeals the previous Directive 98/37/EC from December 29th, 2009. Directive 2006/42/EC is transposed in Italy with Legislative Decree 17/2010.

The new Machinery Directive introduces some new features:

the scope of the new Directive is extended: chains, ropes and straps, removable mechanical transmission devices, portable explosive-charge equipment, construction site lifts and lifts with a speed not exceeding 0,15 m/s,
the Directive lays down special conditions for the free movement of “partly completed machinery”,
the conformity assessment procedures for machinery are updated in accordance with Annex IV,
the essential safety requirements of Annex I are amended.

Harmonised Standards

The Machinery Directive sets out basic health and safety requirements (RESS), not production specifications. The Harmonized Standards are an integration of the Machinery Directive standards with technical specifications. The European standardisation bodies CEN (European Committee for Standardisation), CENELEC (European Committee for Electrical Standardisation) and ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards Institute), appointed by the European Commission, draw up harmonised standards. The standards are then published in the Official Journal of the European Commission. National authorities must recognise products manufactured with European standards as complying with directives.

A product meeting the essential requirements (ER) is considered to comply with the Directive, while compliance with European standards is optional. Compliance with the Essential Requirements is mandatory, while compliance with European Standards is optional. This is to ensure the highest level of safety: the Machinery Directive requires compliance with the Essential Requirements, while compliance with the Standards is voluntary. The Essential Requirements (ER) identify the technical procedures to be implemented to comply with the Directive. Standards identify technical procedures to be implemented voluntarily to comply with the directive.

Harmonized Standards, types of standards

European standards related to machine safety are classified into Type A standards, Type B standards and type C:

Type A standards: contain the basic concepts, design principles and general aspects applicable to all machines. They constitute the upper level by describing the essential requirements related to the safety of machinery,
Type B standards: they analyse safety aspects and safety devices applicable to multiple types of machinery. Type B standards are divided into:
- Type B1 standards: analyse specific safety aspects such as safety distances, noise emitted or surface temperature. They describe safety aspects,
- type B2 standards: they analyse safety devices such as fixed and mobile shelters, interlocking devices or light curtains. They deal with safety devices,
Type C standards: they deal with the specific safety requirements for a machine or a particular group of machines. They deal with the specific characteristics of a type of machine or group of machines.

In other words, if there is a C standard for a given type of machinery, it takes precedence over B or A standards. If there are other hazards which are not taken into account by the standard or if there is no C standard specific to the machine to be designed, then the risk reduction takes place in accordance with standards A and B.

Definitions

Machine

Assembly equipped with a drive system other than direct human or animal force, consisting of parts or components, at least one of which is movable, and which are firmly connected to each other.

This unit has no connection to the site of use or connection to sources of energy and movement.

Set of above ready for installation and which can only work after being mounted on a means of transport or installed in a building or building.

Assemblies of the above mentioned machines or assemblies of partly completed machines arranged and controlled in such a way that they function together.

Partly completed machinery

This is almost a machine because it does not guarantee a specific application. A drive system is a partly completed machine. Partly completed machinery is incorporated or assembled to other machinery or other partly completed machinery or apparatus to form a machine covered by the Machinery Directive.

Safety component

The safety component performs a safety function; it is usually placed on the market separately and is not indispensable to the machine.

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