Last but not least, there is the question of what the future of machinery safety will look like. After all, the Machinery Directive is now somewhat outdated and no longer quite up to date. Almost 20 years have taken their toll on a set of regulations. The transition from the Machinery Directive to the Machinery Ordinance represents an important regulatory change that will have far-reaching effects on the entire industry.
It is therefore simply a logical consequence that the Machinery Directive must also adapt its statements and structures to the requirements of the times. This happens when a directive becomes a regulation.
What is the difference?
The Machinery Directive is a kind of "signpost" to the member states of the EU, which is taken into account in the local standards (so-called "harmonized standards") and is therefore legally valid. The Machinery Directive, on the other hand, is a European law that must be implemented across all countries. For electrical designers, the change from the Machinery Directive to the Machinery Ordinance means a reorientation in the documentation and design of electrical systems.
What does this mean for those who are just getting to grips with the Machinery Directive in order to put the important CE marking on a firm footing? Nothing at first, because although the Machinery Directive (EU) 2023/1230 has been published, it will not become binding until January 20, 2027. Until then, the Machinery Directive will apply.
However, this is no reason to sit back and do everything "as usual", as the Machinery Directive contains one or two aspects that component and machine manufacturers need to prepare for very intensively. The development of the Machinery Directive must already be taken into account in technical planning and design in order to avoid costly adaptations in the future.
Here are some new aspects of the MVO:
- The topic of "cyber security" and "protection against corruption (data theft)" is becoming very important. However, suitable measures still need to be put in place.
- Access to machines and especially to hazardous production areas must be designed in such a way that they can also be reached with rescue equipment. In a simple case, this may mean that safety doors must allow people to be transported out of the risk area using a stretcher.
- As we read in the last blog, the manipulation of a machine's safety technology is still widespread. To curb this, the safety software of a system should automatically keep a traceability log for up to 5 years. A mere password backup of the software is then no longer sufficient; every change is comprehensively documented.
- In the past, it was sufficient to produce the machine documentation in the official language of the target country, but in future regional aspects will be added. For example, in the part of Schleswig-Holstein where a high proportion of the population speaks Danish, the documents may have to be written accordingly.
- For series products, a single test was previously sufficient and this was used as a reference for other identical products. After the introduction of the MVO, the tests must be repeated on a random basis.
- If machines or individual components have to be recalled or replaced, a national authority (yet to be created) must be informed of the process and the safety risks.
Conclusion:
Don't panic! Anyone who is familiar with the Machinery Directive today is generally well equipped for the future. Despite everything, the Machinery Directive still contains some new aspects that are not yet available today, shortly after the publication of the Machinery Directive, so that they can be implemented. The transitional phase of the Machinery Directive should be used specifically for forward-looking adjustments. It is therefore important to deal with the Machinery Ordinance, plan and consider which measures need to be initiated so that there are no surprises later, on January 20, 2027.
