Article 2 of machinery directive 2006/42/EC - Definitions

The text in RED color is the amended or added text in comparison with the former 98/37/EC machinery directive.

Article 2 : Definitions

For the purposes of this Directive, "machinery" designates the products listed in Article 1(1)(a) to (f).

Comment:

The first sentence of Article 2 establishes the definition of the machine and the products covered by the scope of the Directive. All machines are covered except for partly completed machinery, for which specific requirements apply. These specific requirements are specified in Whereas16.

Original Comment:

La première phrase de l’article 2 fixe la définition de la machine et des produits couverts par le champ d’application de la directive. Toutes les machines sont couvertes à l’exception des quasi-machines, pour lesquelles des exigences particulières s'appliquent toutefois. Ces exigences particulières étant précisées dans le considérant 16.

The following definitions shall apply:

(a) "machinery" means:

- an assembly, fitted with or intended to be fitted with a drive system other than directly applied human or animal effort, consisting of linked parts or components, at least one of which moves, and which are joined together for a specific application,

- an assembly referred to in the first indent, missing only the components to connect it on site or to sources of energy and motion,

- an assembly referred to in the first and second indents, ready to be installed and able to function as it stands only if mounted on a means of transport, or installed in a building or a structure,

- an assembly of machinery referred to in the first, second and third indents or partly completed machinery referred to in point (g) which, in order to achieve the same end, are arranged and controlled so that they function as an integral whole,

- an assembly of linked parts or components, at least one of which moves and which are joined together, intended for lifting loads and whose only power source is directly applied human effort;

Comment:

According to Directive 2006/42/EC, sets of machines, with or without a drive system even before their implementation or their use on machines, are already machines and are not partly completed machinery (whose definition is given in item "g" of article 1), and that they may be part of the whole machine.

Original Comment:

Selon la directive 2006/42/CE, les ensembles de machines, équipés ou non d’un système d'entraînement même avant leur mise en place ou leur utilisation sont déjà des machines et ne sont pas des quasi-machines (dont la définition est donnée au point « g » de l'article 1), et que ces dernières peuvent constituer une partie de l’ensemble.

(b) "interchangeable equipment" means a device which, after the putting into service of machinery or of a tractor, is assembled with that machinery or tractor by the operator himself in order to change its function or attribute a new function, in so far as this equipment is not a tool;

(c) "safety component" means a component:

- which serves to fulfil a safety function,

- which is independently placed on the market,

- the failure and/or malfunction of which endangers the safety of persons, and

- which is not necessary in order for the machinery to function, or for which normal components may be substituted in order for the machinery to function.

An indicative list of safety components is set out in Annex V, which may be updated in accordance with Article 8(1)(a); 

Comment:

Safety components are welldefined. Appendix V contains an indicative list of safety components, which can be updated, whereas in the old machinery 98/37/EC, the only safety components listed were those mentioned in Annex IV and wherethat would be an EC type examination procedure with a notified in most cases body.

Original Comment:

Les composants de sécurité sont mieux définis. L’annexe V comporte une liste indicative de composants de sécurité, qui peut être mise à jour, alors que dans l’ancienne directive machines 98/37/CE, les seuls composants de sécurité cités étaient ceux qui figuraient à l'annexe IV et qui devaient faire l'objet d'une procédure d'examen CE de type auprès d’un organisme notifié dans la majorité des cas.

(d) "lifting accessory" means a component or equipment not attached to the lifting machinery, allowing the load to be held, which is placed between the machinery and the load or on the load itself, or which is intended to constitute an integral part of the load and which is independently placed on the market; slings and their components are also regarded as lifting accessories;

Comment:

The definition of lifting accessory has been clarified and includes slings and their components.

Original Comment:

La définition de l’accessoire de levage a été précisée et intègre les élingues et  à leurs composants.

(e) "chains, ropes and webbing" means chains, ropes and webbing designed and constructed for lifting purposes as part of lifting machinery or lifting accessories;

Comment:

Only chains, ropes and straps used for lifting, entering the lifting machinery and accessories are covered by this definition.

Original Comment:

Seuls les chaînes, câbles et sangles utilisées pour le levage, entrant dans les machines de levage ainsi que les accessoires sont couvert par cette définition.

(f) "removable mechanical transmission device" means a removable component for transmitting power between self-propelled machinery or a tractor and another machine by joining them at the first fixed bearing. When it is placed on the market with the guard it shall be regarded as one product;

(g) "partly completed machinery" means an assembly which is almost machinery but which cannot in itself perform a specific application. A drive system is partly completed machinery. Partly completed machinery is only intended to be incorporated into or assembled with other machinery or other partly completed machinery or equipment, thereby forming machinery to which this Directive applies;

(h) "placing on the market" means making available for the first time in the Community machinery or partly completed machinery with a view to distribution or use, whether for reward or free of charge;

Comment:

The following definitions from h) to k) indicates important points for machinery manufacturers regarding the definitions of partly completed machinery, placing on the market, manufacturer, commissioning agent and compliance with harmonized standards . These definitions are to be read with Article 5 (placing on the market and putting into service), article 7 (presumption of conformity).

Original Comment:

Les définitions suivantes de h) à k) précisent des points importants pour les fabricants de machines quant à la définition des notions de quasi-machine, de mise sur le marché, de fabricant, de mandataire de mise en service et de conformité aux normes harmonisées. Ces définitions sont à rapprocher des articles 5 (mise sur le marché et mise en service), l’article 7 (présomption de conformité).

(i) "manufacturer" means any natural or legal person who designs and/or manufactures machinery or partly completed machinery covered by this Directive and is responsible for the conformity of the machinery or the partly completed machinery with this Directive with a view to its being placed on the market, under his own name or trademark or for his own use. In the absence of a manufacturer as defined above, any natural or legal person who places on the market or puts into service machinery or partly completed machinery covered by this Directive shall be considered a manufacturer;

(j) "authorised representative" means any natural or legal person established in the Community who has received a written mandate from the manufacturer to perform on his behalf all or part of the obligations and formalities connected with this Directive;

(k) "putting into service" means the first use, for its intended purpose, in the Community, of machinery covered by this Directive;

(l) "harmonised standard" means a non-binding technical specification adopted by a standardisation body, namely the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN), the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardisation (CENELEC) or the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), on the basis of a remit issued by the Commission in accordance with the procedures laid down in Directive 98/34/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 June 1998 laying down a procedure for the provision of information in the field of technical standards and regulations and of rules on Information Society services [16].

Comment:

To ensure the safety of the machines, the Directive requires compliance with the essential requirements of health and safety (see whereas14 and 18), and to harmonized standards (see article7 for details on the presumption of conformity and harmonized standards).

Original Comment:

Pour garantir la sécurité des machines, la directive impose le respect à des exigences essentielles de sécurité et de santé (voir considérants n°14 et 18), et à des normes harmonisées (Cf. article 7 pour un détail sur la présomption de conformité et les normes harmonisées).