Machinery Directive

2006/42/EC

The Machinery Directive covers the manufacturing of machinery that is operated within the European Economic Area.

The Machinery Directive covers the manufacturing of machinery that is placed on the market or put into use within the European Economic Area.

What is the Machinery Directive?

The Machinery Directive is important to you if you manufacture machinery that is operated within the European Economic Area.

The revised directive came into effect on 29 December 2009.

What does the directive cover?

The directive covers a wide range of machinery. Machinery is defined as: 'an assembly of linked parts or components, at least one of which moves, with the appropriate actuators, control and power circuits, etc. joined together for a specific application, in particular for the processing, treatment, moving or packaging of a material.'

It also covers an assembly of machines, interchangeable equipment modifying the function of a machine and 'safety components'.

The directive defines ‘Machinery’ as:

• 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,

• assemblies 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

Lloyds Register Group Services

Lloyd's Register Verification Limited is a Notified Body for the Machinery Directive so we are able to carry out all work associated with the approval of Annex IV machinery, including:

• reviewing a technical construction file

• EC Certificate of Adequacy 

• EC Type Examination (Module B)

• EC Quality Assurance (Module H)

Lloyd's Register Verification Limited is also a competent body and we can assist the manufacturer with self certification for non-Annex IV machinery.

The following gives examples of some of the areas in which we can assist:

• reviewing a technical construction file for compliance

• reviewing applicable essential health & safety requirements

• reviewing stated compliance with the essential health & safety requirements

• review of instruction manual

• reviewing compliance with specific EN standards

• inspecting and testing of the machinery.