CE marking of machinery and process plants
Safety in machine installations is important both for company owners and for the employees who work with the machines. If the machines are safe to operate, both serious personal injury and machine downtime can be avoided.
In the EU, machine and plant safety is regulated, among other things, by the requirements of relevant product directives - also known as the CE marking directives. One of these is the Machinery Directive.
By CE marking your machine, you as the manufacturer demonstrate that you have designed a safe machine, as declared in the corresponding Declaration of Conformity. In fact, it is a legal requirement in the EU that all machines in use must be CE marked to comply with legislation - if not, there may be problems obtaining insurance for the machines, or authorities may prohibit their use.
CE marking for integrated installations
When combining multiple machines into a single installation—for example, a complete power plant block—there is no requirement to CE mark the entire installation as a whole. However, the machines and assemblies included in the installation must be CE marked according to the relevant directives.
If the installation consists of several machine systems, the interfaces must be subject to risk assessment, and an operating manual for the entire installation must be provided.
The CE directives impose particular requirements when the installation includes pressure equipment under the PED (Pressure Equipment Directive) and ATEX equipment for explosive atmospheres. This has been a particular focus in connection with the bio-conversions of power plants over the past 15 years—and will continue to be so for Power-to-X (PtX) in the coming years.
Risk assessments such as HAZID or HAZOP are often recommended in connection with complex machinery and process installations, but they cannot stand alone. It must also be documented that the Essential Health and Safety Requirements specified in the directives are met.
Start early
It is important to plan CE marking early in the project - always before tendering - so that the responsibilities of the client and various suppliers are defined and contractually allocated.
Early planning of the CE process is especially important for machinery and process installations working with hazardous substances, such as explosive materials. Recognizing safety deficiencies late in the process can be very costly and may lead to delays in commissioning the installation.
How can the Danish Technological Institute help
As a notified body in Denmark (Notified Body No. 396), the Danish Technological Institute possesses the necessary competencies in the Machinery, Pressure Equipment, and ATEX directives and can offer to facilitate the process at all stages of the project.
We can, among other things, offer to prepare or facilitate:
- Planning of CE marking, together with the client and/or EPC contractor
- Identification of relevant directives and harmonized standards
- Clarification as to whether changes and modifications should be considered as substantial
- Preparation of risk assessments in accordance with the directives’ requirements
- Ensuring the contents of the Technical Dossier for the entire installation are comprehensive
- Carrying out the mandatory ATEX inspections before commissioning