🇬🇧 British Directives - Safety in Product Use
Electrical Equipment Safety
Direttiva S.I. 2016 N. 1101
The Electrical Equipment Safety Directive (S.I. Regulation 2016 No. 1101) of the UK Parliament sets out the basic safety requirements for the design and manufacture of electrical equipment intended for use within certain voltage limits. The main objective of the directive is to ensure the safety of people, pets and property when using electrical equipment.
Scope of the Directive
The Directive applies to all electrical equipment designed for use with a voltage rating between 50 and 1000V for alternating current and between 75 and 1500V for direct current. Excluded from the directive are specific devices such as those intended for use in explosive atmospheres, radiological and medical equipment, electrical parts of lifts and lifts, electricity meters and electrical equipment for ships, aircraft or railways.
Essential Safety Requirements
Products must be designed and manufactured in such a way that the safety of users during proper use is not compromised. In particular, they must guarantee
Protection against Mechanical and Electrical Risks:
Equipment must be designed to prevent electrical shock hazards and mechanical hazards during intended use.
Safe Materials:
The materials and components used must be safe and durable so as to avoid fire and other hazards.
Adequate Insulation:
Appropriate insulation must be provided to ensure that there is no risk of accidental contact with live parts.
Obligations of Economic Operators
The directive imposes specific responsibilities on all economic operators involved in the supply chain, including manufacturers, importers and distributors. They must ensure that electrical equipment complies with safety requirements before it is placed on the market and must cooperate with the authorities to ensure product safety.
UKCA Marking and Technical Documentation
To demonstrate compliance with the requirements of the directive, manufacturers must affix the UKCA marking to their products and prepare detailed technical documentation. This documentation must enable the conformity of products with the requirements of the directive to be assessed and must be retained by the manufacturer for possible verification by market surveillance authorities.
How SIMEL Complies with the Directive
SIMEL ensures that all its electric motors comply with the Electrical Equipment Safety Directive by adopting design and production processes that strictly comply with safety requirements. Each motor produced is subject to quality control and specific testing to ensure it is safe for use, and technical documentation is constantly updated to meet all current regulations. In addition, the UKCA mark is placed on products to certify compliance and facilitate access to the European and UK markets.
🇬🇧 British Directives - Safety in Product Use
Electromagnetic Compatibility
S.I. Directive 2016 No. 1091
The Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive (S.I. Regulation 2016 No. 1091) of the Parliament of the United Kingdom harmonises the laws of the Member States relating to the electromagnetic compatibility of electrical and electronic equipment. Electromagnetic compatibility is defined as the ability of equipment to function in its electromagnetic environment without producing or suffering unacceptable electromagnetic disturbance.
Scope of the Directive
The Directive applies to all electrical and electronic equipment placed on the market in the United Kingdom and the European Union, unless subject to different specific regulations. The equipment must be designed to avoid generating electromagnetic emissions that may interfere with other equipment or to ensure immunity to external electromagnetic disturbances.
Essential Requirements
To comply with the directive, equipment must meet the following essential requirements:
- Electromagnetic Emissions: Equipment must not emit electromagnetic disturbances that may impair the operation of other devices.
- Electromagnetic Immunity: Equipment must be designed to withstand electromagnetic disturbances without compromising its performance.
- CE Marking: All equipment must bear the UKCA marking, certifying compliance with the requirements of the directive.
- Conformity Assessment: Manufacturers must carry out a conformity assessment of their equipment and prepare the relevant technical documentation.
Obligations of Economic Operators
The directive imposes specific responsibilities on all economic operators, including manufacturers, importers and distributors, to ensure the conformity of equipment. Manufacturers must ensure that equipment is designed and manufactured in compliance with the essential requirements, while importers and distributors must verify the conformity of equipment before placing it on the market.
🇬🇧 British Directives - Safety in Product Use
Environmental Protection
S.I. Directive 2012 No. 3032
The Environmental Protection Directive, formally known as ‘The Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2012’, aims to restrict the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment. This legislation applies to all equipment placed on the UK market and aims to reduce the environmental impact of electronic waste and improve safety for both users and the environment.
Scope of Application
The directive imposes restrictions on the use of hazardous substances such as lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium and certain flame retardants in electrical and electronic equipment (EEE). The content of these substances must be below certain concentrations, ensuring that products are safe for the environment during production, use and disposal.
Main Requirements
- Restriction of Hazardous Substances: Products must not contain hazardous substances in quantities exceeding permitted limits, thus ensuring a reduced environmental impact.
- Valutazione della Conformità : I produttori devono effettuare una valutazione della conformità dei propri prodotti e preparare la relativa documentazione tecnica. Questo processo è necessario per dimostrare che i prodotti soddisfano i requisiti della direttiva.
- UKCA marking: All equipment must bear the UKCA marking, which certifies compliance with the requirements of the directive. The marking is a guarantee that the product meets the established environmental standards.
Obligations of Economic Operators
The obligations imposed by the directive concern all economic operators involved in the supply chain, including manufacturers, importers and distributors. They must ensure that equipment complies with the legislation and ensure that technical documentation is properly managed.
How SIMEL Complies with the Directive
SIMEL has adopted strict policies to ensure its electric motors comply with the Environmental Protection Directive, reducing the use of hazardous substances in motor components. The company follows scrupulous evaluation and compliance processes, ensuring that every motor produced meets the limits set and is UKCA-marked to confirm its environmental safety. This commitment enables SIMEL to offer products that are safe for both the environment and end users, promoting a more sustainable future.
🇬🇧 British Directives - Safety in Product Use
EcoDesign
S.I. Directive 2021 No. 745
The Ecodesign Directive for Energy-Related Products and Energy Information Regulations 2021 was adopted in the UK with the aim of improving energy efficiency and reducing the environmental impact of energy-using products. This directive is part of the UK government’s efforts to promote sustainable design and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, thus contributing to more environmentally friendly development.
Main Requirements
- Energy Efficiency: Products must be designed to minimise energy consumption during use. This means that manufacturers must ensure that devices are efficient and respect the limits set for energy consumption.
- Product Information: Manufacturers must provide detailed information on the energy characteristics of their products. This information must be included in technical documentation and must be easily accessible to both consumers and market surveillance bodies.
- Conformity Assessment: Manufacturers are required to carry out a conformity assessment of products to verify that they meet the requirements of the directive. This assessment is necessary to obtain the UKCA marking, which certifies compliance with UK regulations.
- Software Updates: Products must not suffer a deterioration in energy performance as a result of software updates, unless explicitly consented to by the end user. This ensures that compliance with energy efficiency requirements is maintained over time.
How SIMEL Complies with the Directive
SIMEL adopts an energy-efficient design for its electric motors, complying with the provisions of the Ecodesign Directive. The motors are designed to optimise energy consumption and minimise losses during operation. In addition, SIMEL provides all necessary information to ensure transparency towards consumers and regulators, thus demonstrating its commitment to more sustainable and responsible production. The UKCA marking is present on the products, indicating that they fully meet the environmental and energy efficiency requirements set by the regulations.