CE marking of ​machine guards to the machinery directive
the new Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC came into force on 29 December 2009, anyone specifying, designing, building, modifying or supplying machinery with the European Economic Area (plus Switzerland and Turkey) needs to be aware of the new requirements. An important change is that, under certain circumstances, machine guards must now be CE marked, whereas previously they were not - though a Declaration of Conformity was required. Before deciding whether or not a component or assembly needs to be CE marked as a guard, it is necessary to consider what is classified as a guard for the purpose of the Machinery Directive. Article 1 of the new Directive lists 'safety components' within the scope at item 1(c) and Article 2, Definitions (item c), states that '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 machine to function, or for which normal components may be substituted in order for the machinery to function.