Laws and standards – knowledge related to machinery safety

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Technologies in transition and ever more efficient production and automation concepts demand intelligent safety solutions in the field of machinery safety. Increasingly complex products and changes in the standards' and legal world require the ongoing transfer of knowledge. Regulation upon regulation – but what's important for the Safety and Security of plant and machinery? Which regulations, directives, standards apply? Most countries around the world have binding regulations for ensuring compliance with machinery safety requirements. These range from mandatory laws to recommendations of a more non-binding nature. Gain an overview.

News

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Machinery Regulation

The EU Machinery Regulation 2023/1230 (MR) replaces the current EC Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC on 20 January 2027. What changes for machine manufacturers and other economic operators need to be considered? Learn more about the new features now.

Machinery Regulation

Overview

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Basics - what you need to know about standards

Find out how laws, directives and standards are connected and get an overview of the most important international principles.

Basics of standards

International aspects - machinery safety regulations around the world

Most countries around the world have binding regulations for ensuring compliance with machinery safety requirements. The type of regulation varies from region to region and is designed to suit the respective legal and cultural environment.

International aspects

Generic (A+B) standards - the foundation of machinery safety

Generic standards are the foundation of machinery safety. They contain essential information on the design, strategy and operation of plant and machinery.

Generic standards (A+B standards)

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Manufacturers and employers/operators - what needs to be considered

What does the manufacturer of a machine need to do in order to place a machine on the market in conformity with directives? When does an operator become the manufacturer of a machine?

Manufacturers / operators

Product-specific (C) standards - safety requirements for machine types

Product-specific standards (C standards) contain detailed safety requirements for specific types or groups of machines and refer to B standards.

Product-specific standards

Functional safety - a basic overview

Functional safety is the term used when safety depends on the correct function of a control system.

Functional safety

Safety Compendium - the standard reference for functional safety

The Safety Compendium offers orientation when handling standards and directives. It is aimed at all those in mechanical and plant engineering who deal with the issue of functional safety and its associated aspects. The Safety Compendium is in its 5th edition.

Find information on:

Product liability including the Product Liability Act
Standards, directives and laws
- incl. CE marking,
- normative specifications for the use of industrial robots,
- safe human-robot collaboration (HRC)
- and safe programming in accordance with EN ISO 13849-1

Protective devices according to the Machinery Directive and corresponding standards
Safe control technology and safety in Industrie 4.0, safe communication, safe motion control
Mechanical, pneumatic and hydraulic design