Eric, Tania and group
Tania makes some correct remarks about the EN 60950, and by applying this standard she's right. The LVD directive, and it's essential requirements do no implicitly talk about language. As the EN 60950 and any other European standard are no law, but just give presumption of compliance, no item in the standard has legal force. I want to encourage the statement that any EU official language may be used for documentation allover the EU. No exceptions can be tolerated regarding national languages. If they want it, let them amend the directive ! As a human being concerned with safety however, i recommend any manufacturer to add essential safety requirements in all EU languages to any item shipped to Europe. Let's not get mixed up between what we want and what we are enforced to do ! Regards Gert Gremmen == CE-test, qualified testing, Consultancy, Compliance tests for EMC and Electrical Safety 15 Great EMC-design tips available ! Visit our site : http://www.cetest.nl The Dutch Electronics Directory http://www.cetest.nl/electronics.htm == -----Oorspronkelijk bericht----- Van: Grant, Tania [SMTP:[email protected]] Verzonden: dinsdag 17 maart 1998 2:17 Aan: "[email protected]" ; "[email protected]" Onderwerp: RE: EU Languages for User Instructions Eric, 1.7.14 of EN60950 states: "Instructions and equipment marking related to safety shall be in a language which is acceptable in the country in which the equipment is to be installed. Note:-- Documentation intended for use only by SERVICE PERSONNEL is permitted to be in the English language." However, as you point out, Annex ZC has this German deviation that requires ALL equipment instructions be translated into German. Tania Grant, Lucent Technologies, Octel Messaging Division [email protected] ______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________ Subject: EU Languages for User Instructions Author: "[email protected]" [SMTP:[email protected]] at CORP List-Post: [email protected] Date: 3/16/98 4:09 PM I'd like to get the current info regarding user instructions and all requirements that may exist for translation into local member-state languages for certain directives of the CE Mark. My research so far indicates that: Machinery Directive: the directive states that instructions must exist in one EU language, and when ultimately placed into use, the original instructions must also be accompanied by a translation into the local language. In other words, for most of the EU two sets of user instructions are required whenever equipment subject to the MD is placed into use. This seems clear. Low Voltage Directive: this directive does not speak to user instruction translations; unless, a particular annexed safety standard has explicit user information requirements? EMC Directive: this directive does not speak to user instruction translations. German Deviation to EN 60950: known as Annex ZC 1.7.14, a local deviation, requires translation of maintenance instructions into German. My application is primarily lab, measurement, and control equipment (largely board/module level devices) under the EMC/LVD, with some interest in the MD since our newest motion products may easily end up embedded in machinery applications. The MD applications are integrated and resold by other parties, which I believe shifts the translation burden to the integrator anyway. Otherwise, I suspect that translation requirements are basically local laws and are independent of the CE Mark Directives, except for the MD of course. Thanks and Regards, Eric Lifsey Compliance Engineer National Instruments
