Allan,
I had been involved in the activities around the situation with the use of red indicators of IT-products. As you indicated it was not possible to obtain GS licenses when red indicators/switches where present. Here is some more of the history of this subject: Since more than 14 years there is disagreement between IT-manufacturers and German Testhouses regarding the interpretation of IEC 73/VDE 0199 especially a ban of red LED's indicating the status of an equipment. This decision, originating from 1982, is unique within the EU countries. Key Argument of some testhouses was that: 'Red for use as safety relevant indication is only meaningful, if used exclusively in that sense' The relevant norm for IT equipment under the Low Voltage Directive EN 60950 permits the use of the colour red for functional controls and indicators 'provided that it is clear that safety is not involved' This in line with the Basic IEC 73 Standard, which is listed under EU Directive 77/576/EEC (Safety indications at the workplace). VBG 125 is the German Directive derived from 77/576/EEC. In no country (EU or worldwide) red LED's are forbidden if used in non-safety function. Therefore their ban was considered a trade barrier. If a European Directive would forbid the usage of the colour red in this kind of application, all EU countries have to follow the same interpretation, which was not the case. Red indicators on IT-products can be used, if a risk analysis reveils, that for the user of the product, under consideration of the product description and it's anticipated use, confusion with safety signs at the work place is not likely. These arguments plus other influences led to the removal of the ban of red indicators on IT-products in 1997 and replaced it with conditions in alignment to the relevant safety standards (eg. IEC 950 and IEC 73). However caution has to be observed, when the product is operated in an environment where colors do have a safety meaning, eg. like in a production floor involving machinery equipment. mit freundlichen Gruessen/ best regards Volker Gasse IBM Germany, Technical Relations/Product Safety, Tel: +49-7031-16-6796, Fax: -6916, e-mail: [email protected] Mail: D3114/7103-91, D-70548 Stuttgart, Germany "Allan, James" <[email protected]> on 27.04.99 14:27:21 Please respond to "Allan, James" <[email protected]> To: "'emc-pstc'" <[email protected]> cc: (bcc: Volker Gasse/Germany/IBM) Subject: Colors of indicators Several years ago I remember that indicators could not be red in color. This requirement seems to have gone away per EN60950 1.7.8.2. Could the group provide me with a bit of history as to where the original requirement to be "not red" came from. Was it a part of the German GS mark requirements or did it have a wider application in Europe than just GS marking? No great acts hang in the shadow of the answer, just a bit of curiosity. Jim Allan Senior Compliance Engineer Milgo Solutions Inc. E-mail [email protected] --------- This message is coming from the emc-pstc discussion list. To cancel your subscription, send mail to [email protected] with the single line: "unsubscribe emc-pstc" (without the quotes). For help, send mail to [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], or [email protected] (the list administrators). --------- This message is coming from the emc-pstc discussion list. To cancel your subscription, send mail to [email protected] with the single line: "unsubscribe emc-pstc" (without the quotes). For help, send mail to [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], or [email protected] (the list administrators).
