Again,

I think common sense should rule on this one.  I'm no military expert; but I 
did work in military communications for four years (yawn).  I have seen a 
little bit of how DoD standards work.

Say you are making a missle to launch from a ship.  

Go ahead,  look through all of the civilian directives and standards that apply 
to CE marking.  What are the chances that you will find a standard for 
ship-based missles??  Has the IEC ever convened a technical commitee or working 
group to develop a safety standard for ship-based missles?  

How about your average NRTL...Go ahead, give them a call.  Your end of the 
conversation would go something like:  "Hi,  TUV?  I've got this 20 foot long 
missle that carries two tons of explosives.  It also has about six tons of 
solid rocket fuel, and a pointy nose ...... No, I'm not threatening you because 
of my last invoice.  I want a price quote for a safety test"......  Do you 
think that you would get a quote?   (I don't have a problem with TUV...I just 
used their acronym because it is recognizable.)

Most military equipment is, by nature, unique and one of a kind.  You just 
can't expect an engineer to safety test a toaster today and a ship-based missle 
tomorrow.

If there is no CE marking directive or standard that deals with your piece of 
equipment on a technical basis; then how could you expect a CE mark on your 
equipment to show any level of consumer protection?

If the equipment is specialized (especially military); then you need to deal 
with safety from the ground up.   You are probably better off dealing with the 
basics of safety starting with risk based analysis.  You may also find some 
defense department standards that apply.   You can't rely on CE marking 
standards; unless you can find one that deals with the specific aspects of your 
product.  

If there was no directive or standard to apply; then putting on a CE mark would 
simply be for "show" and give a false sense of security.

Chris Maxwell | Design Engineer - Optical Division
email [email protected] | dir +1 315 266 5128 | fax +1 315 797 8024

NetTest | 6 Rhoads Drive, Utica, NY 13502 | USA
web www.nettest.com | tel +1 315 797 4449 | 








> -----Original Message-----
> From: John Allen [mailto:[email protected]]
> Sent: Thursday, October 31, 2002 10:18 PM
> To: [email protected]
> Cc: Nick Williams
> Subject: Re: CE marking/testing of military equipment
> 
> 
> 
> Hi Folks
> Sorry the first message today was incomplete - here is the full version:
> 
> I fully support Nick's observations.
> 
> In respect of the "comments" made by Gert, I would like to point out that
> the UK appears to be not the only Member country that has taken advantage of
> Article 223 , and those countries are "Full members"  - not "half-members" -
> so those comments are unjustiable!
> 
> Even more to the point, it should be remembered (as I pointed out in my
> earlier message) that many newer directives include specific exclusions for
> equipment for military and state security applications - so everyone else
> now appears to accept and agree that the UK stance and legislation on the
> EMC Directive is entirely justifiable!
> 
> Regards
> 
> John Allen
> Technical Consultant
> Electromagnetics, Safety and Reliability Group
> ERA Technology Ltd
> Cleeve Rd
> Leatherhead
> Surrey KT22 7SA
> Tel: +44 (0) 1372-367025 (Direct)
> +44 (0) 1372-367000 (Switchboard)
> Fax: +44 (0) 1372-367102 (Fax)
> (but sent from my home email address!)
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Nick Williams" <[email protected]>
> To: <[email protected]>
> Sent: Thursday, October 31, 2002 4:30 PM
> Subject: RE: CE marking/testing of military equipment
> 
> 
> >
> > The UK's position is consistent with the provisions of, inter alia,
> > article 223 of  the Treaty of Rome and is therefore entirely legal.> 
> >
> > I shall not dignify the remaining comments by replying to them. They
> > are unworthy of a forum such as this.
> >
> > Regards
> >
> > Nick.
> >
> >
> > At 07:23 +0100 31/10/02, Gert Gremmen wrote:
> > >Hi Patrick,
> > >
> > >This text is British law,en the Uk is only a half member of the EC.
> > >This law is is not backed up by the EMC directive European Text.
> > >It is therefore contradictory to the EC membership requirements
> > >and theoretically illegal.
> > >But who will complain, as it is not creating trade barriers,
> > >and is limited to pure military equipment.
> > >As always, the British stand out in Europe, gaining from the profits,
> > >and not accepting the obligations.
> > >As Margaret Thatcher already said: Why else did God create the Channel ?
> > >
> > >
> > >Regards,
> > >
> > >Gert Gremmen
> > >ce-test, qualified testing
> > >Rotterdam, The Netherlands
> > >
> > >http://www.ce-test.nl
> > >
> > >-----Original Message-----
> > >From: [email protected]
> > >[mailto:[email protected]]On Behalf Of [email protected]
> > >Sent: woensdag 30 oktober 2002 23:50
> > >To: EMC-PSTC
> > >Subject: Re: CE marking/testing of military equipment
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >Hi Gert:
> > >
> > >I made the comment about the UK based on the following information:
> > >http://www.emctla.org/Tech%20Notes/technical_guidance_note_33.htm
> > >
> > >2) I found the standard referred to at:
> > >http://www.hmso.gov.uk/si/si1992/Uksi_19922372_en_1.htm
> > >See section 20.
> > >
> > >PS: I love the Brits - who else would title the government standards
> group
> > >'Her
> > >Majesty's Stationery Office'!
> > >
> > >
> > >On Wed, 30 Oct 2002 20:48:18 +0100, "Gert Gremmen" <[email protected]>
> > >wrote:
> > >>There is no ground to beieve that military equiment is to be excluded
> > >>in any country in Europe. This is definitely not the case in the
> > >>Netherlands.
> > >>
> > >>Regards,
> > >>
> > >>Gert Gremmen
> > >>ce-test, qualified testing
> > >>Rotterdam, The Netherlands
> > >>
> > >>http://www.ce-test.nl
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>-----Original Message-----
> > >>From: [email protected]
> > >>[mailto:[email protected]]On Behalf Of [email protected]
> > >>Sent: woensdag 30 oktober 2002 18:49
> > >>To: EMC-PSTC
> > >>Subject: CE marking/testing of military equipment
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>I have a customer asking for CISPR 22 test results on a commercial power
> > >>supply
> > >>intended for use in military equipment in Europe.
> > >>
> > >>I've heard the UK excludes military equipment from CE marking.  Do other
> > >>countries also exclude military equipment from the EMC Directive?
> > >>
> > >>If CISPR standards are not used for European military equipment, would
> > >>MIL-STD-461 be used?
> > >>----
> > >>Patrick Lawler
> > >>[email protected]
> > >>
> > >>-------------------------------------------
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> > >----
> > >Patrick Lawler
> > >[email protected]
> > >
> > >-------------------------------------------
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