Guide to CE marking for Electrical Power Drive Systems.

CE Marking and Technical Standardisation Edition 4 : 2015

The fourth edition of this guide has been released by the GAMBICA Variable Speed Drives Technical Working Group. An update of the third edition, it takes into account recent changes in standards and directives.

At the time of writing in 2015 new Low Voltage and EMC directives were published, and which are intended to be aligned with the EU New Legislative Framework. As there is currently no published EU guidance for these directives, the GAMBICA guide cannot reference them.

The guide represents the views of the group on the requirements applicable to variable speed power drive systems. However, it has no legal force, and readers are advised to consult the text of the appropriate European Directives and national enabling legislation, together with the appropriate European Commission guidance documents.

The guide comprises six parts being:

– Introduction

– Power Drive Systems

– Low Voltage Directive (2006/95/EC)

– Machinery Directive (2006/42/EC)

– EMC Directive (2004/108/EC)

– Summary of responsibilities for the application of European Directives to a PDS

Electrical Power Drive Systems

Electrical Power Drive Systems (PDSs), including Complete Drive Modules (CDMs) and Basic Drive Modules (BDMs), are inherently complex items of power electronic equipment. They can exist in different classes, which range from components, sold either to the general public or to professional assemblers, through to products fully incorporated into an apparatus or an installation.

For the benefit of manufacturers, integrators, installers and users alike, the document describes each class of PDS and provides clear guidelines as to the application of three relevant European Directives, being:

1.  Low Voltage Directive (LVD) – 2006/95/EC

2.  Machinery Directive (MD) – 2006/42/EC

3.  Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive (EMCD) – 2004/108/EC

The guide provides a drive specific extension to the European Commission’s guidance on the application of each of these Directives.  It addresses the currently applicable provisions of the above Directives. The ATEX Directive 1 is not addressed in the guide.  For each Directive and for each class of PDS, these guidelines define:

– Application of the Directive

– Responsibilities

– Harmonised Standards to be used

– Requirements for Declarations of Conformity and CE marking

– Recommendations for the system integrator responsible for the installation.

While the focus of the guide is low voltage equipment, the requirements for the EMC Directive and the Machinery Directive are also relevant for high voltage equipment.

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