1、 The internationally recognized safety standard system

These standards (ISO/IEC) are the cornerstone of technical regulations in various countries and are applicable to the vast majority of mechanical equipment.

1. General safety standards (Class A standards)

2. Specific hazard or component standards (Class B standards)

3. Class C standards for specific machinery (e.g.)

2、 Certification requirements for major markets

1. European Union (CE Machinery Directive)

• Regulation: 2006/42/EC (Machinery Directive), mandatory from December 29, 2009.

• Authentication mode: Most ordinary machinery can be self declared (DoC); High risk machinery in Appendix IV, such as circular saws, injection molding machines, and certain lifting platforms, must undergo EC type testing by a notified body.

• Coordinated standards: Adopt "EN ISO XXX" or "EN XXX" standards (such as EN ISO 12100, EN 60204-1).

• Additional directives: Low voltage directive (2014/35/EU, if applicable to electrical equipment), EMC directive (2014/30/EU, if applicable to motors/controllers), pressure vessel directive (2014/68/EU, if applicable to hydraulic/pneumatic accumulators), outdoor noise directive (2000/14/EC), etc. also need to be considered.

• Mark: CE mark, notified body number (if applicable), technical documents retained for 10 years.

Typical test items (based on coordinated standards):

• Risk Assessment Document (ISO 12100)

• Strength and opening size of protective cover

• Reliability of Interlocking Switches (PLr/SIL)

• Functional safety verification of emergency stop circuit

• Electrical safety (IEC 60204-1: Grounding, protection against electric shock, insulation testing)

• Mechanical strength (such as impact resistance of machine tool shields)

• Noise testing (EN ISO 3744 or EN ISO 9614-2)

• Vibration Test (Hand Transmission/Whole Body)

2. China (CCC/Type Testing/Voluntary Certification)

China's supervision of mechanical equipment is based on the Product Quality Law, Safety Production Law, and Special Equipment Safety Law, implementing classified management:

• CCC catalog: Only a few are included, such as some welding machines, electric motors (industrial power range), and explosion-proof electrical appliances. Most general machinery does not require CCC.

• Type testing: Many machines, such as elevators, cranes, presses, and injection molding machines, belong to special equipment (according to the "Special Equipment Catalog") and must pass type testing and obtain a manufacturing license (i.e. "Special Equipment Manufacturing License") from the local market supervision bureau.

• Voluntary certification: such as CQC logo certification, CR (robot) certification, etc., used for bidding and customer requirements.

Core National Standards (GB):

Example of Special Equipment Type Test License:

• Crane machinery: According to TSG Q7002 (bridge, gantry, tower, gantry crane, etc.), test the entire machine, metal structure, lifting capacity limiter, brake, etc.

• Elevator: According to GB 7588 (equivalent to EN 81-20), and escalator according to GB 16899.

• Press (mechanical press): According to GB 27607 or GB 5091, manual operation, grating, safety distance, etc. are required.

• Injection molding machine: According to GB 22530.

Attention: Ordinary industrial machinery not included in the special equipment catalog (such as ordinary metal cutting machine tools, fans, pumps, textile machinery, etc.), although not subject to mandatory whole machine certification, still need to comply with safety standards such as GB 5226.1, otherwise market supervision inspections may result in penalties. Export must meet the requirements of the target country.

3. North America (USA/Canada)

There is no federal unified whole machine certification in the United States (except for mining and lifting), but the market generally requires compliance with ANSI standards and NRTL certification (such as UL, CSA, ETL), among which UL 508A (industrial control cabinet) is widely used.

• Main standards:

  standard	Scope of application
  UL 508A	Industrial control cabinet (including internal electrical components) - certified full cabinet
  NFPA 79	Industrial Machinery Electrical Standard (complementary to UL 508A)
  ANSI B11 series	Machine tool safety (such as ANSI B11.0 risk assessment, B11.19 protection)
  ANSI RIA 15.06	Industrial robot safety (referencing ISO 10218)
  ASME B20.1	Conveyor safety
  OSHA 1910.212	General mechanical protection requirements (regulations, not standards but mandatory)

• Authentication mode:

  • The whole machine can apply for UL listing (such as for specific models), and certification includes mechanical structure review, electrical safety, functional safety (such as PL level), and on-site inspection (partial). The cycle is relatively long (4-8 months).

  • It is also possible to obtain CSA or ETL certification separately.

  • For control systems, UL 508A certified control cabinets are often required (pre certified cabinets can be purchased on the market).

• Important testing content:

  • Electrical clearance and creepage distance (refer to UL 508A)

  • Short circuit current rating (SCCR)

  • Motor overload protection

  • Strength of protective cover (pendulum impact)

  • Verification of safety interlock function

  • Labels and manuals (must include safety instructions)

4. Introduction to other markets

• Japan: JIS B 9960-1 (corresponding to IEC 60204-1), industrial machinery needs to comply with labor safety and health laws, usually requiring third-party organizations (JQA, T Ü V Rheinland) to test and affix PSE (some motors, welding machines, etc.) or JIS marks.

• South Korea: KC certification (Korean certification), according to the Occupational Safety and Health Act, mechanical products need to be tested by KTL and KTR.

• Russia/Eurasian Economic Union: EAC certification, based on technical regulations of the Eurasian Union (such as TP TC 010/2011 Mechanical Equipment Safety). Need EAC logo.

3、 Key testing items for typical mechanical equipment

Regardless of the specific type, the following tests are commonly present (can be performed according to standards):

4、 Quick search for certification standards for common types of machinery

5、 Certification process and suggestions

1. General process (taking CE certification as an example)

1. Directive: Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC Other applicable directives (EMC, LVD, etc.).

2. Risk assessment: Prepare a risk assessment document in accordance with ISO 12100.

3. Selection criteria: Determine the A, B, and C coordinated standards (such as EN ISO 13849-1, EN 60204-1).

4. Design and verification: Design a safety circuit that meets PLr requirements, make samples, and perform self testing.

5. Testing/Audit:

   • Ordinary machinery: Prepare technical documents (drawings, test reports, instructions) and sign the Declaration of Conformity (DoC).

   • High risk machinery (Appendix IV): Entrust notified bodies (such as T Ü V S Ü D, DEKRA, BSI) to conduct EC type inspection and issue EC type inspection certificates.

6. Attach CE mark and draft technical documents for archiving for 10 years.

7. Market supervision: maintain production consistency.

2. Process of Chinese special equipment

1. Confirm whether it belongs to the "Special Equipment Catalog" (such as lifting machinery, elevators, boilers, pressure vessels, etc.).

2. Apply for type testing from China Special Equipment Inspection and Research Institute (CSEI) or provincial special inspection institutes.

3. Submit design documents and drawings for review.

4. Prototype manufacturing and on-site testing (such as static load, dynamic load, braking, safety device action testing).

5. Obtain the type test certificate.

6. Apply for a manufacturing license again (approved by the State Administration for Market Regulation) and obtain the certificate after approval.

7. Subsequent annual supervision and inspection will be conducted.

3. North American (NRTL certification) process

1. Choose certification bodies (UL, CSA, MET, etc.).

2. Submit product information (electrical schematic, mechanical drawings, list of main components).

3. Conduct structural and design reviews (to ensure compliance with UL 508A, NFPA 79, etc.).

4. Prototype testing (completed in the laboratory).

5. If necessary, conduct a factory inspection of the entire machine to ensure consistency with certification.

6. Obtain certification (traceable to UL file number) and affix the certification mark.

7. Four annual (UL) routine factory inspections (IPI, subsequent quarters).