Household appliances

What is covered by household appliances?

This includes electrical and / or electronic products for household use. With such devices, the Machinery Directive is often excluded, but the Low Voltage Directive and / or the EMC Directive apply. You can easily determine this in the CE Tool.

Multiple Directives may apply to your product
For example, if your product is a washing machine, we assume that it is connected to the electricity grid. In that case, the Low Voltage Directive applies. In addition, there will also be electronics and the EMC Directive also applies. Whether other requirements apply to your product, you can easily indicate in the CE Tool by checking the questions whether 'electronics are being processed in the product', or whether there are 'rotating parts' or whether the product is the 'electricity grid is connected', etc. The CE Tool will guide you step by step.

CE Tool example: More applicable directives

What is excluded from the Directive?
If you have gone through the above steps, you must first go through the 'exceptions' wizard. Look carefully in those lists whether your product is not excluded. Pay attention to the Machinery Directive because devices for domestic use are excluded. The CE Tool then removes this Directive from your CE file. Seems complicated, but is a matter of good reading. If you need help you can always send an email to Euronorm Tools.

CE Tool example: Exceptions household appliances (eg washing machine, rotating parts in connection with the Machinery Directive)

Test the safety requirements, the risk analysis
After finishing the 'exceptions' wizard, you should start with the risk analysis. With the risk analysis you determine whether your product or assembly meets the legal safety requirements. A valuation method is also included in the risk analysis. This method is based on the widely used risk graph 'Fine & Kinney'. With this risk graph you can determine whether you have to solve a risk immediately or whether this has a lower priority. In the risk analysis you have to take into account that your customer can misuse your product. You have to anticipate as much as possible and, where necessary, warn in your user manual and on the product.

CE Tool: Risk assessment household aplliances

What should be in the manual?
You are obliged to provide a manual, but what should be included in it? In the CE Tool you will find a list with requirements for the user manual. You can find this file in the 'user manual' folder. If you already have a manual, check whether it meets these requirement. And if not, you can use this file as a guide for drawing it up. If you also make other products that are subject to different requirements, the content of the file is often different. So be careful with that.

What should be on the type plate / CE label?
There are also demands for the nameplate or label that you affix on your product. In the folder 'nameplate / label' you can generate an example that meets the legal requirements. Note that the entry fields with * are mandatory fields. If you also create other products in the CE Tool where other requirements apply, then there are often other compulsory fields. So check this file for each product that you create in the tool.

CE Tool example: Creating a type plate / CE label online (You can always adjust it online or in WORD if desired)

The Declaration of conformity?
You also have to provide a so-called 'Declaration of Conformity' (DoC) with each product. In this DoC you declare that your product meets the legal requirements. You can generate this DoC in the Declaration of Conformity folder. Note that the entry fields marked with * are mandatory fields. If you also create other products in the CE Tool where other requirements apply, then there are often other mandatory fields. So please pay attention at that point.

CE Tool example: Creating a Declaration of Conformity online (You can always adjust it online or in WORD if desired)

Which technical documentation must at least be present??
You are obliged to draw up a so-called 'Technical File', but what should be in it? In the CE Tool you will find a list with requirements for your Technical File. You can find this file in the 'Technical Documentation' folder. Please check if your documents meet these requirements. If you also make other products with other requirements, the content of this file can be (very) different. So please be careful that you check the requirements in this file for each product.

Does your product has to be tested?
For most products CE-marking can be done by the manufacturer himself and is intervention of a so called Notified Body not necessary. However, this can be mandatory if your product is risky. But, what is 'risky'? In the folder 'Test reports / certificates' you will find the demands in which cases a product has to be externally inspected. In most cases where a machine is built up from ready-made parts (with CE), this is not necessary. But please check this carefully! And otherwise send an e-mail to Euronorm Tools.

Document control
If you have gone through the above steps, it is always possible to have your CE file checked by us. We then indicate whether you have completed all points sufficiently.

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