THAMES VALLEY EMC CLUB |
GETTING BACK TO BASICS – |
RE-VISITING THE EMC AND LOW VOLTAGE DIRECTIVES |
A review of the EMC and Low Voltage Directives; recent revisions to the EMC Directive; |
plus, the Trading Standards approach to ensuring compliance |
Madejski Stadium, Reading |
(close to junction 11 of the M4 motorway) |
Tuesday 11 December, 2001 |
PROGRAMME |
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09.15 |
Registration and Coffee | ||
09.45 |
Welcome and Introduction | ||
| John Duckett, Thames Valley EMC Club | |||
| 09.50 | The EMC Directive – Content and Implications of Proposed New Changes | ||
| We offer a comprehensive review of the
Directive, based around detailing the considerable changes now embodied in the final draft
of the proposed revised Directive. Despite delays caused by changes in overseeing
personnel at the European Commission level, the new draft Directive is expected to be
published in the Official Journal in spring next year and, following a 6-8 month
consultation period, integrated into national legislation over the following twelve
months. So, by early 2004 we could all be dancing to a very different tune. Some of the
important implications are: |
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| - There’s extra information and documentation required. | |||
| - There’s confusion over fixed installations where an apparent relaxation of specific requirements could well result in a plethora of individual demands by different customers. | |||
| - There are extra requirements for
interconnecting items, such as cables. |
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| So, despite intentions, it’s many things but certainly not simpler! | |||
| Brian Jones, EMC Consultant to Thames Valley Technology | |||
10.40 |
Coffee | ||
| The Low Voltage Directive – Review, plus Proposed Changes and Their Implications | |||
| As with the EMC Directive, a
review is currently underway on several aspects of the Low Voltage Directive. We offer a
detailed presentation on the Directive and how it has evolved from its launch in 1973,
through the 1995 amendments to the proposed new changes. We look at the assessment
criteria and how these may be addressed. And we take a view on what the implications of
the proposed changes to the Directive might be for you. These include: |
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| - Revised scope of the Directive. | |||
| - Abolition of the current lower voltage limit of 75V DC and 50V AC. | |||
| - Declaration of conformity format changes. | |||
| - Requirements to provide information on traceability of improvements in products. | |||
| - Closer integration of the Directive with the
EMC Directive. |
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| Jimmy Tzimenakis, Senior Products Approvals Manager, Sony Manufacturing | |||
12.00 |
Enforcement of the Directives and Wider CE Marking Legislation | ||
| There is a increasing pressure to see that the EMC, Low Voltage and indeed other directives are being properly implemented and that transgressions are detected and dealt with in an effective manner. Our speaker is a recognised expert in matters relating to the EMC Directive and will outline current practice within the Trading Standards organisations; how the proposed changes might be dealt with; and how Trading Standards can assist suppliers to discharge their compliance obligations. | |||
| Jim Rackham, Principal Trading Standards Officer, Warwickshire | |||
12.30 |
Closing Comments and Depart | ||