Technical Guidance Note 4

TOPIC: Control panels

ISSUE: 3

REVISION DATE: 27.1.98

PREVIOUS REVISION DATE: 20.9.94

BACKGROUND: A control panel builder (A) designs and builds panels to the specifications of another company (B), which then uses the panels to control a range of equipment manufactured by (B) for sale to third parties.

PROBLEM: Is the control panel a product (which should comply) or a subsystem (which does not need to comply)? Does this change if (B) sources equipment from a range of other manufacturers?

GUIDELINES: General agreement was clear in the various submissions. Company B places the final product on the market and takes full legal responsibility for conformity with the essential protection requirements of the directive. Company B would be advised to include EMC requirements in his procurement specification for the panel supplied by company (A), where company (A) does not offer his product for direct sale to the end user. If company (A) does place his panel on the market directly then he should declare conformity and apply the CE mark. In either case company (A) would be advised to be aware of all possible applications of his product and EMC compliance would only be unnecessary if the panel were to be used in a protected environment.

Disclaimer
No responsibility or liability can be accepted by the EMC Test Laboratories Association or any of its officers or members for the contents, specifications and/or advice referred to or contained in this Technical Memorandum and/or action taken as a result of information contained in this Technical Memorandum. Note that:
1. The Association is not by supplying this Technical Memorandum providing professional advice or guidance to any specific party on any specific matter and no legal relationship is created by the provision of this Technical Memorandum.
2. Parties should take specific advice when dealing with specific situations and consult their own professional advisors in this regard.
3. Members are free to deviate from the above guidelines where they think it appropriate, unworkable, or not commercially viable. Under these circumstances, the EMCTLA Secretariat should be informed of the reasons for the deviation so that the matter can be reviewed.