WAGO Kontakttechnik GmbH & Co. KG products are developed, tested and marked in accordance with legally valid international standards and laws. The CE mark is applied to products intended for the European domestic market; with it, manufacturers declare that the marked electrical equipment is in conformity with the applicable requirements set out in the Community harmonization legislation (EU Directives), which allows such equipment to carry this mark. The original intention of this mark was to support the authorities in the EU member states in their market supervision, with the mark acting as a symbol of free movement of products within the EU. According to EC Directive 765/2008, a product can only be given the CE mark if the product requirements are defined in at least one appropriate EU directive. Examples of such directives are the Low Voltage Directive, the EMC Directive, the ATEX Directive, the Building Products Directive and the Machinery Directive. If more than one directive applies to a product, the product must comply with all applicable directives. Only the basic requirements for achieving the defined aim of the directive are laid out in each respective directive. The individual technical details are specified according to the New Approach using lists with cross references to applicable standards (so-called harmonized standards).
1. Low Voltage Directive
The safety of electrical equipment is guaranteed by the Low Voltage Directive (LVD). The LVD covers all electrical equipment operating with a voltage between 50 VAC and 1000 VAC and between 75 VDC and 1500 VDC.
Products falling within the scope of the Low Voltage Directive that are designed in such a way that they can be used in other electrical devices, and whose safety, for the most part, is dependant on how these components were built into the end product and what features the end product has, are defined as basic components in accordance with the Low Voltage Directive.
The LVD doesn’t apply to basic components.
The RoHS Directive also applies to electrical equipment covered by the Low Voltage Directive. This directive regulates the use of hazardous substances in electrical devices and components, with the aim of reducing the quantity of problematic components in electrical waste. Details about the materials used by WAGO are available in our catalogs, on our product packaging and on our Web page.
2. EMC Directive
The EMC Directive stipulates that a product must meet the limits on radiated electromagnetic disturbance and also requires that a product must be immune to electromagnetic interference.
Electromagnetic passive components or components with no direct function, such as terminal blocks, resistors, diodes, capacitors, switching relays and cables (in the form of passive printed circuit boards) are not considered apparatuses within the meaning of the EMC Directive.
3. ATEX Directive on Explosion Protection
The ATEX Directive defines the rules for products (devices and protective systems) intended for use in hazardous locations. A number of products from WAGO are designed for use in hazardous areas.
Based on potential hazards, the ATEX Directive makes a distinction between three different equipment groups, of which Group II and III are subdivided into further zones. Suitability of WAGO products for the different groups and zones is elucidated in the specific product documents (catalogs, Internet site, data sheets and product inserts).
These may be either devices that can be used as equipment in these types of areas, or components that are required for safe operation, but which do not fulfill a dedicated function. Such components include rail-mount terminal blocks for use in hazardous areas.
Products in both groups must comply with the ATEX Directive.
4. Radio Communications Directive
The Radio Communications Directive applies to all devices that properly transmit or receive radio waves for wireless communications and/or radio orientation. The basic safety requirements apply to the protection of health for humans and animals and to electrical safety in line with the Low Voltage Directive, but without the application of the voltage limit. In addition, the EMC protection goals of the EMC Directive must also be fulfilled and efficient use of radio frequencies ensured. WAGO products covered by the Radio Communications Directive indicate, in compliance with applicable laws, only the Radio Communication Directive in their EU Declaration of Conformity, as fulfillment of the Low Voltage Directive and of the EMC Directive is implicit in this declaration.
5. Construction Products Regulation
The Construction Products Regulation demands that structures be designed and constructed such that the safety of humans, property and animals is not endangered and that all applicable environmental protection requirements be taken into account. Here, building products are defined as products or construction sets which are produced to be built permanently into structures and which make a significant contribution to fulfilling the basic requirements for the structure.
In the unanimous opinion expressed by the German electrical industry, and also by WAGO Kontakttechnik GmbH & Co. KG, products used in general installation technology are not included among these types of building products and are therefore not covered by this directive.
6. Machinery Directive
The Machinery Directive applies to machines (complete or incomplete) which perform their functions by means other than direct human or animal work, or safety components for these types of machines.
Therefore, this directive usually does not apply to WAGO products.
The manufacturers of machines or systems are required by this directive to use safe products and components in their machines and systems. Directive-compliant production and safe operation is facilitated by the use of WAGO products, with their standard-compliant, up-to-date design.
Significance of CE Mark for WAGO Products
One, several or none of the EU Directives may apply to the various WAGO products. If none of the directives apply, the CE marking will not be affixed to the product, in line with applicable laws. Furthermore, a declaration of conformity must not be issued. All other products are provided with the CE mark – either directly on the product, on its packaging or in the documents included with the product – and a declaration of conformity is issued, or made accessible to the customer.
The data sheets of the technically sound products that, according to the regulations, are not CE marked will refer to the standards used in the development and type and manufacturing testing wherever possible.
