CE Marking and EC Directives
CE conformmity marking: consists of the letters "CE" in the following graphical appearance. Communauté Européenne (European Community). CE marking confirms the product conformity with applicable directives.
In addition to the CE marking, the manufacturer provides an EU Conformity Declaration for the product. This EC conformity declaration must be retained and submitted to a national monitoring authority upon request.
EC directives are binding legal regulations of the European Community. Their goal is the harmonization of legal and administrative regulations in the various EC member states, in order to prevent trade obstructions due to different national regulation. In order to "market" the product, the product must comply with the applicable directives. The product may be subject to several directs, e.g. the EMC and low voltage directive. The following directives apply to WAGO products:
73/23/EWG - Low Voltage Directive
The low voltage directive defines products as electrical devices if they are used at a nomnial voltage between 50 V and 1000V for alternating current, and between 75 V and 1500 V for direct current. Products, such as modular terminals, connecting terminals, individual terminals, terminal strips etc. are subject to this directive, and comply with the requirements of the harmonized European standards and their specific sections, e.g. EN 60947 for modular terminals, and EN 60998 for connecting terminals. The CE marking is attached to the smallest packing unit.
89/336/EWG - EMC Directive
Subject to this directive are all apparatus, installations and systems containing electrical modules. It is differentiated between elementary and complex modules, by the authority appointed by BAPT (Bundesamt für Post und Telekommunikation - Federal Authority for Mail and Telecommunication). Elementary parts, such as resistors, transformers, ICs, relays, etc. do notrequire labeling. Complex moduels such as electrical motors, electronic cards, thermostats, etc. are subject to the EMC directive only, if they are sold directly to the end user. All products subject to the application range of the EMC directive must display the CE marking on the enclosure. This marking confirms the conformity with the corresponding standards.
98/392/EWG - Machinery Directive
This directive refers to complete machines or installations. The manufacturers of the machinery or installation are obliged however, to use modules complying with valid EC directives, e.g. the low voltage directive or the EMC directive. Compliance with the directives are the prerequisite for a free traffic of goods within Europe.
