ALLMI maintains EN 12999 stance

This is despite a resolution to an appeal lodged by UNI, the Italian Organisation for Standardisation, against the ratification of EN 12999:2009.

In its appeal, UNI said it believes EN 12999:2009 ‘presents an insufficient level of safety for the intended field of application’, and that ‘there are matters arising from this standard which cannot fit the present situation of the European market’. UNI contested a number of points in EN 12999:2009.

A meeting of the working group CEN/TC 147 WG18 was held at Haan in Germany on 11 February where the items raised under the appeal by UNI were resolved at working group level. Some changes to the text were approved as a result. A deadline was then agreed whereby each member country had until 15 March to lodge any further objections.

The changes have now been submitted to CEN BT for final approval and a correspondence vote will take place with a closing date of 7 May.

Alan Johnson, ALLMI technical director, said the main change resulting from the meeting in Haan was an agreement to revert back to the older standard EN954-1:1996 in relation to safety-related parts of control systems as opposed to EN ISO 13849-1.

There has also been an added requirement for a warning device to be fitted, which indicates when hydraulically operated stabiliser legs are not in the transport position.

“Until the standard is harmonised and placed on the European Journal, ALLMI is continuing to advise its members to declare conformity directly against the essential health and safety requirements of the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC,” said Johnson.