The Machinery UKCA Audit service is a pre-delivery inspection that complements factory acceptance tests (FATs). It enables the purchaser to determine if equipment is built and operating in accordance with UKCA requirements before they make a final payment. Any non-compliance issues identified at this stage are still the responsibility of the manufacturer and can be rectified before machinery is delivered, rather than trying to fix issues at an end-user’s site - saving time and money.
Paul Taylor, business development director for industrial services at TÜV SÜD UK, said: “It is far too common for machinery to be delivered and installed with multiple non-compliance issues. However, the process of identifying and correcting them at this stage becomes more difficult and time consuming. This often results in the end-user having to raise further capital to resolve outstanding problems, all of which could have been avoided.
“As UKCA markings are a visible sign that a product complies with all of the relevant UK regulations, it is essential that machinery end-users understand both their responsibilities and those of their machine’s manufacturer. Our new Machinery UKCA Audit service will help them achieve this,” concluded Taylor.
Since the EU exit transition period came to an end on 31st December 2020, the UKCA marking is required for new machinery placed on the market for the first time in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales), but CE marking will continue to be accepted in Northern Ireland.
Machinery manufacturers do have eight months’ grace in the form of a further transitional arrangement for the acceptance of CE marking until 1st January 2022. After this time, any machinery sold in the UK, irrespective of when that model was first placed on the market, must carry a UKCA marking. All machinery should meet relevant essential health and safety requirements (EHSRs), which are detailed in the UKCA Regulations. A technical file for the machinery should also be available. Alongside this, a UK Declaration of Conformity is required, or a Declaration of Incorporation for partly completed machinery, listing relevant UK legislation and UK designated standards. For specific higher risk machinery that requires type-examination by a certification body, a UK Approved Body will be required.