ARCHIVESHISTORIQUES
DELACOMMISSION
COLLECTION RELIEEDES
DOCUMENTS "COM"
COM(77)660
Vol.1977/0212

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COMMISSION OFTHEEUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
COM(77)660final.
Brussels ,12December1977
Proposalfora
COUNCILDIRECTIVE
ontheapproximation ofthelawsoftheMemberStatesconcerning
thegeneralrequirements ofconstruction andcertaintypes
ofprotectionforelectricalequipmentforuse
inpotentially explosiveatmospheres
(submitted ,totheCouncilbytheCommission)
COIï(77)660final.

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
Council Directive 76/117/EECof18December 1975 ontheapproximation ofthe
laws oftheMember States concerning electrical equipment foruseinpotentially
explosive atmospheres stipulates that theMember States must comply with the
provisions contained therein within 15months ofnotification ofthefirrt
specific Directive inthis field .
Although Directive 76/117/EECintroduces acertain number ofrules ofpro­
cedure aimed atremoving technical barriers totrade inelectrical equip -,ert
foruse inpotentially explosive atmospheres ,itcannot bebrought intc force
bytheMember States directly andirrespective ofanyimplementing directives ,
since itisbased ontheprinciple ofreference toharmonized standards .
However ,Article 4ofthe Directive defines asharmonized standards "stand ?re's
towhich reference will subsequently bemade inspecific Council Directives ."
Inorder toenable Directive 76/117/EECtobeimplemented ,therefore ,the
Commission haspresented theproposal for aDirective annexed hereto ,the
main aimofwhich istorecommend that theCouncil recognize seven harronized
standards .
Itshould bepointed outthat ,when Directive 76/117/EECwasadopted ,the
Commission hadundertaken tointroduce thefirst implementing Directive
within 18months ,i.e. ,before 18June 1977 .
Theseveral months' delay ofthe Services oftheCommission indrawing upth's
proposal isdueprincipally tothe fact that itwasnecessary towait forthe
CENELEC (European Electrotechnical Standardization Committee )tocomplete the
tasks assigned toitbytheCommission concerning theharmonization ofstandards
inthis field .The latest findings onthe seven standards envisaged under this
proposal arefairly recent ,but itwasofacertain importance that they all
bepresented together .Ontheone hand ,this isbecause they cover themost
widely used equipment inthearea falling within the scope ofDirective
76/117/EEC .Ontheother hand ,itwasimportant that these standards be
submitted jointly forapproval bytheCouncil ,inorder tobalance the
economic advantages offree movement vis-a-visthemost widespread ofthe
various existing types ofprotection ,and itwastheresearch which this
involved which resulted inacertain amount ofdelay infinalizing matters .

Itshouldbeadded,moreover,thatCENELECiscontinuingitseffortstoachieve
harmonization andisworkingonotherstandardsinthisarea.Obviously,if
thisworkiscompletedbeforetheCouncilhasactedontheproposalannexed
hereto,theCommissionwilladoptaveryflexibleattitudeand,ifnecessary,
willamenditsproposalsoastoincorporate asswiftlyaspossiblethe
resultsoftheharmonization measuresimplemented underCommunitylegislation .
ItshouldberememberedthattheServicesoftheCommission arepreparing
anotherdraftdirectivewiththehelpoftheMinesandOtherExtractive
industries SafetyandHealthCommission .
Thefactisthat"equipmentdesignedforworkunderground inminessusceptible
tofiredamp"isexcludedfromthescopeofDirective 76/117/EECandspecifi­
cationsrelatingtothisequipmentarethesubjectofstudiesbeingcarried
outbytheSafetyandHealthCommission .
Theprovisions providedforbythisDirectivecompletethoseofDirective
76/117/CEEtowhichitconstantlyrefers.Thereferencetoharmonized
standardsisitsmainobject.However,italsospellsoutproceduraldetails
whichhadnotbeenspecifiedinDirective 76/117/EEC.Thesedetailsrelateto
theobligations ofthebodywhichdelivers acertificate ofconformity orof
controlconcerning boththenotification ofthecertificate andtheprovisions
withwhichthebodymustcomplyshouldthecertificate cometoberevoked.
Asforthemark,itwasfixedinagreementwiththeworkofharnronization
undertakenatCommission LevelandwithintheframeworkofCENELEC.Indeed,
themark€,isasymbolwhichhasbeenverywidelyusedindirectives whose
objectistoeliminatetechnicalbarrierstotrade;theCommission doestry
toreduceasmuchaspossiblethenumberofsymbolsusedforthefree
circulation ofgoods.TheexistenceofthesignIIisduetothefactthat
adistinction mustbemadebetweenequipmentwhichistobeusedinthemines
(whicharetobetheobjectofanotherproposalforadirective,ashasbeen
mentionedabove)andtheequipmentwhichiscoveredbythisdirective.The-
equipmentwhichwillbeusableinthemineswillcarrythesignI,afact
whichisinlinewiththeworkundertaken bythebodieswhichhavedrawnup
theharmonized standards.

3
Withthisproposal,then,theCommissioniscontinuingitseffortstoachieve
harmonization alongtheLinesindicatedbytheCouncilinitsprevious
Directives onelectrical equipment.Inaddition,theCommission demonstrates
thefactthatithastakenaccountofthesafetyrequirements whichitis
essentialforusersofthetypeofequipmentcoveredbythisDirectiveto
complywith.
Lastly,itshouldbementionedthatforseveralMemberStatestheimplement­
ationoftheprovisions ofthisDirectivenecessitates amendments totheir
legislation andthatconsequently Article100oftheEECTreaty,whichforrs
thebasisofthisproposalandallotherproposals aimedatremoving
technicalbarrierstotrade,requiresthattheEuropeanParliament andthe
EconomicandSocialCommittee beconsulted.

_L-
PROPOSAL FOR ACOUNCIL DIRECTIVE ONTHE APPROXIMATION OFTHE LAWS OFTHE
MEMBER SVATES CONCERNING THE GENERAL REQUIREMENTS OFCONSTRUCTION AND CERTAIN !
TYPES OFPROTECTION FOR ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT FOR USE INPOTENTIALLY EXPLOSIVE
ATMOSPHERES
THE COUNCIL OFTHE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES ,
Having regard totheTreaty establishing theEuropean Economic Community ,
and in ^particular Article 100thereof ,
Having regard totheproposal from theCommission ,
Having regard totheopinion ofthe European Parliament ,
Having regard totheopinion ofthe Economic and Social Committee ,
Whereas national legislation inforce toensure the safety ofelectrical
equipment foruse inpotentially explosive atmospheres differs from one
Member State toanother ,thus constituting abarrier totrade ;whereas
these laws should therefore beharmonized ;
Whereas Council Directive 76/117/EECof18December 1975 °n "theapproximation of
the laws oftheMember States concerning electrical equipment foruse in
potentially explosive atmospheres *hassetouttheinspection procedures
which this equipment must satisfy inorder tobeimported ,put onthemarket
andused freely after undergoing thetests andbeing provided with themarks
andsigns prescribed ;
Whereas Article 4(4)ofthesaid Directive provides that speci­
fic Directives shall specify theharmonized standards applicable inall
theMember States inrespect ofthis equipment ;
Whereas Article 5ofthev said Directive provides that the
specific Directives shall expressly indicate theprovisions which may be
adapted totechnical progress ;
OJNoL24,30.1.1976 ,p.45

Whereas thesecondparagraphofArticle8(1)andArticle 9(5 )ofthe said "Direct !
provide that copies ofthecertificates ofconformity and .inspection certifi­
cates shall "beforwarded totheMember States only ;whereas ,inorder tc
ensure the free movement ofthis equipment ,theCo-mission should beable
publish excerpts from these certificates intheOfficial Journal oftheEuropean
Communities ;whereas itistherefore necessary that theCommission should also
receive such ,copies ;
Whereas Articles8(2)and9(6).ofthesaid Directive provide foraprocedure
forwithdrawing thecertificate ;whereas theMember States ,theCommissic .
and theparty concerned should beinformed ofsuch withdrawal ar.d the
reasons therefor ,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE

Article 1
1)This Directive shall apply toelectrical equipment capable ofuse ina
potentially explosive atmosphere which employs oneorirore ofthefollcvn'ng
types ofprotection :
.oil immersion o",
.pressurized apparatus p,
.powder filling "q",
.flameproof enclosure "d",
.increased safety "e",
.intrinsic safety "i".
2)This Directive shall notapply toelectrical equipment designed forwork
underground inmines susceptible tofire damp ortoelectrical medical
equipment .
Article 2
Member States may not,ongrounds ofsafety requirements forthedesign and
manufacture ofelectrical equipment foruse inapotentially explosive
atmosphere ,prohibit the sale orfree movement ortheuse,for itsproper
purpose ,oftheelectrical equipment which complies with theprovisions of
this Directive andofDirective "76/117/EEC'(hereafter referred toas'the
framework Directive ").
Article 3
Forthepurposes ofthis "Directive ,harmonized standards aswithin the
meaning ofArticle 4(4)oftheframework Directive ,shall mean thestandards
listed inAnnex Ihereto .

-7-
Article4
1.ForthepurposesofthisDirective,thedistinctive Communitymarkreferred
toinArticles4(1)and10oftheframeworkDirectiveshallbetheonewhereof
themodelisreproducedinAnnexIIhereto;thisnarkshallbe
affixedtoeach,itemofequipmentinsuchawayastcbevisible,legible
andindelible.
2.MemberStatesshalltakeallnecessarymeasurestcprohibittheuseon
equipmentcoveredbythisDirectiveofmarkingsorinscriptions whichmiqht
beconfusedwiththemark.themodelwhereofreproducedinAnnexII.
Article5
InaccordancewithArticle5(l)oftheframeworkDirective,AnnexesIar.d
IIheretomaybeamendedinaccordancewiththeprocedureinArticle7of
theframeworkDirective.
Article6
1.Atthetimeofthenotification totheapplicant,acopyofthecertifioateof
conformityorinspectioncertificateshallbeforwardedtotheCommission,
whichshallalsobeentitledonrequesttoacopyofthedefinitive
technicalspecifications oftheequipmentandto.theinspectionrecords
ofthetestsorinspections whichtheequipmenthasundergone.
2.TheCommissionshallensurethattherelevantexcerptsfromthesecertificates
bepublishedintheOfficialJournaloftheEuropeanCommunities.
Article7
If,forthereasonsputforwardinArticles8(2)and9(6)oftheframework
Directive,thebodywhichhasissuedthecertificate ofconformityorinspection
certificatewithdrawsthecertificate,itshallforwardthewithdrawalnotice
totheotherMemberStatesandtotheCommission.Thegroundsforsuchwith­
drawalshallbespecified.
Furthermore ,suchwithdrawalshall"benotifiedatthesanetimetotheparty
concemed,withanindicationoftheremediesavailabletohimunderthelaws
inforceintheMemberStatesandofthetimelimitsfortheexerciseof
suchremedies. /

Article8
MemberStatesshallbringintoforcetheprovisionsnecessarytccomplywitt-
thisDirectivewithineighteenmonthsofitsnotification andshallforthwith
informtheCommissionthereof.
Oncenotification ofthisDirectivehasbeeneffected,theMemberStatesshe.I
insufficienttimetoenableittosubmititscomments,informtheCommission
ofalldraftlaws,regulations oradministrative provisions whichtheyintend
toadoptinthefieldcoveredbythisDirective.
Article9
ThisDirectiveisaddressedtotheMemberStates.

I'hoIi:v;no.:i:--cd3t;.'i<t~J\lcto;:hichatypoofequipmentrauctconform,
dc^oi-Jir.:0:1thsr.ystcnofprotection ,aretheEuropeanctcndarde
rofc.i-redtoir;'iVbieIbelow.
T'\3IiCI:E\ironc?.nstandards
ji :|Edition|
.■>-- ,Date
Γ ;
!;>ouu>]Jinctricalecuip.ncnt :oru;;einpotentiallyexplosiveataoenheres :généralrules1
' I
iijCCjJ51Uiectricaléquipaient ioruseinpotentiallyexplosiveatmospheres :oilimmersion "o" 1
;icc.uipi::ont l'oruseinDotentially explosiveatmospheres :pressurizedapparatus"p"1
i;00i7«yientrieal C'-'uiwnent xorusempotentiallyexplosiveatnosoheres :powderfilling"q"1
I
•i1O
I-wi.Ulcctricalequio-ent l'oruseinpotentiallyexplosiveatnospherss :flameproofenclosure"a"1
15Ulcciricr.lequipnent ioruseinpotentiallyexplosiveatinospneres :increasedsafety"e"'1
lElectric;:!equio.ncnt x'orucempotentiallyexplosiveatr.ospneres :intrinsicsafety"i"1M
ThoseEuropeanstandardsarepublished
byClvjELiC,2,KuedeLréderode,P.O.Eox5»1000Brusscis.

ANNEXII'
Modelofthedistinctive Community mark
00<£>