§46 構成部品

The two defining elements for components are that:

they are essential to the safe functioning of equipment and protective systems with respect to explosion protection (otherwise they would not need to be subject to the Directive);

they have no autonomous function (otherwise they would have to be regarded either as equipment, protective system or as device according to Article 1(1)(b)).

A product is considered to have an autonomous function if it can be safely used to deliver, or contribute towards the delivery of, one or more of the intended functions of Article 1, without the need to add any further parts. This does not preclude that specific instructions for installation and use are to be followed.

Some kinds of products may, depending on the extent of the conformity assessment already undertaken before being placed on the market and/or put into service, be considered either as with or without autonomous function.

If the function of the product can be delivered without further parts, where relevant, it cannot be considered a component.

Components intended for incorporation into equipment or protective systems which are accompanied by a written attestation of conformity including a statement of their characteristics and how they must be incorporated into products (see Article 13(3)), are considered to conform to the applicable provisions of Directive 2014/34/EU. Ex- components as defined in the European standards harmonised under Directive 2014/34/EU are components in the sense of the ATEX as well.

Components must not have the CE marking affixed unless otherwise required by other EU harmonisation legislation (e.g. the Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive 2014/30/EU – see section § 231).

Examples for items which could be placed on the market as components, if they are explicitly intended to be incorporated into ATEX products, are the following:

terminals;

push button assemblies;

relays;

empty flameproof enclosures;

ballasts for fluorescent lamps;

encapsulated relays and contactors, with terminals and/or flying leads;

machinery brakes designed to be part of ATEX equipment;

a pressurised container including suppressant powder forming part of an explosion suppression system;

conveyor belting for a conveyor transporting combustible dusts;

non-autonomous protective systems;

suction hoses used on vacuum cleaners;

forks for forklift trucks.

According to Article 13(3) the conformity of components must be assessed by means of the same procedures as the equipment, protective systems or devices according to Article 1 into which they are to be integrated. Some components may be assigned a category, in which case they will always be used in equipment of that category. Other components may be more widely used, and no category can be defined. In addition, components for e.g. autonomous protective systems do not need to bear a category as the protective systems themselves are not categorised. It depends on the detail that is given in any documentation provided (e.g. where relevant by means of a written attestation of conformity).

For example, drive-belts, bearings, mechanical seals, Zener diodes, etc. that are not usually placed on the market with the explicit intention to be incorporated into equipment, protective systems or devices according to Article 1(1)(b) but for general engineering purposes, are not to be seen as components. Their conformity (i.e. their suitability for the intended purpose as regards safety of the product they are integrated into) must be assessed in the course of the conformity assessment of the integral product.

If components are to be placed on the market with the explicit intention of incorporation into equipment, protective systems or devices according to Article 1(1)(b) (as e.g. increased safety terminal blocks, flameproof enclosures, etc.), they shall be assessed separately according to Article 13(3) and either accompanied by a written attestation of conformity as referred to in Article 13(3), or the attestation of conformity shall be made accessible to all customers by cross-media documentation e.g. QR-codes with reference to internet, electronic catalogues, web-link on the package unit or delivery papers, etc.

The obligations for manufacturers established in Article 6(2) and (8) concerning accompanying documents for products (EU declaration of conformity or attestation of conformity, instructions and safety information) could be not proportionate and even problematic for components. In fact, components often are very small items supplied in a wide range of batch sizes and package quantities, with the possibility of small delivery quantities associated with enormous quantities produced and large possible variances installed in the final end user application (device). In this sense, an alternative means of satisfying the information obligation is a reference to be provided in the delivery documentation or on the smallest additional packaging to a website or other source from which the information can be obtained. Such sources of information may include: a) a link to the manufacturer's website in plain text on each packaging unit or on the delivery documentation; b) cross-media information (such as a QR code or a radio-frequency identification chip) on each packaging unit or in the delivery documentation that links to a database or provides the required data directly.

Otherwise, Member States can prohibit, restrict or impede their placing on the market (Article 5) and cannot presume their conformity (Article 12(1)).

If a component is subject to a conformity assessment procedure under which a notified body issues an EU-type examination certificate, the certificate must detail those requirements of Annex II that have been assessed.