What should be in a technical construction file? The directives that are applicable in lighting require that you set up a technical file with several documents. This file is meant to be the proof to show that you comply with the relevant directive and the requirements that are in there. So what do you actually need to have in this file.
First off all we need to analyze this per directive since the directives give different requirements for that. Let us start with the Low Voltage Directive (2006/95). Annex IV of the directive gives the answer.
– general description of the equipment
– conceptual designs and manufacturing drawings and schemes of components, sub assemblies, circuits etc
– description and explanations necessary for the understanding of said drawings and schemes and of the operation of the electrical equipment.
– a list of standards applied in full or in part, and description of the solutions adapted to satisfy the safety aspects of this directive where standards have not been applied.
– results of design calculations made, examinations carried out etc
– test reports.
That is a lot of information that needs to be available in a TCF. This is however very important to show the compliance of the product with the requirements.
Next directive we should evaluate is the EMC directive(2004/108). Also here the requirements for the technical documentation are mentioned in Annex IV.
– general description of the equipment
– proof of compliance with harmonized standards if and as far as applied
– when a harmonized standard was not used, description and proof that the essential requirements of the directive are met.
– declaration of notified body when the procedure of annex III was used.
Third directive; RoHS (2011/65). In this directive there are no specific requirements but it references a separate document; 768/2008, Annex II, module A. The the requirements in this module are the same as is required in the low voltage directive.
The fourth directive that needs to be evaluated is the ErP (2009/125) directive. Also here a file needs to be created. The ErP directive itself references to the decision 768/2008 and refers, for the correct module to be used, to the implementing measures.
DIM I (244/2009)
In clause 4 two references are made. The first refers back to the ErP directive annex IV and V. The other refers to annex II part 3. The latter is a list of technical parameters that need to be listed in the file as well. The annex IV of the ErP directive requires;
– general description of the equipment
– results of environmental studies
– ecological design when required by the IM
– specification related to environmental design aspects
– standards used
– information of the designer relating to the manufacturing proces
– information for the consumer
– installation and recycling information for the user
– information for treatment facilities relating to end of life
– results of the measurements carried out
(Complete text please refer to the directive/IM this is just shortened version)
TIM (245/2009)
Requires the same as DIM I
DIM II (1194/2012)
One addition to the previous IM; there must be specified a realistic combination of product settings and conditions in which the product complies with this regulation.
The last directive I want to bring up here is the labelling directive. It is not a CE directive however products need to comply and there is also a requirement for a technical file. In this directive (2010/30) reference is made to:
– general description of the product
– results of design calculations made, where applicable
– test results
– if values are used for similar models, references to those models
The IM (874/2012) adds to that;
– name and address of the supplier
– a general description of the product so it can be identified
– where appropriate, references to international standards used
– where appropriate the other standards used
– identification and signature of the person who binds the supplier
– the technical parameters for determining energy consumption and energy efficiency in the case of electrical lamps, and compatibility with lamps in the case of luminaires, specifying at least one realistic combination of product settings and conditions in which to test the product;
– for electrical lamps, the results of calculations performed in accordance with Annex VII.
Lets make a list:
General
– a general description of the electrical equipment.
– conceptual design and manufacturing drawings and schemes of components, sub-assemblies, circuits, etc.
– descriptions and explanations necessary for the understanding of said drawings and schemes and the operation of the electrical equipment
Add for LVD;
– a list of the standards applied in full or in part, and descriptions of the solutions adopted to satisfy the safety aspects of this Directive where standards have not been applied.
– results of design calculations made, examinations carried out, etc..
– test reports.
Add for EMC;
evidence of compliance with the harmonized standards, if any, applied in full or in part;
– where the manufacturer has not applied harmonized standards, or has applied them only in part, a description and explanation of the steps taken to meet the essential requirements of the Directive, including a description of the electromagnetic compatibility assessment set out in Annex II, point 1, results of design calculations made, examinations carried out, test reports, etc.;
– a statement from the notified body, when the procedure referred to in Annex III has been followed.
Add for RoHS;
– a list of the harmonized standards and/or other relevant technical specifications the references of which have been published in the Official Journal of the European Union, applied in full or in part, and descriptions of the solutions adopted to meet the essential requirements of the legislative instrument where those harmonized standards have not been applied. In the event of partly applied harmonized standards, the technical documentation shall specify the parts which have been applied.
– results of design calculations made, examinations carried out, etc.
– test reports.
Add for ErP
(DIM I and TIM)
– the technical documentation file shall contain a copy of the product information provided in accordance with Annex II, part 3, to this Regulation
a general description of the product and of its intended use;
– the results of relevant environmental assessment studies carried out by the manufacturer, and/or references to environmental assessment literature or case studies, which are used by the manufacturer in evaluating, documenting and determining product design solutions;
– the ecological profile, where required by the implementing measure;
– elements of the product design specification relating to environmental design aspects of the product;
– a list of the appropriate standards referred to in Article 10, applied in full or in part, and a description of the solutions adopted to meet the requirements of the applicable implementing measure where the standards referred to in Article 10 have not been applied or where those standards do not cover entirely the requirements of the applicable implementing measure;
– a copy of the information concerning the environmental design aspects of the product provided in accordance with the requirements specified in Annex I, Part 2; and
– the results of measurements on the ecodesign requirements carried out, including details of the conformity of these measurements as compared with the ecodesign requirements set out in the applicable implementing measure.
(DIM II)
– provide any other information required by Annexes I, III and IV to be present in the technical documentation file;
– specify at least one realistic combination of product settings and conditions in which the product complies with this Regulation.
Add for labelling;
– test reports, where available, including those carried out by relevant notified organizations as defined under other Union legislation;
– where values are used for similar models, the references allowing identification of those models.
the name and address of the supplier;
– a general description of the model, sufficient for it to be unequivocally and easily identified;
– where appropriate, the references of the harmonized standards applied;
– where appropriate, the other technical standards and specifications used;
– the identification and signature of the person empowered to bind the supplier;
– the technical parameters for determining energy consumption and energy efficiency in the case of electrical lamps, and compatibility with lamps in the case of luminaires, specifying at least one realistic combination of product settings and conditions in which to test the product;
– for electrical lamps, the results of calculations performed in accordance with Annex VII.
– Product fiche for electrical lamps; The fiche shall contain the information specified for the label. Where product brochures are not supplied, the label provided with the product can also be considered to be the fiche.