Machinery Compliance Testing
Safety, EMC and environmental testing for machinery sold in the United States, Canada, Europe, and other global markets.
Industrial machinery often must meet several different regulatory and technical requirements, depending on its design, intended use, operating environment, and target markets. These may include electrical safety testing, EMC emissions and immunity testing, environmental testing for conditions such as vibration, temperature, humidity, and corrosion, and wireless testing for connected equipment. Each country or region may also have its own certification and market-access requirements. F2 Labs assists manufacturers by identifying the relevant testing requirements at an early stage, coordinating the respective testing processes, and providing a list of the necessary technical documentation to facilitate a smoother path to market entry.
From stand-alone machines and control cabinets to automated production equipment and integrated systems, our team supports products ranging from CNC equipment, conveyors and packaging lines to hydraulic systems, material-handling equipment, process machinery and many other types of machinery.
Request a quote to discuss your equipment, target markets and timeline.
Machinery Compliance Testing Services
A successful compliance project starts with a clear understanding of the machine, including how it will be used, how it is powered, where it will operate, its control systems, potential hazards, and the markets where it will be sold. Reviewing these details early helps determine the applicable requirements and identify potential compliance concerns before testing begins. Following this initial review, F2 Labs identifies the applicable standards, testing requirements, and documentation needed for compliance.
Depending on the machine and its intended markets, our services may include:
- Pre-compliance testing and preliminary design reviews to identify potential problems before the final design is locked
- Electrical safety testing and construction evaluations for machinery, industrial control panels and associated electrical equipment
- EMC and EMI emissions and immunity testing for machinery, drives, motors, programmable logic controllers, power electronics, automation systems and associated electrical equipment
- Ingress protection testing for enclosures exposed to dust, water or demanding operating environments
- Environmental testing, including temperature, humidity, corrosion and salt-fog exposure when applicable
- Wireless and radio compliance testing for connected machines, remote controls, telemetry systems and industrial IoT functions, when the product is not using a preapproved wireless transmitter.
- On-site testing options for large, complex or permanently installed equipment when the required methods can be performed at the manufacturer’s facility.
Support for CE marking, UKCA marking and North American certification or field-evaluation pathways
Explore all F2 Labs product testing services or learn more about our on-site compliance testing capabilities.
Machinery and Equipment We Test
Our engineers work with manufacturers of individual machines, production equipment, control systems and complete assemblies. Common product categories include: CNC machines, lathes, mills, drill presses, grinders and other machine tools, Conveyors, palletizers, material-handling equipment and automated storage systems, Packaging, labeling, filling, food-processing and printing machinery, Automated cells and industrial control systems, Pumps, compressors, hydraulic and pneumatic equipment, Welding, cutting and fabrication equipment, Industrial control panels, motor-control systems, variable-frequency drives, Large machines, custom-built equipment and integrated production systems
This list is not exhaustive. The applicable requirements depend on the complete machine, its installation, intended users, foreseeable operating conditions and the countries where it will be sold or placed into service.
Standards and Regulatory Requirements for Industrial Machinery
There is no universal machinery certification standard that covers every design or market. A compliance plan may draw from a product-specific standard, a general machinery standard and requirements for incorporated subsystems. Commonly considered requirements include:
- NFPA 79 for the electrical standard for industrial machinery in the United States
- CSA C22.2 No. 301 for electrical industrial machinery
- IEC/EN 60204-1 for electrical equipment of machines
- ISO 12100 for machinery risk assessment and risk reduction
- ISO 13849-1 for control systems on machinery
- Industrial EMC standards such as EN/IEC 61000-6-2 and EN/IEC 61000-6-4, or a product-family standard when one applies
- IEC 60529 and, where appropriate, ISO 20653 for enclosure ingress protection
The EU Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC during its remaining application period and Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 as it becomes applicable on January 20, 2027
The UK Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008 and other applicable UK product legislation standards are selected case by case. The machine’s scope, voltage, hazards, operating environment, communications functions and destination markets must be reviewed before the final test program is established.
CE Marking for Machinery
Machinery introduced to the EU market may be subject to multiple pieces of EU legislation beyond machinery-specific requirements, such as those pertaining to EMC, radio, pressure equipment, hazardous locations, and RoHS. To achieve CE conformity, the manufacturer must identify all relevant legislation, assess compliance for each through the conformity assessment, assemble the necessary technical documentation, and, upon meeting all requirements, issue the declaration and apply the CE marking.
F2 Labs can help define and perform the testing that supports this process. Learn more about CE compliance testing, EU directive testing and EMC testing services.
North American Machinery Certification and Field Evaluations
Every machinery compliance project starts with understanding the equipment—what it does, how it is powered and controlled, where it will be used, and which markets it is intended for. Reviewing these details up front helps identify the applicable standards, testing requirements, and potential issues early in the process. Products manufactured on an ongoing basis may qualify for certification through a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL). This process evaluates the product to the applicable safety standards and includes ongoing factory inspections to maintain the certification. In contrast, equipment that is custom-built, limited in production, modified, or already installed is more commonly evaluated through field evaluations or special inspections, which are tailored to the unique characteristics and installation conditions of individual units rather than entire production lines. F2 Labs examines each project’s particular circumstances to help manufacturers select the most suitable and efficient compliance path before initiating work.
For related services, visit our pages on UL standards testing and certification, CSA standards testing and certification and on-site compliance testing.
A Practical Approach to Complex Machinery Projects
Machinery projects move more efficiently when the lab sees the entire configuration at the beginning. F2 Labs starts by reviewing the machine description, schematics, bill of materials, ratings, safety functions, installation instructions, operating modes and intended markets. That information helps establish the standards, representative configuration, sample needs and test location before the schedule is set.
When a machine is too large to ship, requires utilities that are difficult to reproduce or forms part of a production line, our team can evaluate whether some testing can be performed on site. We can also discuss staged testing, preliminary reviews and pre-compliance work for designs that are still being developed.
Why Manufacturers Work With F2 Labs
- One laboratory relationship for electrical safety, EMC, wireless, ingress-protection and environmental testing
- ISO/IEC 17025 accredited testing capabilities for a broad range of product-compliance needs
- Experience with large, complex and custom industrial equipment
- Early review of the product and target markets to reduce scope changes later in the project
- Clear communication among sales, project management and engineering throughout the evaluation
- Testing options for U.S., Canadian, EU, UK and other international market-access programs.
Ready to Plan Your Machinery Compliance Project?
Send us a product description, electrical ratings, photos or drawings, the intended installation environment and a list of target countries. We will review the information and help outline the next steps for your machine or industrial system.
Request a machinery compliance testing quote or contact F2 Labs to speak with our team.
FAQ
Machinery compliance testing evaluates a machine against the safety, EMC, environmental and other regulatory requirements that apply to its design and intended markets. The scope may include construction review, electrical safety tests, emissions and immunity tests, enclosure testing, documentation review and evaluation of safety-related controls.
The answer depends on the machine’s function, hazards, electrical ratings, controls, environment and destination markets. IEC/EN 60204-1, ISO 12100, NFPA 79, ISO 13849-1, and industrial EMC standards like IEC/EN 61000-6-2 and IEC/EN 61000-6-4 are frequently considered, but product-specific requirements may take precedence.
Not every machine is legally required to carry a “UL mark”, but an OSHA-recognized NRTL certification may be required by an authority having jurisdiction, purchaser, insurer or installation specification. The appropriate path may be a Listing certification, limited-production certification or U.S. field label evaluation, depending on the equipment and installation.
In most cases, yes. Some large or permanently installed machines can be tested at the manufacturer’s or end user’s location. Feasibility depends on the applicable standard, required equipment, site conditions and utilities.
The manufacturer must identify the applicable EU legislation and standards, complete the required conformity assessment, address the essential health and safety requirements, compile technical documentation, provide instructions, issue the appropriate declaration and apply the CE marking. Independent 3rd party laboratory testing can provide evidence used in the technical file, but the manufacturer remains responsible for the conformity assessment unless a specific third-party procedure applies.
Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 will replace the current Machinery Directive on January 20, 2027. Manufacturers planning to introduce machinery into the EU should consider the new requirements during product design and when preparing technical documentation.
In most cases, machinery EMC testing includes both. Emissions testing measures the electromagnetic interference produced by the machine, while immunity testing determines how the machine performs when exposed to electromagnetic disturbances. The specific tests and performance criteria depend on the applicable EMC standard.
Sometimes. A family approach may be possible when models share the same architecture, controls, power design and safety-critical construction. The test lab must review the differences and determine whether a representative worst-case configuration can cover the variants or whether additional testing is needed.
To prepare an accurate quote, we typically need a description of the machine, model numbers, electrical ratings, schematics, bill of materials, photos or drawings, dimensions and weight, operating modes, safety functions, wireless features, installation environment, existing certifications, and intended markets. Please also let us know about any model variations so they can be included in the original scope.
Yes. Pre-compliance testing and preliminary design reviews can identify grounding, shielding, component, spacing, protection and documentation issues while changes are still easier to make. It does not replace final compliance testing, but it can reduce late-stage redesign and retest risk.
Not necessarily. Certified components can simplify an evaluation, but they must be used within their ratings and conditions of acceptability. The complete machine still needs to be assessed for wiring, protection, enclosure, temperature, controls, installation and interaction among components.
Timing depends on the standards, machine size and complexity, sample readiness, documentation quality, test location and whether corrective actions are needed. Providing a complete technical package and production-representative equipment at the start is the best way to establish a reliable schedule.
Get your machinery certified and shipped faster.