Application of the revised EU Machinery Directive on knapsack sprayers by the new EN ISO 19932

摘要

Knapsack sprayers are probably the technique with which most of the plant protection chemicals are applied worldwide. Since 2006 the International Standard ISO 19932 defines requirements on this kind of equipment as well as special test methods for the verification of knapsack sprayer performance. EU Directive 2009/127/EC amending the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC came into force in 2011. This allows selling sprayers in the European Union only if the manufacturer can prove that they are safe for theoperator as well as for the environment. In general, conformity to the Machinery Directive is assumed if a machine complies with recognised standards. Such a standard shall be provided by transition of the former ISO 19932:2006 to the new EN ISO 19932,developed under the Vienna Agreement by ISO and CEN. The basis of the new EN ISO 19932 is a comprehensive analysis of the risks addressed by the new Machinery Directive concerning operator safety and environmental protection relevant for knapsack sprayers. This is a very suitable tool to derive the necessary requirements. Detailed performance limits and test procedures have been adjusted according to the experiences made during the testing of a number of knapsack sprayers following the recent standard.Compared to the standard ISO 19932:2006, the scope was extended to also include motor-driven hydraulic sprayers. The new EN ISO 19932 will provide an appropriate means to prove the conformity to the EU Machinery Directive as well as to improve the quality of knapsack sprayers worldwide.