RoHS

The guideline for the use of hazardous substances

This Single Market Directive applies to all EU member states in the same way and may not be interpreted differently.
The regulation restricts or prohibits the use of hazardous substances such as lead, mercury or phthalates and defines limit values for certain substances in electrical and electronic equipment. 
This includes, for example, large household appliances, small household appliances, IT and telecommunications equipment, consumer electronics, lighting, electrical and electronic tools, toys, sports and leisure equipment, automatic dispensers, electric light bulbs and lights in households, etc.

RoHS conformity is also a prerequisite for CE labelling of an electrical product.

This means the following for our chainflex® cable:
Our chainflex® cables are manufactured without the prohibited ingredients of the RoHS3 guideline. Among other things, we do not use hazardous plasticisers such as lead. We strictly adhere to the guideline and develop and test sheathing materials in our laboratory that comply with the applicable RoHSII /III requirements. This ensures that our chainflex® cables are lead-free and can be manufactured without harmful plasticisers.

REACH

The European regulation for chemical substances

In 2007, the regulation harmonised and simplified the chemicals legislation in force to that point. It also replaced various decrees. The goal of REACH is to better protect human health and the environment. The REACH regulation therefore regulates the use of chemical substances that are used in industrial processes and products as well as in everyday products, e.g. clothing, furniture and electrical appliances. The regulations state that manufacturers, importers and downstream users are responsible for the chemicals used. It must be ensured that the manufactured chemicals that are placed on the market are used safely. The scope includes manufacturers and/or importers who manufacture more than one tonne of substances per year in the European Union or import this quantity into the European Union. The REACH regulation is considered to be modern but also one of the strictest chemical laws in the world.

This means the following for our chainflex cables:
The REACH regulation only applies to igus® to a limited extent: As a manufacturer of cables, the company is defined as a so-called "downstream user" with regard to the value chain. Nevertheless, the contents of the REACH directive and its rules for the production and processing of chemical substances are observed at igus®. For example, no chemicals are used in the production of chainflex® cables that are above the applicable REACH limits. The entire range of chainflex® cables is free from materials such as sodium peroxometaborates, cadmium sulphides or dihexyl phthalates.

UKCA

Labelling for the UK market

The UKCA marking was created after Brexit and is therefore a replacement for the CE marking. Instead of the EU guideline and regulations, the corresponding UK laws have had to be complied with since the beginning of last year, which require UKCA labelling. 
The labelling has been mandatory since 01.01.2021. However, there is a so-called transition phase from 01.01.2021-31.12.2022. During this period, manufacturers are still permitted to introduce products with only CE labelling to the UK market. From 1 January 2023, the UKCA mark must be affixed to the product, with a similar requirement to the CE mark, for example:

• The UKCA mark must be clearly visible and legible on the product
• UKCA markings may only be affixed to a product by manufacturers or authorised representatives where this is permitted by the relevant legislation.

Products that are prescribed for UKCA labelling are, for example

• toys
• lifts
• industrial machinery

Further official information from the UK government can be found here .

This means the following for our chainflex® cables:
Over 1300 chainflex® cables have UKCA labelling. The chainflex® cables have been re-tested and given UKCA labelling. In addition, all future chainflex® cables will be subject to UKCA standards. 
For you, this means that you can use our cables as usual.

UL/CSA Recognized

The Underwriters Laboratories (UL) Institute

The US institute Underwriters Laboratories (UL) is an independent organisation that examines, tests and certifies products with regard to their safety. UL develops procedures and standards to test the safety of products, devices, materials, parts, components, systems and equipment. Since 1894, UL's safety standards have included design recommendations as well as testing and design requirements for various products. UL is also a globally recognised test laboratory and one of the most widely accepted certification marks. The UL mark appears on 22 billion products in the USA every year.

UL and CSA

The institution responsible for approval in the USA is Underwriters Laboratories (UL). In Canada, the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) is responsible. The approval guidelines and certification processes vary depending on the market and country. A so-called Memorandum of Understanding authorises use in both countries, regardless of the place of certification. Both testing organisations differentiate between the so-called UL/CSA-Listed and UL/CSA-Recoginzed certification, both of which fulfil normative safety requirements that are verified by test procedures.

Meaning of UL/CSA-Recognised
The UL/CSA-Recognized mark is awarded to subcomponents of larger systems. In this case, only components that are not intended for a single, precisely defined installation or application are certified. Cables for applications that cannot be fully described in terms of standards are certified according to UL-Recognised (AWM).
Cables for use in energy chains can be mentioned here as an example: These are so varied, complex and diverse that a complete standardised description is impossible. This is where UL-Recognised approval comes into play. This offers cable developers a modular system of various approved insulation, jacket and construction options. Ideally, cable manufacturers use this to create a combination that can be used precisely for a specific customer application, i.e. that works.

The safety requirements with regard to fire protection are much stricter in the USA than in Germany. Only products that have been tested accordingly are awarded the UL seal of approval.
We are the first manufacturer in the world to receive UL AWM certification from the renowned US organisation Underwriters Laboratories (UL) for our high-end TPE cables, which do not contain any fire-retardant halogens as additives. This is the first time that the testing organisation has recognised that halogen-free TPE cables can also meet the fire protection requirements in the industry. The independent organisation Underwriters Laboratories (UL) is one of the most important authorities in the USA when it comes to product safety. Since 1894, it has been testing whether components of machines and systems are suitable for industrial use. Its seal is one of the prerequisites for successful market entry in North America. Fire protection is a decisive criterion here. According to the US National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), machine fires are the fourth most common cause of fire in industrial environments in the USA, closely followed by fires caused by electrical sources.

UL

UL Recognised

The US institute Underwriters Laboratories (UL) is an independent organisation that examines, tests and certifies products with regard to their safety. UL develops procedures and standards to test the safety of products, devices, materials, parts, components, systems and equipment. Since 1894, UL's safety standards have included design recommendations as well as testing and design requirements for various products. UL is also a globally recognised test laboratory and one of the most widely accepted certification marks.

The UL mark appears on 22 billion products in the USA every year. The UL/CSA Recognised mark is awarded to subcomponents of larger systems. In this case, only components that are not intended for a single, precisely defined installation or application are certified. Cables for applications that cannot be fully described in terms of standards are certified according to UL-Recognised (AWM).

Cables for use in energy chains can be mentioned here as an example: These are so varied, complex and diverse that a complete standardised description is impossible. This is where UL-Recognised approval comes into play. This offers cable developers a modular system of various approved insulation, jacket and construction options. Ideally, cable manufacturers use this to create a combination that can be used precisely for a specific customer application, i.e. that works. 
The construction kit consists of various inner and outer styles with which a cable can be assembled. The different styles are defined in terms of voltage level, flame resistance, temperature range, etc. Depending on the application, the different styles can then be mixed. The inner style defines the requirements for the core insulation and the outer style for the outer jacket.

For our chainflex® cables, this means the following:
Over 1000 of our chainflex® cables have UL certification. They are manufactured in accordance with the appropriate UL styles and can therefore be installed in the USA and in some cases in Canada without any problems. We comply with the approval guidelines and certification processes.

NFPA

The electrical standard in the USA

NFPA 79 - the Electrical Standard for Industrial Machinery - is part of the American National Fire Protection Association. The standard contains guidelines for designing the electrical system of a machine and shows ways to ensure machine operator safety.

It used to be difficult for machine designers to comply with the NFPA standard when using cables for moving applications. Until 2012, the NFPA standard did not allow the use of AWM cable. After the revision in 2012, the use of certain AWM cables is permitted, many of which can be used for highly flexible applications. Together with the UL standard, NFPA 79 is considered an important basis for compliance with the technical specifications for the electrical equipment of machines in America. Before a machine can be put into operation in the USA, it is checked whether the individual parts that make up a machine have been assembled correctly in accordance with the NFPA 79 standard.

The NFPA 79 standard describes the requirements that AWM cables must fulfil. Some of the most important requirements are summarised below.

• The standard allows AWM cable if the cable has been identified for use with the approved equipment and is used in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. Many customers of igus® use chainflex® cables, for example, because they have been specially developed for moving applications and many of them bear the UL AWM mark.
• The NFPA 79 standard defines some of the cable construction requirements for AWM cables, including the minimum number of stranded wires, flame retardancy and wall thickness.
• The standard also requires that the cable fulfil all the requirements of the corresponding UL AWM style page.
  
  For our chainflex® cables, this means the following:
  With over 900 chainflex® types of control, bus, servo, motor and measuring system cables, we offer a complete, NFPA-compliant programme. With compliance to the conditions of the NFPA 79 standard and built according to the AWM standard, our chainflex® cables can be used in industrial environments without any problems.

UL Listed

The test mark for the USA and Canada

The UL Listed mark is probably the most widely used of all. UL develops and publishes safety standards. On the basis of these, samples of the relevant products are tested and the results are compared with the safety requirements to be fulfilled. Products labelled "UL listed" have been tested accordingly and approved for consumer use.

The UL mark can be found on many everyday items: computers, heaters, smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, life jackets and many more.
 
Products with "UL Listing" correspond to a final product (end product) or a component for field installations. These products have been tested accordingly and can be installed in accordance with the applicable local installation guidelines, e.g. ANSI/NFPA 70, "National Electrical Code" (NEC).
This means the following for our chainflex® cable:
Part of our chainflex® cable is also UL-listed, giving our customers the option of using it in other areas of the machine without having to worry about the chain or cable tray installation area.
 
Using the example of a household appliance, e.g. a washing machine, this advantage becomes more tangible. All components in a machine have different UL standards that they must fulfil and the buyer of the machine would have to test and evaluate all these standards in order to be allowed to operate this machine in the USA. However, this is impossible and unrealistic for the customer. Therefore, the manufacturer of the machine takes on this work and has the machine tested as a whole by UL. Once the entire machine has been tested and certified, the machine as a whole is given a UL listed marking. The customer can then plug in the machine and get started. The cable with UL Listed is similar. In contrast to AWM cable, this cable can be used in the chain and outside the chain within the scope of its technical specification. No special housing or covers are required.

CE Conformity

Labelling for the European market

The CE marking makes it clear that the manufacturer of a product such as chainflex® cables complies with the applicable EU directives. The CE marking is not a seal of approval or quality mark and was created for trade in the European Economic Area.

• The CE certification is now based on more than 25 EU directives as of 2020.
•  The CE certificate is a kind of voluntary commitment.
• The CE mark on a machine and the corresponding signature confirms that this machine was planned, designed and built in accordance with the applicable standards.
• The CE marking is part of further regulations. These include for instance the Machinery Directive, the Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Directive, the Low Voltage Directive (often referred to as LVD), RoHS substance restrictions and protective equipment etc.
  
  What does the CE mark mean?
• The CE mark is a legally prescribed test mark which indicates that the corresponding product fulfils all EU-wide requirements for safety, health protection and environmental protection in accordance with EU Regulation 765/2008.
  The abbreviation "CE" stands for "Communauté Européenne" (European Community) and indicates that a product complies with all applicable European regulations and has undergone the prescribed conformity assessment procedures. Products bearing the CE mark may be placed on the market in any EU member state. In principle, the manufacturer is responsible for compliance with European regulations and therefore for affixing the CE mark.
• Following the UK's withdrawal from the EU, the new UKCA marking has been in force there since 1 January 2021. Further information on the new regulations for the British market can be found here.
  
  This means the following for our chainflex® cables:
  We follow these guidelines in all our developments so that we can sell our cables in Europe without any problems.
   
  CE conformity is based on a complex risk assessment.
  Risk assessment - the iterative process consists of:
• Checking the intended use of e.g. chainflex® cable in e-chain®
• Analysing conceivable, foreseeable misuse
• Identification of relevant and applicable standards for the manufacture of chainflex® cable and e-chain®
• Determination of specific requirements and conditions for the use of chainflex® cable
• Researching the responsible "notified body", e.g. at the DAkkS accreditation body (institute for the monitoring of all certification, testing and inspection bodies)
• (Laboratory) tests of the chainflex® cable and e-chain®
• Data evaluation and preparation of technical documentation
• Preparation of the certificate/ provision for download
• Affixing the CE mark to the chainflex® cable

DESINA

The standard for the machine tool

DEcentralisedand Standardised INstAllation****Technology (DESINA for short) is a recommendation of the German Machine Tool Builders' Association (VDW) for the standardisation of components, interfaces and connection systems. DESINA describes a comprehensive overall concept for the standardisation and decentralisation of the fluid technology and electrical installation of machines and systems.

Desina is a standard that is intended to bring about standardisation in mechanical engineering. Well-known machine tool manufacturers have created DESINA and are thus ensuring a standard for machine tools. The standardisation applies to electrical, hydraulic and pneumatic installation. The aim is to simplify this and speed up assembly and maintenance work. DESINA specifies the individual components for this purpose.
The aim is to save costs in assembly and inspection by implementing decentralised installation concepts and using the specified components.
The exact contents of the DESINA standard can be found in ISO 23570 Part 1 and Part 2 from November 2005.

This means the following for our chainflex® cable:
In order to fulfil this standard, we manufacture our chainflex® cables in accordance with the recommendation of the German Machine Tool Builders' Association (VDW). Over 250 cables already fulfil this standard. The respective colours are used to standardise components, interfaces and connection systems. Our chainflex® cables therefore standardise the fluid technology and electrical installation of systems and machines. 
These specifications are as follows:

• servo cable, shrink-wrapped: orange, RAL 2003
• measuring system cable, shielded: green, RAL 6018
• Fieldbus, hybrid fieldbus cable, shielded: violet, RAL 4001
• Sensor/actuator cable, unshielded: yellow, RAL 1021
• power cable, unshielded: black, RAL 9005
• control cable, unshielded: grey, RAL 7040
  
  This outer jacket must also be resistant to the coolants and lubricants used in industry. The design of the cable must be such that it is suitable for use on machines in harsh environments. DESINA only provides a shield for certain cable types.

DNV Certification

Certification in the maritime sector

DNV is the certification for the maritime environment, offshore facilities, gas and oil pipelines, and onshore applications such as wind, tidal, and solar energy.

The classification society was formed in 2013 with the merger of Det Norske Veritas (DNV), a Norwegian company, and Germanischer Lloyd (GL), and was known as DNV-GL until early 2021. Since March 2021, the company has only been simply DNV. The company is composed of four divisions and an independent corporate unit. As a classification society, DNV-Maritim creates standards for ships and offshore units. These rules include safety, reliability, and environmental regulations that onshore and offshore entities must comply with in international waters. DNV also reviews international standards and guidelines. DNV certificates are a basic requirement in the maritime industry for having electrotechnical components approved on ships. They are also considered a quality mark documenting reliability and durability.

Our chainflex cables therefore have the following characteristics:
Over 370 of our chainflex control, servo, motor and robot cables as well as bus, data, encoder and fibre optic cables have DNV approval and therefore allow for safe and reliable power and data supply at sea. If our chainflex cables have DNV approval, this simplifies and speeds up their use in the maritime environment as the individual components require no testing. DNV approval means that the cable can withstand the harsh environmental conditions at sea as it is flame-retardant and resistant to MUD, oil, UV radiation and seawater.

More automation in the maritime industry

This white paper presents challenges for companies and suppliers alike. It describes how companies can fulfil the strict test criteria so as to have components certified by institutions responsible for approval, such as DNV. The white paper also provides an outlook on the opportunities that arise for suppliers, plant manufacturers and ultimately operators of on-board platforms and ships due to the use of certified components such as cables.

Download it now!

Download DNV certificates for chainflex cables