The declaration of conformity is the central document by which a manufacturer confirms that a machine complies with applicable regulations. For tools and attachments in concrete demolition, special demolition, rock excavation and tunnel construction, as well as in natural stone extraction—such as concrete demolition shears, stone and concrete splitters, hydraulic power packs, hydraulic demolition shears, rock wedge splitters, Multi Cutters, steel shear and tank cutter—it creates the formal basis for safe use and CE marking. This article classifies the term professionally, explains contents and procedures, and relates it to Darda GmbH’s application areas—precise, practice-oriented, and non-promotional.
Definition: What is meant by declaration of conformity
An EU declaration of conformity is the statement signed by the manufacturer or its authorized representative that a machine or interchangeable equipment meets all relevant European legal requirements. It generally refers to the machinery regulations, other applicable directives/regulations, and harmonized standards. The declaration of conformity is an integral part of placing on the market and, together with the operating manual and marking, forms the mandatory package. For partly completed machinery (e.g., certain subassemblies), a declaration of incorporation with assembly instructions takes its place.
Legal basis and scope
The declaration of conformity for machines is based on European machinery safety law. Depending on the time of placing on the market and product type, the Machinery Directive or the subsequent Machinery Regulation applies. In addition—depending on design and use—further regulations may be relevant, such as requirements for electrical safety, electromagnetic compatibility, outdoor noise emission, explosion protection in potentially explosive atmospheres, or pressurized components. For hydraulically operated tools such as concrete demolition shears, stone and concrete splitters, hydraulic demolition shears, Multi Cutters, steel shear and tank cutter, consideration is regularly required regarding hydraulic safety, mechanical hazards (cutting, crushing, ejection), and information for safe use. These notes are general in nature; the specific classification always depends on product details.
Contents and minimum details of the EU declaration of conformity
A professionally prepared declaration of conformity includes at least the following elements:
- Clear identification of the product (type, series, model, serial number, year of manufacture)
- Name and full address of the manufacturer and, where applicable, the authorized representative within the EEA
- Statement that the product complies with all relevant legal requirements
- List of the applied legal acts (e.g., machinery law, supplementary directives/regulations, where applicable)
- Indication of the applied harmonized standards and/or other technical specifications
- Place and date of issue
- Name, function, and signature (electronic possible) of the authorized signatory
- References to a notified body if a special conformity assessment procedure is required
Technical documentation and conformity assessment
The declaration of conformity does not stand alone; it is based on technical documentation and a systematic conformity assessment. These usually include:
- Risk assessment over the entire life cycle (concept, construction, transport, use, maintenance, disposal)
- Design documents (drawings, parts lists, hydraulic and electrical schematics)
- Evidence of hydraulic and mechanical design (calculations, tests, material specifications)
- Results of functional and safety tests, e.g., leakage and pressure tests of hydraulic power packs
- Documentation of applied standards (e.g., risk assessment, hydraulic safety, electrical equipment)
- Operating manual with information on residual risks, intended use, servicing, and maintenance
- Where applicable, noise and vibration data in accordance with relevant requirements
Specifics for concrete demolition shears and stone and concrete splitters
For concrete demolition shears and stone and concrete splitters, specific hazards and operating conditions are the focus of the conformity assessment. Typical aspects include:
- Hydraulic safety: Pressure resistance, burst protection, hose routing, interlocks, and check valves
- Mechanical risks: Pinch and crush points at the jaws, shear and cutting edges, ejection of fragments
- Stability and retention: Secure mounting to the carrier machine or frames, interlocks against inadvertent movements
- Control: Unambiguous actuation, emergency stop at the hydraulic power pack, prevention of unintentional activation
- Information for use: Concrete guidance on separation cuts, splitting sequences, edge distances, permissible materials
Practical relevance in the application areas
- Concrete demolition and special demolition: Concrete demolition shears and hydraulic demolition shears require information on controlled force application and permissible reinforcement.
- Building gutting and cutting: Multi Cutters and steel shear benefit from clear guidance on cutting sequences and residual hazards due to spring-back.
- Rock excavation and tunnel construction: Stone and concrete splitters as well as rock wedge splitters need guidance on borehole patterns, wedges, and brittle fracture.
- Natural stone extraction: Focus on reproducible splitting results, material dependencies, and handling of large blocks.
- Special operations: A tank cutter may entail additional explosion and fire risks; appropriate protective measures must be specified where relevant.
Declaration of incorporation for partly completed machinery and attachments
Not every product is a complete machine. Certain assemblies—such as individual rock wedge splitters or special shear units—may be executed as partly completed machinery. In such cases, no EU declaration of conformity is issued; instead, a declaration of incorporation with assembly instructions is provided. The final EU declaration of conformity for the whole is only created by the manufacturer or integrator who integrates the assembly into a complete machine or a carrier. In practice, this concerns, for example, the interplay of concrete demolition shear, hydraulic power pack, and control.
Marking, CE marking and accompanying documents
Conformity and CE marking go hand in hand. Machines such as hydraulic power packs, concrete demolition shears, hydraulic demolition shears, Multi Cutters, steel shear, tank cutter, and stone and concrete splitters bear, permanently and legibly, among other things, the manufacturer’s details, type designation, serial number, and year of manufacture. The EU declaration of conformity is enclosed with the product or provided electronically and must be accessible to users. The operating manual must be provided in the language of the destination country and contains safety-relevant information, including remaining residual risks.
Roles and responsibilities
The manufacturer prepares technical documentation, carries out the conformity assessment, affixes CE marking, and signs the declaration of conformity. An authorized representative may assume certain tasks but remains bound by the specifications. Importers and distributors ensure that only compliant products are placed on the market. Operators and employers ensure that on the construction site—for example, in deconstruction, building gutting, or tunnel construction—only machines with valid documentation are used and that intended use is observed.
Typical mistakes and how to avoid them
- Imprecise product identification (missing serial number/year of manufacture)
- Incomplete list of applicable legal acts
- No or unclear assignment of harmonized standards
- Non-robust risk assessment without evidence
- Missing or linguistically non-compliant operating manual
- Signature without indication of function or signing authority
- Uncoordinated combinations of concrete demolition shears and hydraulic power packs without consideration of overall conformity
Updates for changes and variants
Changes to the machine, control, or hydraulics—such as a more powerful power unit, new jaw designs, or modified valve technology—can affect the risk assessment. Consequently, technical documentation and the declaration of conformity must be reviewed and, in the case of significant changes, updated. This also applies to variants, special equipment, and special operations, for example when cutting tanks or heavily reinforced components.
Practical check for deconstruction and natural stone
- Verify product identity: match type, serial number, year of manufacture with the declaration of conformity.
- Applicability: Is it an EU declaration of conformity or, for attachments, a declaration of incorporation?
- Legal bases and standards: Plausible assignment to the machine and intended use.
- Operating manual: language, residual risks, noise/vibration, maintenance instructions present.
- Combinations: technical assessment of compatibility between concrete demolition shear/splitter and hydraulic power pack.
- Site requirements: documents available, relevant protective measures defined.
- Changes: document retrofits and, if necessary, initiate a renewed assessment.
Documentation storage and evidence
For site operations, it is advisable to keep the declaration of conformity and the operating manual available both physically and digitally. Especially with changing locations—from concrete demolition in urban environments to tunnel advance to natural stone extraction—clear documentation facilitates the burden of proof to clients and supervisory authorities.
International aspects
The EU declaration of conformity and CE marking apply within the EEA and in countries with corresponding recognition. For operations outside this framework, deviating regulations may apply. For exports or cross-border projects, early clarification of requirements is recommended, especially when concrete demolition shears, stone and concrete splitters, or a tank cutter are operated in regulated environments.