BEAMA secures clarification on Motors Regulation

BEAMA’s Rotating Electric Machines Group has obtained a definitive clarification of the amendment from the National Measurement Office to help manufacturers prepare for the Regulation coming into force on 1st January  2015.

The NMO confirmed to BEAMA that: "Any IE2 motor placed on the market prior to 1 January 2015 can be sold after this date but any motors placed on the market in 2015 must comply with the new Regulation, including being equipped with a Variable Speed Drive (VSD)".

The Motors Regulation 640/2009 came into effect on 16 June 2011. From that date onwards only low-voltage motors of efficiency class IE2 or greater could be put onto the market in Europe. The next stage of this regulation comes into force on 1st January 2015 when the minimum efficiency class rises to IE3. From this date onwards, motors with a minimum efficiency class IE2 must be equipped with a VSD.

On 6th January 2014, the EU Commission formally published in the Official Journal Regulation 4/2014 which amends Regulation 640/2009. This amendment means that only motors that are specifically designed to operate in altitudes exceeding 4,000m above sea-level, in ambient air temperatures between 60°C and minus 30°C  and in maximum operating temperatures above 400°C are excluded. This means that the amendment will bring into the scope of the Regulation, a number of motors which were previously exempt.

The Regulation states that certain motors must be "equipped with" a VSD, yet it does not define this term which has the potential to confuse manufacturers and negatively impact the industry. BEAMA’s Rotating Electrical Machines Group discussed this statement with the NMO to obtain a definitive clarification: the NMO's interpretation is that "equipped with" related to putting into service. "Putting into service" has been defined as "the first use of a product for its intended purpose by an end-user in the community", and the NMO is keen that this is not to be confused with "placing a product on the market", which is defined as "making a product available for the first time on the community market with view to its distribution or use within the community."

This means that any IE2 motor placed on the market prior to 1st January 2015 can be sold after this date, but any motors placed on the market on or after 1 January 2015 must comply with all applicable requirements, including being equipped with a VSD.