Motorized shutters: CE marking, standards and safety

The sector of home automation which concerns the "living" aspects of homes modern is extremely varied from a product point of view. These are devices aimed at making the management of some basic aspects of the home related to climate, ventilation, lighting and much more smart. Increasingly widespread in the home automation context, the motorized shutters they are an excellent solution in terms of practicality, efficiency and management of natural light and home temperature.

MOTORIZED SHUTTERS: TYPES AND FEATURES

Motorized roller shutters, with an electric motor, are characterized by a system in which lifting and lowering do not occur through manual action on the classic strap, but by electrical control generated by a button, a remote control or via smartphone. This specific type of roller shutter has a tubular lifting rod, like the traditional roller shutter, but inside there is, in fact, the electric motor which gives life to the bidirectional movement, while the rope and its winder are absent.

These fixtures - which differ from each other in terms of materials, shapes, motor power, power supply, activation system - present a vast series of advantages including the absence of physical effort for raising and lowering the shutter, key element in the case of particularly fragile users. Furthermore, the elimination of the lifting strap and the winding roller generates maintenance benefits (it will not be necessary to proceed with periodic replacements) and to limit the risks caused by their breakage. Furthermore, the more delicate movement of the shutters involves a longer product life, which are not impacted by sudden closures and openings.

There centralized management of roller shutters, especially when connected to a smartphone or smart speaker, allows their use remotely, increasing the possibilities of use by users. Programmability, greater security, but also better climate management of the home and therefore savings on consumption. Motorized shutters, curtains and shutters, in fact, can be programmed to close at specific times and keep the house at the right temperature, ensuring excellent regulation of the rooms.

Motorized shutters, standards and CE marking

The marketing of motorized roller shutters on the EU market, just like that of any other electrical, radio and electronic product – is subject to the application of directives that certify the conformity of the devices to certain standards, guaranteeing consumer health and environmental protection.

The building components and motorized/electrified furnishing components - including the shutters in question - must, among the fundamental aspects, satisfy the requirements established by Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC and from Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive 2014/30/EU. Directive 2006/42/EC determines the characteristics required to market throughout the European Union, without any constraints, the machine products defined as "the assembly equipped or intended to be equipped with a drive system other than direct human or animal force, composed of parts or components, of which at least one is mobile, solidly connected to each other for a well-defined application".

The EMC directive 2014/30/EU, however, concerns every device capable of generating electromagnetic disturbances, or whose functioning may be affected by such disturbances, defining levels and standards that allow the normal performance of the product, without unacceptable deterioration of itself and the devices close to it.

More generally, obtaining the CE marking on motorized roller shutters and the like - as a "visible consequence of an entire process that includes the assessment of conformity in the broadest sense" - presents a series of specific obligations for the economic operators involved, i.e. the manufacturer , importer and distributor.

In the process of conformity assessment of motorized shutters and similar devices – we find fundamental steps such as the drafting of the EU Declaration of Conformity and the implementation of a technical file for CE marking. The latter has the function of demonstrating, through documentation, the conformity of the product with the directives in force and the economic operators concerned are obliged to keep it for ten years. The CE mark, as is known, needs - by the actors in the production and marketing process - to be checked and affixed in a visible, legible and indelible way.

Finally, in the event of malfunctions or problems detected on the product, it will be necessary for the figures connected to its marketing and production to implement all the necessary corrective actions, an important element to demonstrate that they have acted correctly during checks by the Competent authorities.