System-Level Testing
System-Level Testing involves evaluating machinery in its final, fully assembled configuration. Unlike Component-Level Testing, which verifies individual parts like relays or drives, system testing ensures that these components interact correctly without creating new hazards. For North American manufacturers, this is a vital distinction: a machine built entirely from UL-listed components does not automatically guarantee CE compliance for the finished unit.
This phase typically includes EMC Testing to ensure the machine does not emit interference or fail when exposed to it. It also covers thermal profiling, earth continuity, and Functional Safety Checks to verify that interlocks and e-stops perform as intended. The goal is to assess the machine under real-world operating conditions, including worst-case scenarios identified in the Risk Assessment.
Due to the size of industrial machinery, this process is often conducted via On-Site Testing at the manufacturer's facility. The results form the empirical evidence within the Technical File, proving that the complete assembly meets all Essential Health & Safety Requirements (EHSRs).
