Why the manual is a compliance document
Under the EU Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC, a machine is only compliant if it ships with instructions that meet the essential health and safety requirements (EHSRs) set out in Annex I. Section 1.7.4 covers information and instructions; section 1.7.4.2 “Contents of the instructions” lists, point by point, what the manual must contain. A missing or vague section is a gap a technical-file reviewer or market-surveillance authority can flag — which is why the manual is treated as a compliance document, not just documentation. Because these are essential requirements, the instructions are also part of CE marking the machine.
What Annex I §1.7.4.2 says your instructions must contain
The instructions must contain, where applicable, at least the following — points (a) through (v):
- (a) Business name and full address of the manufacturer and any authorised representative
- (b) Designation of the machinery as marked on the machinery itself (excluding the serial number)
- (c) The EC declaration of conformity, or a document setting out its contents
- (d) A general description of the machinery
- (e) Drawings, diagrams, descriptions and explanations needed for use, maintenance and repair
- (f) A description of the workstation(s) likely to be occupied by operators
- (g) A description of the intended use of the machinery
- (h) Warnings about reasonably foreseeable misuse
- (i) Assembly, installation and connection instructions, including drawings and fixing means
- (j) Instructions to reduce noise and vibration during installation and assembly
- (k) Putting into service, use, and — where necessary — operator training instructions
- (l) Information about residual risks that remain despite the protective measures taken
- (m) The protective measures the user must take, including personal protective equipment
- (n) The essential characteristics of tools that may be fitted to the machinery
- (o) The conditions in which the machinery meets the requirement of stability
- (p) Safe transport, handling and storage, giving the mass of the machinery and its parts
- (q) The procedure to follow in the event of an accident or breakdown, and safe unblocking
- (r) Adjustment and maintenance operations, and the preventive measures to be taken
- (s) Instructions to enable adjustment and maintenance to be carried out safely
- (t) The specifications of the spare parts that affect the health and safety of operators
- (u) Airborne noise emission values (and the measurement conditions used)
- (v) Information on non-ionising radiation, where the machinery may harm people (in particular those with implants)
The full, authoritative text is published by the EU on EUR-Lex. EU Manuals maps every finding back to the specific point above, so each recommendation is traceable to the source text.
The move to the Machinery Regulation (EU) 2023/1230
Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 replaces Directive 2006/42/EC and applies from 20 January 2027, after a transition period. It keeps the same instruction requirements at its core, while adding provisions for supplying instructions in digital form and for newer risks. A manual that already satisfies 2006/42/EC Annex I §1.7.4.2 is a strong foundation for the transition, so getting the current directive right now is time well spent.
How to check your manual against 2006/42/EC
EU Manuals reads your DOCX manual, scores it against every instruction requirement in Annex I §1.7.4.2, and flags each gap as critical or standard with the clause it relates to and an evidence quote from your document. The compliance scan is free. If you want the gaps fixed, the automated upgrade rewrites the missing sections and hands back a finished Word document — see pricing or read more about our approach for machinery manufacturers.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Machinery Directive require an instruction manual?
Yes. The instructions are one of the essential health and safety requirements in Annex I. Section 1.7.4.2 sets out, point by point, what the instructions must contain — from the manufacturer's details and intended use to residual risks and noise emission values.
Which language must the manual be in?
The original instructions and the instructions for use must be provided in the official language(s) of the Member State where the machinery is placed on the market or put into service. EU Manuals runs its analysis in the manual's own language and can translate the corrected manual into any of the 24 official EU languages.
Is the Machinery Directive being replaced?
Yes. Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 (the Machinery Regulation) replaces Directive 2006/42/EC and applies from 20 January 2027. It keeps the same instruction requirements at its core while adding rules for digital instructions and newer risks. Manuals compliant with 2006/42/EC are a strong starting point for the transition.