A couple of times in the past I have done sound & vibration testing for a customer who builds large power trowels for concrete finishing, both the "walk-behind" type and the "ride-on" type. This testing is to meet the reporting requirements for machines sold into the European Common Market which receive the 'CE' designation.

I have to rent the instrumentation for this and re-learn the governing ISO standards, and I really just don't have the time anymore. So I am looking for someone to recommend to them.

If you are 'experienced' in this kind of testing and are interested, please email me. Only experienced consultants need reply. Their plant is in Northeastern Arkansas.

OK... do any of you even know someone who does this kind of work? This is an opportunity for someone to make some fairly serious money.

Rusty
I do work for a maker of ship cargo box carriers that are shipped to the EU and check the operator seat and steering wheel for EU standards but do it with my equipment setup in metric vibration. Unsure what special equipment you are talking about.

I'm confused - CE certification is for EMI interferance testing. If a CE mark is needed to be obtained, I'd use a lab qualified to do that work. As a manufacturer, once you obtain a CE mark, you can then self certify as your product evolves. Here is a good lab for CE certification service:
http://www.garwoodlabs.com

That's what I thought CE was too - "conducted emissions" (electrical)

No... CE marking covers a broad range of testing, not just electrical. Mike, if that is all you are doing, you are skating on thin ice. There are very stringent standards for doing vibration and sound testing. For instance, the vibration testing requires a filters for a number of frequency bands, done simultaneously. It can't be done with a standard analyzer. In particular, you need to look at the Machinery Directive.

Here are some links:

http://www.ce-mark-us.com/index.html

http://www.intertek-etlsemko.com/portal/page?_pageid=34..._portal&src=GoogleAd

Rusty,

I had done this type of work for several years while working for an OEM of high-speed, heavy duty gearboxes. The company I currently work for, Industrial Vibration Consultants (www.ivc-pdm.com) has the equipment to collect simultaneous vibration data.

With the information you provided, we are more than capable of doing this work and would welcome the reference.

Fred

I am assuming it is two-fold 1.) operator exposure & 2.) people passing by the construction site and their emission exposure.

Seven channels; one moving with the operator and perimiters over a distance until below ?75 dB every 10' apart (a starter)? Barrier involved. Is it a bid price? NIST tracable I think a must and or but if you have to have the CE certificaton; without the stamp you don't qualify or so I would think.

Rusty,

Not sure if you have found a provider for the testing in AR as of yet but I did want to ensure you had our number to get in touch with Mr. Gallardo. Please contact him @ 800-525-1269.

Thanks,

Jim Smith
IVC

Sam, the last time I did this testing the directive said the testing had to be done by a "competent" individual, but made no mention of how that is determined. Since I had the necessary equipment and was able to follow the procedures detailed in the directive, I considered myself "competent".

As in many things, testing of this sort simply gives someone a basis for litigation at some point in the future. Basically, the "work product" of this testing is vibration and sound levels which are published in the manual for the equipment. There is no mention of acceptable exposure levels in the directive. The user simply reads the manual and decides if he wants to use the equipment. In theory, it gives the user a basis for comparing similar types of equipment. In practice, I doubt that is ever done.