Some time ago, we reported on the introduction of the Digital Product Passport (DPP for short) in Europe. It is being gradually introduced or required for an increasing number of product groups. This raises the question in the industry of how such a product passport should be organized and what information should be included in the DPP. In this context, a standardization mandate was issued [...]
From a technical writing perspective, two standards are particularly relevant for the creation of software user information: ISO/IEC/IEEE 26513:2017 Systems and Software Engineering—Requirements for Testers and Reviewers of Information for Users; ISO/IEC/IEEE 26514:2022 Systems and Software Engineering—Design and Development of Information for Users. These two standards, which are available in English, refer to [...]
Digital Documentation Regulated Explicitly for the First Time With the entry into force of the Machinery Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 in 2024, the digital provision of operating instructions and declarations of conformity, as well as a digital contact option, were explicitly mentioned in the text of the law for the first time. Until then, the prevailing interpretation was that these documents had to be supplied in printed form—even though this was never explicitly required. [...]
Technical documentation (TD) must be understandable. Requirements in this regard can be found in German and European liability law, in the German Product Safety Act and its associated regulations, and in relevant EU directives. And since most technical documents are translated into multiple languages due to the globalization of markets, understandability is also important for this reason. Comprehensible Texts: Making [...] easier to understand
For medical devices, it is possible to provide instructions for use in electronic form. Until now, however, Regulation (EU) No. 207/2012 limited this to certain products. New Provisions Under Regulation (EU) 2017/745 Under the current Medical Devices Regulation (EU) 2017/745, this option has been retained in Annex I, Chapter III. More detailed provisions were established by Implementing Regulation (EU) [...]
Withdrawal Announced: VDI 4500 Part 6 on Technical Documentation In June 2025, it was officially announced that Part 6 of the VDI Guideline 4500 (“Technical Documentation – Documentation Process – Publishing”) is to be withdrawn. The guideline is considered technically outdated and no longer meets the current requirements for modern documentation processes. However, the withdrawal will take place [...]
The systems used in today's industrial landscape are becoming increasingly extensive and complex. Clear, understandable, and well-structured system documentation is essential. It not only ensures compliance with legal requirements but also contributes to operational efficiency and safety. Digital delivery makes it easier for system operators to access information for training, service, and other [...]
Publication Date: March 2025 DIN EN ISO 20607: Safety of Machinery—Instructions for Use—General Design Principles A new draft of DIN EN ISO 20607 has been available since this month. The standard addresses requirements for the design of instruction manuals for machinery. These requirements supplement Chapter 6.4 of DIN EN ISO [...]
The use of AI systems is already a goal for the near future in many areas of mechanical and plant engineering. However, a 2020 report by the European Commission noted that the product safety legislation in effect at the time—including the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC—contained a number of gaps regarding safety risks associated with [...]
In recent months, several new EU directives and regulations have been published that also set requirements for technical documentation. Given the numerous changes, it’s not easy to keep track of everything. In this blog post, I’ll give you a quick overview of the upcoming developments. Product Safety Regulation (EU) 2023/988 The new Product Safety Regulation takes effect on December 13, 2024 [...]
