EN 12096:1997

Overview

EN 12096:1997 - Mechanical vibration: Declaration and verification of vibration emission values is a European Standard (CEN) that sets out requirements for how vibration emission values should be declared by manufacturers and verified by third parties. The standard covers both hand‑arm vibration and whole‑body vibration values where those values are obtained by measurements carried out in accordance with applicable Type‑B and Type‑C standards. EN 12096 provides guidance on preparing vibration data and the vibration and product information that must be supplied in technical documentation to users.

Key Topics

• Declaration of vibration emission values
  • Principles for reporting vibration emission data in technical documents and user manuals.
  • Information that manufacturers should include to make vibration data clear and comparable.
• Verification of declared values
  • General requirements for verifying manufacturer-declared vibration emission values (performed by testing bodies or during conformity checks).
• Scope of measurement
  • Applies to both hand‑arm and whole‑body vibration as measured according to appropriate Type‑B and Type‑C measurement standards.
• Manufacturer documentation
  • Recommended content for technical files and user information: declared vibration values, measurement method references, and relevant operational conditions.
• Consistency and transparency
  • Emphasis on using standard measurement procedures to ensure declared values are meaningful for end users and regulators.

Applications

EN 12096:1997 is practical for stakeholders who need reliable vibration emission data for product selection, risk assessment, compliance, and product development:

• Manufacturers - to prepare compliant technical documentation and declare vibration emission values consistently.
• Testing laboratories - to verify declared values and support conformity assessment.
• Health & safety professionals - to evaluate user exposure to hand‑arm or whole‑body vibration and to inform control measures.
• Procurement and end users - to compare equipment based on standardized vibration emission information.
• Regulatory and certification bodies - to assess conformity and support enforcement of vibration exposure limits.

Using EN 12096 supports clear communication of vibration measurement results, improves comparability across products, and aids compliance with workplace vibration control best practices.

Related Standards

• EN 12096:1997 references measurement methods defined in Type‑B and Type‑C standards (standards specifying general measurement principles and specific machine testing methods). For implementation, consult the applicable Type‑B/Type‑C standards relevant to the product category and any national adoptions (e.g., SIST EN 12096 national publications).