International markets
Brazilian NR-12: what machinery manufacturers need to know
NR-12 Guide for manufacturers who export machines to Brazil: requirements, documentation, verification and technical support.
Exporting industrial machinery to Brazil requires a different approach than the CE marking alone. European conformity is an excellent starting point, but it is not automatically enough to demonstrate compliance with Brazilian requirements applicable to machines and work equipment. Reference
The main reference is the NR-12, Regulamentadora Standard dedicated to safety at work in machines and equipment. The NR-12 involves both design aspects and aspects of use, installation, maintenance, protection, training and documentation. For a European manufacturer it is essential to translate these requirements into concrete checks before shipment.
What is the NR-12
The NR-12 is a Brazilian regulatory standard that establishes minimum requirements for preventing accidents and diseases related to the use of machinery and equipment. Compared to the European system, the text is often more prescribed on certain design and organizational aspects.
The manufacturer who exports a machine to Brazil must therefore assess which parts of the NR-12 are applicable to the product and which technical/documentary evidence are required by the customer, the final user or the local professional responsible for the verification.
Because it is different from the CE marking
The CE marking is based on a process of assessing compliance with European requirements. In Brazil, however, the machine is often evaluated also with respect to local requirements, ABNT NBR standards and inspection practices. A CE marked machine can therefore require design or document integration before being considered appropriate for the Brazilian market.
Technical requirements to be checked before shipment
The best strategy is to carry out a preliminary inspection in Italy, before packaging and shipping. In this phase protections, access, safety distances, control devices, emergency stops, signals, instructions for use, electrical schematics, plates, pictograms and support documentation are controlled.
This approach reduces the risk of costly corrective work at the end customer’s site and allows modifications to be managed while the machine remains under the manufacturer’s control.
ART, CREA and local inspection
In Brazil some technical activities are linked to the responsibility of qualified professionals enrolled in the CREA/CONFEA system. The document normally referred to is ART, Anotação de responsabilidade Técnica, which records the technical responsibility of the professional for a particular service or activity.
For this reason, it is useful to coordinate the work between the European manufacturer, technical consultant and local partner from the outset, avoiding Brazilian verification to highlight non-compliance when the machine is already installed.
ABNT NBR rules and related regulations
In addition to the NR-12, ABNT NBR and other Normas Regulamentadoras can be relevant technical standards, in particular for electrical, ergonomic, informative or related to specific installation conditions. ABNT NBR standards often incorporate or rely on ISO/IEC standards, but must be evaluated in their local version and application.
How to prepare a car for Brazil
- Check the intended use and installation context in Brazil.
- Execute a gap analysis compared to NR-12 and applicable ABNT NBR standards.
- Check guards, interlocks, distances, stops, signals and user access.
- Update instructions for use, schematics, instructions, pictograms and technical documentation.
- Coordinate any local inspection with professional enabled in Brazil.
- Close non-compliance before shipment, when changes are simpler and less expensive.
- How Waves Engineering supports your export to Brazil
- Waves Engineering supports manufacturers in the technical preparation of machines for Brazil. We can perform a preliminary verification in Italy, analyze the applicable NR-12 requirements, prepare a non-conformity list, propose technical solutions and coordinate the documentation necessary for the inspection phase.
- The aim is to avoid blocks, delays, improvised changes and costs not foreseen at the destination plant.
FAQ
CE marking is enough to export to Brazil?
No. The CE marking is useful as a technical basis, but Brazil requires verification of local requirements such as NR-12, ABNT NBR standards and other applicable regulatory standards.
What is ART in Brazil?
ART, Anotação de responsabilidade Técnica, is the document that records the technical responsibility of a qualified professional for a specific activity.
Is it worth checking in Italy or Brazil?
It is advisable to make a preliminary check in Italy. Any changes are much simpler and less expensive before shipment.
