FGR - in brief

FGR - in brief

The German industry group for forest, lawn and garden machinery (FGR) within Industrieverband Garten (IVG) represents the national technical interests of the manufacturers of lawn and gardening equipment for use around the house as well as of portable forestry machinery / chain saws / trimmer and hand-held garden tools in the field of standardization, technical law and legislation.

As for the representation of the economic-political interests the manufacturers are mostly members of Industrieverband Garten (IVG) and its divisions lawnmower, gardening tools and partly garden equipment.

Through FGR working on technical tasks the manufacturers nationally cooperate with NAEBM within DIN, here the Normengruppe Garten- und Rasenpflegegeräte (NGR), as well as with the neighbouring bodies on standardization for mechanical engineering (NLA within NAM) and electrical engineering (DKE).

On European level cooperation is done with CEN (European Committee for Standardization), CENELEC (European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization) and with regard to the international level with ISO (International Standard Organisation) and IEC (International Electrotechnical Committee).

The European representation of FGR-interests is effected by its membership of the European top association EGMF (European Garden Machinery industry Federation). EGMF lobbies on the scene in Brussels.

At present FGR mainly works on the following items:

• EU-noise directive for outdoor equipment, here noise levels stage II for lawnmowers and lawntrimmers
• EU-directive on RoHS, implementation by manufacturers
• Emissions from combustion powered engines up to 19 kW
• alignment of European and international safety requirements for lawnmowers (EN 836 und ISO 5395)
• revision of standards for chain-saws for tree-service, brush cutters
• development of prEN 15503 "leafblowers"
• amendment on EN 13683 "shredders"