Research and analysis

3D printing of spare parts for consumer domestic appliances: safety and legal implications

An assessment of the safety and legal issues relating to the manufacture, sale and installation of 3D printed spare parts made by unauthorised manufacturers for use in consumer domestic appliances.

From:
Department for Business and Trade, Office for Product Safety and Standards, and Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy
Published
2 October 2020

Documents

3D printing of spare parts for consumer appliances

Ref: BEIS Research Paper Number 2020/039

PDF, 2.1 MB, 96 pages

Details

The report:

  • explains the technical safety issues arising in the design, manufacture and use of 3D printed spare parts made by unauthorised manufacturers, through a combination of literature review, and stakeholder interviews across the supply chain
  • identifies the regulatory requirements and legal responsibilities and liabilities of relevant stakeholders at key junctures of the supply chain when unauthorised 3D printed spare parts are used
  • sets out case studies to illustrate how legal and technical safety issues may present by the use of unauthorised 3D printed parts in consumer appliances
Published 2 October 2020

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