This European Standard deals with the technical requirements to minimise the risks of hazards listed in Clause 4 which can arise during the operation and/or maintenance of double acting hydraulic rescue tool systems, when carried out as intended by the manufacturer or his authorised representative. All the safety requirements of this standard apply to double acting hydraulic rescue tools manufactured after the date of publication. Double acting hydraulic rescue tool systems are intended for use by the fire fighting and rescue services, principally for cutting through, spreading or pushing apart the structural parts of road vehicles, ships, trains, aircraft's and building structures involved in accidents. They consist, as defined in Clause 3 of a separate power pack, the tool[s] and the necessary interconnections and intended accessories. NOTE 1 The aim is to assist whilst extracting the casualties or to create a working space for paramedical services taking the local conditions into account. This European Standard does not establish the additional requirements for: a) operation in severe conditions (e.g. extreme environmental conditions such as: temperatures outside the range -20 °C +55 °C, corrosive environment, tropical environment, contaminating environments, strong magnetic fields, potentially explosive atmospheres); b) the risk directly arising from the means provided for the portability, transportability and mobility of double-acting hydraulic rescue tools during periods of their operation. NOTE 2 For the EU/EEA other Directives can be applicable to the equipment in the scope, for example the Electro Magnetic Compatibility Directive.