Right to repair is no longer just a consumer advocacy issue. It is law in the European Union, advancing in Australia, and enacted in a growing number of US states. If you are designing a product that you intend to sell in these markets over the next five or ten years, designing for repairability is not optional: it is part of product compliance.
What the Laws Require
The EU right to repair directive (2024) requires manufacturers of covered product categories to: make spare parts available for a defined period after a product goes on sale, provide repair and maintenance information to consumers and independent repairers, make diagnostic tools available, and not use software or design measures specifically intended to prevent repair.
Australian legislation is evolving but moving in a similar direction, particularly for electronics and agricultural equipment. US state laws vary but cover similar themes.
The covered product categories vary by jurisdiction and are expanding over time. If your product is in a covered category or likely to be, design for repairability now rather than after legislation catches up.
Practical Design Decisions for Repairability
- Use standard fasteners: Phillips, Torx, or hex rather than proprietary or tamper-evident screws that prevent access
- Design for accessibility: components that need replacement should be reachable without destroying the product
- Identify and design wear components: batteries, seals, motors, and other wear items should be designed as replaceable modules
- Avoid irreversible adhesives: where bonding is needed, use reversible methods where possible
- Plan a spare parts supply chain: how will replacement parts be made available after initial production?
- Document for repair: assembly and disassembly sequences that can be provided to repairers
Designing for Repairability Does Not Mean Compromising on Quality
A common misconception is that designing for repairability means making products that are easier to take apart illegitimately. In practice, designing for repair typically means better-engineered products: cleaner assemblies, better component organisation, and more thoughtful use of materials. These are characteristics of good design regardless of right to repair requirements.
Pro-Dev designs with right to repair in mind as part of our standard design process. If repairability requirements are important for your product or your target market, raise it at the start of the project.
