Low Voltage Directive: over 25 years of experience

Our team of experts has over 25 years of experience and can help you implement the Low Voltage Directive. Let our dedicated team of experts handle the CE marking process with regard to the Low Voltage Directive.

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Low Voltage Directive: Full Service Compliance Partner

The Low Voltage Directive 2006/95/EC has been replaced by the Low Voltage Directive 2014/35/EU (LVD). The LVD ensures that electrical equipment within certain voltage limits provides a high level of protection for European citizens. The Low Voltage Directive covers health and safety risks on electrical equipment, operating with an input or output voltage of:

  • Between 50 and 1000 V for alternating current
  • Between 75 and 1500 V for direct current

It applies to a wide range of electrical equipment for both consumer and professional usage, such as:

  • Household appliances
  • Cables
  • Power supply units
  • Laser equipment
  • Certain components, e.g. fuses

To enter the European market, distributors, manufacturers and importers must prove the conformity of their product according to the Low Voltage Directive 2014/35/EU, previously Low Voltage Directive 2006/95/EC. This can be challenging due to the complex regulations and requirements.Our team of experts can help you achieve compliance with the EU Low Voltage Directive requirements, ensuring  that your company meets the necessary standards and that your products and equipment are in conformity with the rules

What is the Low Voltage Directive?

The 2014/35/EU Low Voltage Directive shall apply to electrical equipment designed for use with a voltage rating of between 50 and 1000 volts for alternating current and between 75 and 1500 volts for direct current. These voltage ratings refer to the voltage of the electrical input or output, not to voltages that appear inside the equipment. Examples of electrical equipment that falls within the scope of the Directive:

  • Multiple travel adaptors
  • Voltage detectors
  • Transformer

Equipment and phenomena that fall outside this scope are listed in Annex II of the Low Voltage Directive.

The definition of electrical equipment is not defined in the Directive. The guidelines of the Low Voltage Directive refer to the definition which is given by the IEC (International Electrical Commission). They define electrical equipment as an item used for such purposes as generation, conversion, transmission, distribution or utilisation of electrical energy, such as machines, transformers, switchgear and controlgear, measuring instruments, protective devices, wiring material, current-using equipment.

Ensuring compliance with the Low Voltage Directive (LVD) for electrical and electronic products involves several challenges, such as:

  • Interpreting complex regulations
  • Accurately classifying products
  • Creating extensive technical documentation 
  • Conducting safety testing
  • Staying updated with evolving standards
  • Applying harmonised standards correctly
  • Assessing electrical hazards 
  • Ensuring user instructions and labelling compliance 
  • Addressing variations in member state regulations 
  • Handling multilingual documentation 
  • Understanding the roles of economic operators 
  • Meeting ongoing compliance requirements 

The conformity assessment procedure that needs to be followed according to the Directive is the internal production control. This conformity assessment procedure entails that the manufacturer needs to fulfil obligations given to the technical documentation (see below). The manufacturer also needs to take all the necessary measures so that the manufacturing process and its monitoring ensure compliance of the manufactured electrical equipment with the technical documentation and the low voltage directive requirements. The manufacturer shall take care of the CE marking low voltage directive, the EU declaration of conformity, and ensures and declares on his sole responsibility that the electrical equipment concerned satisfies with the safety objectives of the Directive.
Obtaining expert guidance and assistance is essential to successfully navigate these challenges and attain compliance with the Low Voltage Directive (LVD). Certification Experts serves as your comprehensive compliance partner, assisting with every facet of LVD compliance to ensure your products meet the necessary requirements.

Low Voltage Directive guide

The term “Low Voltage Directive Guide” typically refers to a collection of resources and information related to the EU Low Voltage Directive (LVD). These resources may include Low Voltage Directive harmonised standards, guidance documents, compliance procedures, technical documentation requirements, information on CE marking, Declarations of Conformity, safety measures and guidance on market access. 

Securing expert guidance and support is crucial for interpreting resources and information, as well as achieving compliance with the Low Voltage Directive (LVD). That’s why Certification Experts relies on the Low Voltage Directive Guide to guarantee that your electrical and electronic products meet the safety and regulatory standards set forth in the LVD when they are introduced to the EU market.

What are Low Voltage Directive harmonised standards?

The  Low Voltage Directive harmonised standards are standards that have been prepared by the European Standards Organisations (ESOs). Standards are published by the International Standardization Bodies such as CENELEC, CEB ISO, ETSI and/or IEC. All harmonised standards are designated as so by CENELEC, CEN or ETSI and then published in the Official Journal of the EU. Some examples of standards are:

  • EN 60950-1 Safety of Information Processing Equipment
  • EN 60601-1 Safety of (electro) medical equipment Standard
  • EN 61010  Safety of Laboratory Industrial control and Test Equipment
  • EN 60335  Household equipment and Tools
  • EN 60204-1 Low Voltage Directive

These Low Voltage Directive harmonised standards provide presumption of conformity to products compliant with such European standards.

Achieving compliance with the Low Voltage Directive harmonised standards entails a series of steps and considerations to ensure that electrical and electronic products adhere to the safety requirements established by the directive:

  • Identify and implement the appropriate harmonised standards
  • Perform a comprehensive risk assessment to address electrical hazards effectively
  • Conduct product testing in accordance with the designated standards and safety protocols

Certification Experts can provide support in identifying, conducting risk assessments, and performing tests to ensure your products align with the required safety and regulatory standards.

Technical Documentation: 2014/35/EU Low Voltage Directive

The technical documentation will specify the applicable requirements and, as far as relevant for the assessment, cover the design, manufacture and operation of the electrical equipment. The technical documentation shall, where applicable, at least contain these following elements:

  • A general description of the electrical equipment;
  • Conceptual design and manufacturing drawings and schemes of components, sub-assemblies, circuits, etc.;
  • Descriptions and explanations necessary for the understanding of those drawings and schemes and the operation of the electrical equipment;
  • A list of the applied Low Voltage Directive harmonised standards (full or partly) to the European Union or international or national standards;
  • A list of the harmonised standards or international or national standards that have not been applied;
  • In the event of partly applied harmonised standards or international or national standards, the technical documentation shall specify the parts which have been applied;
  • Descriptions of the solutions adopted to meet the safety objectives of the Low Voltage Directive, including a list of other relevant technical specifications applied;
  • Results of design calculations made, examinations carried out, etc.;
  • Test reports.

Safety objectives: CE marking Low Voltage Directive

In the European Union, electrical equipment must be constructed in accordance with good engineering practice in safety manners in force. Additionally, electrical equipment must not endanger the health and safety of persons/domestic animals or property and it must be properly installed and maintained and used in applications for which it was made.

In addition, the principal elements of the safety objectives must also be met. These safety objectives are:

This includes that the equipment can be used safely and for the purpose it was made. Furthermore, the equipment should be manufactured in a way where it can be assembled and connected safely and properly. Lastly, the equipment must be so designed and manufactured to ensure protection against the above mentioned hazards, providing that the equipment is used for which it is made and is adequately maintained
  • This includes that persons and domestic animals are adequately protected against the danger of physical injury or other harm which might be caused by direct or indirect contact. This includes that temperatures, arcs or radiation which could cause a danger, are not produced. Furthermore, persons, domestic animals and property are adequately protected against non-electrical dangers caused by the electrical equipment which are revealed by experience. Lastly, the insulation must be suitable for foreseeable conditions.
  • This includes that the electrical equipment meets the expected mechanical requirements in such a way that persons, domestic animals and property are not endangered. The electrical equipment must also be resistant to non-mechanical influences in expected environmental conditions, in such a way that persons, domestic animals and property are not endangered. Lastly, the electrical equipment must not endanger persons, domestic animals and property in foreseeable conditions of overload.

What does Certification Experts offer?

Certification Experts carries the knowledge and capability to effectively guide and support you in navigating all aspects related to Low Voltage, ensuring compliance with the 2014/35/EU Low Voltage Directive (LVD). If you need further details regarding the Low Voltage Directive 2006/95/EC and/or 2014/35/EU, or if you seek advice concerning your product, you can reach out to one of our specialists by completing our contact form, sending an email, or making a phone call. We are delighted to offer a free quotation for our Low Voltage Directive-related services.

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frequently asked questions

All the answers you might need!

The Low Voltage Directive applies to most items of electrical equipment, including:

  • Cables & cable management systems
  • Fuses
  • Household appliances
  • Laser equipment
  • Plugs and plug outlets
  • Pole voltage detectors
  • Power supply units
  • Switches

    OSHA considers all voltages of 50 volts or above to be hazardous.

    The Low Voltage Directive (LVD) (2014/35/EU) ensures that all electrical equipment within a certain voltage limit provides a high level of protection for European citizens. This is because there is a prerequisite for electrical products to be able to enter the European market is that distributors, manufacturers and importers must prove the conformity of their product according to the Low Voltage Directive 2014/35/EU.

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    It was a pleasure to work with Certification Experts. After reviewing our documentation, they gave us structured feedback and showed us how to proceed in order to be in compliance with European directives.

    Full-service product compliance

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