CE Certification - Low Voltage

CE Certification home - Machinery - Low Voltage - Pressure Equipment - ATEX - Technical Files

The Low Voltage Directive (72/23/EEC) is one of the oldest Directives dealing with machinery or work equipment and has been implemented into all of the Member States national laws in its entirety.

It must be borne into mind that the requirements of this Directive are the minimum requirements that Member States must implement. In some Member Stares the implemented national laws have raised the threshold and require even higher standards, therefore machinery designers and manufacturers would be well advised to seek what minimum standards exist in a particular member state that the machinery is intended for.

Electrical supply bodies, within Member States, cannot impose stricter safety requirements than those laid down in Article 2 of the Directive.

Essentially, the Directive relates to any electrical equipment designed for use between 50-1000 vac and 75-1500 vdc and requires that Member States make laws to ensure that electrical equipment, within these voltage ranges, constructed in accordance with good engineering practice in safety matters in force the Community do not endanger the safety of persons, domestic animals or property when properly installed and maintained and used in the applications for which it was made.

Annex II of the Directive lists equipment and phenomena outside the scope of the Directive, i.e.

· Electrical equipment for use in an explosive atmosphere
· Electrical equipment for radiology and medical purposes
· Electrical parts for goods and passenger lifts
· Electricity meters
· Plugs and socket outlets for domestic use
· Electric fence controllers
· Radio electrical interference
· Specialised electrical equipment for use on ships, aircraft or railways, which complies with the safety provisions of international bodies in which the Member States participate .

Although exempt from the Low Voltage Directives, each of the above must comply with a Directive specifically aimed at their particular areas.

Like other Directives relating to work equipment, there is a presumption of compliance that electrical equipment meets the requirements of the Low Voltage Directive provided that it: -
* Has the CE mark affixed, and
* Is accompanied by a Declaration of Conformity

Engineers, designers, procurers of electrical equipment must ensure that the equipment is accompanied by such documentation otherwise compliance could be an issue.

CE Certification home - Machinery - Low Voltage - Pressure Equipment - ATEX - Technical Files

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