Technical standards for low voltage electrical equipment
The placing on the European Union (EU) market of low-voltage electrical equipment is subject to the compliance with mandatory essential requirements established by Directive 73/23/EEC (OJ L-77 26/03/1973) in order to ensure the safety of persons, domestic animals or property.
Product scope
The Directive covers electrical equipment (including some components intended for incorporation into other equipment) designed for the use with a voltage rating:
· between 50 and 1000 V for alternating current;
· between 75 and 1500 V for direct current.
In particular, products such as electrical appliances, lighting equipment, electric wiring, appliance couplers and cord sets, or electrical installation equipment, are covered by the Directive.
Equipment outside the scope of the Directive is listed in Annex II to the Directive.
Essential requirements
The essential safety requirements, which are laid down in Annex I to the Directive, protect against risks arising from the use of the electrical equipment and risks which may be caused by external influences on the electrical equipment, including not just electrical ones but also mechanical, chemical and any other risk (noise, vibrations…).
Harmonised standards
The technical specifications to meet the essential requirements are not described in the Directive. However, products are presumed to conform to the essential safety requirements where they have been manufactured in accordance with:
- The harmonised standards drawn up by the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardisation (CENELEC) on the basis of the essential requirements set in the Directive; or
- In the absence of harmonised standards, international rules issued by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).
The manufacturer may construct the product without applying harmonised or international standards but, in such a case, the product will not benefit from presumption of conformity and the manufacturer must include in the technical documentation a description of the solutions adopted to meet the essential safety requirements.
Conformity assessment
Before a product is placed on the EU market, the manufacturer must ensure and declare conformity of the electrical equipment with the provisions of the Directive in order to affix the CE marking.
The manufacturer must affix the CE marking to each product and draw up a written declaration of conformity. Annex IIIb describes the content of the declaration of conformity.
The manufacturer must compile the technical documentation (covering the design, manufacture and operation of the product) which enables to assess whether the electrical equipment complies with the requirements of the Directive. This documentation, together with a copy of the declaration of conformity, must be kept at the disposal of the competent national authorities for inspection purposes for a period of 10 years from the date of manufacture of the product. The contents of this documentation are detailed in Annex IV.
Where neither the manufacturer nor his authorised representative are established within the EU, the importer or the person first placing the product on the EU market is responsible for ensuring the technical documentation.
In case of low-voltage electrical equipment, there is no third party intervention in the conformity assessment procedure. However, a third party (notified body) may provide reports in response to a challenge by a market surveillance authority of the Member State as to the conformity of the equipment. This report is considered an element of proof.
Notified bodies are organisations designated by each Member State and notified to the Commission and the other Member States, that are in charge of assesing manufaturer's conformity to the esssential requirements when a third party is required.
CE Marking
All electrical equipment marketed in the EU must be provided with a CE conformity marking, as depicted in Annex III to the Directive, which symbolises the conformity of the equipment with the essential requirements. It shall be affixed on the product, on the packaging, the instructions for use or the guarantee in a visible, easily legible and indelible way.
The Directive provides for procedures and sanctions established by the Member States for cases where the CE mark has been affixed unduly.
Market surveillance
Each Member State establishes authorities to be responsible for checking that products placed on the market meet the requirements of the applicable directives and that the affixing and use of the CE marking is correct.
Market surveillance can be done by testing products, checking administrative and technical documentation and visiting factories.
Products complying with the Directive enjoy free circulation within the EU. However, in case a Member State finds that the CE Marking has been affixed unduly, the manufacturer or his authorised representative established within the EU must make the product conform to the essential safety requirements. Otherwise, the Member State must restrict or forbid the placing on the market of this product, or even remove it from the market.
According to Regulation 339/93 (OJ L-040 17/02/1993), Member States' customs authorities shall also control the conformity of the product at the points of entry into the EU.
Legislation
· Council Directive 73/23/EEC of 19 February 1973 on the harmonisation of the laws of Member States relating to electrical equipment designed for use within certain voltage limits (OJ L-77 26/03/1973)
· Council Regulation (EEC) 339/1993 of 8 February 1993 on checks for conformity with the rules on product safety in the case of products imported from third countries (OJ L-40 17/02/1993)
Other information sources
European Commission - DG Enterprise and Industry, Guidelines on the application of the Directive 73/23/EEC and recommendations:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/electr_equipment/lv/guides/index.htm
LVD Notified Bodies under Directive 73/23/EEC - http://export-help.cec.eu.int/update/requirements/ehir_gr06_01v001/gr/auxi/nb_stdlovol.pdf
Additional information for Austria
Competent authority / competent bodies
Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Arbeit - BMWA (Federal Ministry of Economy and Employment)
Abteilung I - Unternehmen (Department I - Enterprises)
Dampfschiffstraße 4
AT-1030 Wien
Tel: (+43) 1 71 100 8213
Fax: (+43) 1 71 435 82
E-mail:
Website: http://www.bmwa.gv.at
Standardisation body
Österreichisches Normungsinstitut - ON (Austrian Standards Institute)
Heinestraße 38
AT-1020 Wien
Tel: (+43) 1 213 00 0
Fax: (+43) 1 213 00 818
E-mail:
Website: http://www.on-norm.at
Notified bodies
List of notified bodies.
Legislation
· Elektrotechnikgesetz - ETG 1992, BGBl. Nr. 106/1993 (1993-02-12) - Law on Electrical Engineering
· Niederspannungsgeräteverordnung - NspGV 1995,- BGBl. Nr. 51/1995 - Order on Low Voltage Electrical Equipment
· Niederspannugsgerateverordnung 1993 - NspGV 1993, BGBl. Nr. 44/1993 (1994-01-20) Order on Low Voltage Electrical Equipment
Additional information for Belgium
Competent authority / competent bodies
Standardisation body
Competent body for homologation and registration of standards
Institut Belge de Normalisation - IBN (Belgian Institute for Standardisation)
Brabançonnelaan / Avenue de la Brabançonne 29
B-1000 Brussel / Bruxelles
Tel: (+32) 2 738 01 11 / (+32) 2 738 01 12
Fax: (+32) 2 733 42 64
E-mail:
Website: http://www.ibn.be/
Competent body for standardisation in the field of electricity
Comité Electrotechnique Belge - CEB (Belgian Electrotechnical Committee)
August Reyerslaan 80 / Boulevard Auguste Reyers 80
B-1030 Brussel / Bruxelles
Tel: (+32) 2 706 85 70
Fax: (+32) 2 706 85 80
E-mail:
Website: http://www.bec-ceb.be/
Notified bodies
· AIB-Vincotte International
Elektrisch Proeflaboratorium — Laboratoire d'essais électriques
Diamant Building
Boulevard Reyers 80
B-1030 Bruxelles
Website: http://www.aib-vincotte.com
· Alcatel Bell S.A.
Berkenrodelei 33
B-2660 Hoboken
Website: http://www.alcatel.be
· CEBEC
Fr. Van Kalkenlaan / Avenue F. Van Kalken, 9A
B-1070 Brussel / Bruxelles
Website: http://www.cebec.sgs.com
· ISSeP
Zetel van Colfontaine / Siège de Colfontaine
Zoning A Schweitzer
Rue de la Platerinerie
B-7340 Colfontain
Website: http://www.issep.be
· LABORELEC
Centraal Laboratorium voor Elektriciteit (CIE) – Laboratoire Central d'Electricité (LCE)
Rodestraat / Rue de Rhode, 125
B-1630 Linkebeek
Website: http://www.laborelec.com
· NVBB VZW – ANPI ASBL
Parc Scientifique
B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve
Website; http://www.infire.org
Market surveillance authority
Service Public Fédéral Economie, PME, Classes Moyennes & Energie (Federal Public Service for the Economy, SME, Middle Class and Energy)
Direction Générale de l'Energie (Directorate-General for Energy)
3me Division: Gaz – Electricité (3d Division: Gas - Electricity)
North Gate III
Koning Albert II-laan / Boulevard du Roi Albert II, 7
B-1000 Brussel / Bruxelles
Tel: (+32) 2 277 45 23/ (+32) 2 206 41 11/ (+32) 2 277 62 28
Fax: (+32) 2 206 5731 / (+32) 2 206 5732
E-mail:
Website: http://www.mineco.fgov.be/
Legislation
Arrêté royal of 23/03/1977 on the placing of the market of electrical equipment (MB of 31/03/1977)
Additional information for Cyprus
Competent authority / competent bodies
Ypourgeio Sygkoinonion kai Ergon (Ministry of Communications and Works)
Tmima Ilektromichanologikon Ypiresion (Department of Electrical and Mechanical Services)
P.O. Box 21426
CY-1722 Nicosia
Tel: (+357) 22 800 288
Fax: (+357) 22 776 266
E-mail: /
Website: http://www.mcw.gov.cy
Standardisation body
Kypriakos Organismos Typopoiisis (Cyprus Organisation for Standardisation)
Corner of Leoforos Lemesou and Kosta Anaxagora 30
CY-2014 Nicosia
Tel: (+357) 22 411 411
Fax: (+357) 22 411 511
E-mail:
Website: http://www.cys.org.cy
Legislation
Regulation 313/2003, on technical standards for low voltage electrical equipment (EE 18/04/2003)
Additional information for Denmark
Competent authority / competent bodies
Økonomi- og Erhvervsministeriet (Ministry of Economic and Business Affairs)
Sikkerhedsstyrelsen (Danish Safety Technology Authority)
Nørregade 63
DK-6700 Esbjerg
Tel: (+45) 33 73 20 00
Fax: (+45) 33 73 20 99
E-mail:
Website: http://www.sik.dk
Standardisation body
Dansk Standard (Danish Standards Association)
Kollegievej 6
DK-2920 Charlottenlund
Tel: (+45) 3996 6101
Fax: (+45) 3996 6102
E-mail:
Website: http://www.ds.dk
Notified bodies
List of notified bodies.
Legislation
· BEK nr 797 of 30/08/1994. Order on the implementation of the EU Directive on the adaptation of the member states' legislation on electrical material intended for the application within certain voltage limits and its amendments
· BEK nr 561 of 24/06/1994. Order on technical appliances
Additional information for Estonia
Competent authority / competent bodies
· Eesti Majandus- ja Kommunikatsiooniministeerium (Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications)
Siseturuosakond (Internal Market Department)
Kvaliteedi infrastruktuuri talitus (Quality Infrastructure Division)
Harju tn. 11
EE-15072 Tallinn
Tel: (+372) 625 6342
Fax: (+372) 631 3660
E-mail:
Website: http://www.mkm.ee
· Tehnilise Järelevalve Inspektisioon (Technical Inspectorate)
Aru 10
EE-10317 Tallinn
Tel: (+372) 694 9412 / 694 9425/ 694 9426
Fax: (+372) 694 9410
E-mail:
Website: http://www.tji.ee
Standardisation body
Eesti Standardikeskus MTÜ (Estonian Centre for Standardisation)
Aru 10
EE-10317 Tallinn
Tel: (+372) 6055 050
Fax: (+372) 6055 070
E-mail:
Website: http://www.evs.ee
Notified bodies
List of notified bodies.
Legislation
· Toote nõuetele vastavuse tõendamise seadus - Product Conformity Act of 17/11/1999 (RT I 1999, 92, 825)
· Elektriohutusseadus - Electrical Safety Act of 22/05/2002 (RT I 2002, 49, 310)
· Nõuded elektriseadmele ja -paigaldisele, nende elektromagnetilisele ühilduvusele ning nõuetele vastavuse hindamise ja tõendamise kord ja märgistuse ja teabega varustamisele - Requirements for Electrical Equipment and Installations and for Electromagnetic Compatibility of 28/06/2002 (RTL 2002, 76, 1171)
Additional information for Finland
Competent authority / competent bodies
· Kauppa- ja Teollisuusministeriö (Ministry of Trade and Industry)
Teknologiaosasto (Technology Department)
Laatupolitiikan ja teknisen turvallisuuden ryhmä (Division for Quality Policy, Safety Technology Standardisation and Safety Research)
P.O.Box 32
FI-Government 00023
Tel: (+358) 9 16001 / 9 1606 3513
Fax: (+358) 9 1606 3449
E-mail:
Website: http://www.ktm.fi
· Turvateknikan Keskus - TUKES (Safety Technology Authority)
P.O. Box 123 (Lönnrotinkatu 37)
FI-00181 Helsinki
Tel: (+358) 10 6052 000
Fax: (+358) 9 605 474
E-mail:
Website: http://www.tukes.fi
Standardisation body
Suomen Standardisoimisliitto - SFS (Finnish Standards Association)
P.O.Box 116
FI-Helsinki 00241
Tel: (+358) 9 149 9331
Fax: (+358) 9 146 4925
E-mail:
Website: http://www.sfs.fi
Notified bodies
List of notified bodies.
Legislation
Kauppa- ja Teollisuusministeriön päätös sähkölaitteiden turvallisuudesta. Decision of the Ministry of Trade and Industry on the Safety and Electromagnetic Compatibility of Electrical Appliances of 30 December 1993, (Suomen säädöskokoelma 1993/1694)
Additional information for France
Competent authority / competent bodies
Standardisation body
Union Technique de l'Electricité - UTE (Technical Union for Electricity)
Bureau de normalisation auprès de l'AFNOR (Bureau for Standardisation before AFNOR)
Tour Chantecoq
5, rue Chantecoq
F-92808 Puteaux Cedex
Tel: (+33) 1 49 07 62 00
Fax: (+33) 1 44 78 73 51
E-mail:
Website: http://www.ute-fr.com/
Notified bodies
· Union Technique de l'Electricité (UTE)
Tour Chantecoq
5, rue Chantecoq
F-92808 Puteaux Cedex
Tel: (+33) 1 49 07 62 00
Fax: (+33) 1 44 78 73 51
E-mail:
Website: http://www.ute-fr.com/
· ACTS
Les Peupliers
17 rue du Vertuquet
F-59960 Neuville en Ferrain
· CETE-APAVE LYONNAISE
177, route de Sain-Bel - B.P. 3
F-69811 Tassin cedex
Tel: (+33) 4 72 32 52 52
Fax: (+33) 4 72 32 52 00
· Emitech
3, rue des Coudriers
Z. A de l´Observatoire
F-78180 Montigny le Bretonneux
· Emitech Atlantique
15 rue de la Claie
Z I Angers- Beaucouzé
F-49070 Beaucouzé
· Laboratoire Central des Industries Électriques (LCIE)
33, avenue du Général Leclerc - BP 8
F-92266 Fontenay-aux-Roses Cedex
· Laboratoire National d´Essais (LNE)
1, rue Gaston Boissier
F-75724 Paris Cedex 15
· Laboratoires Pourquery
93 Boulevard du Parc d'Artillerie
F-69354 Lyon Cedex 07
Tel: (+33) 4 78 61 21 16
Fax: (+33) 4 78 61 01 90
· SMEE Actions Mesures
Z.I. des Blanchisseries
F-38500 Voiron
Tel: (+33) 4 76 65 76 50
Fax: (+33) 4 76 66 18 30
Website: http://www.smee.fr
Market surveillance authority
Ministère de l'Économie, des Finances et de l'Industrie (Ministry of Economy, Finance and Industry)
Direction Générale de la Consommation, de la Concurrence et de la Répression des Fraudes - DGCCRF (Directorate-General of Consumer Affairs, Competition and Anti-Fraud)
59 Boulevard Vincent Auriol
F-75703 Paris Cedex 13
Tel: (+33) 1 44 87 17 17
Fax: (+33) 1 44 97 30 40
Website: http://www.minefi.gouv.fr/DGCCRF/index.html
Legislation
· Décret No. 95-1081 of 03/10/1995 on the safe use of electric materials working within certain output limits (JO of 07/10/1995)
Additional information for Germany
Competent authority / competent bodies
Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Technologie - BMWI (Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology)
Scharnhorststr. 34-37
DE-10115 Berlin
Tel: (+49) 30 2014 9
Fax: (+49) 30 2014 7010
E-mail:
Website: http://www.bmwi.de