 Low Voltage (LV) Assessments
The LV Directive?
|
- The LV Directive 73/23/EEC, amended by 93/68/EEC.
- Great Britain: The Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994 (SI 1994 3260)
- Compliance with directive has been mandatory since 1997
|
What is Defined as "Low Voltage"?
The Low Voltage Directive applies to all electrical equipment (except specific exclusions)
designed or adapted to use between:
|
- 50 and 1,000 volts AC
- 75 and 1,500 volts DC
|
Note: It is not just connection voltage, example- A 12V DC fluorescent lamp fitted with
an internal transformer/ inverter that steps up the 12V DC to approximately 200V AC comes
under the regulations.
Components in general are not covered unless they themselves are classed as "electrical
equipment". For example, a 0.25W carbon film resistor is not covered by the LVD
but an electrical filter is.
 Overview of
the LVD
The LVD specifies that the member states of the European Communities shall take all
appropriate measures to ensure that only such electrical equipment may be put on the
market that does neither endanger the safety of people nor that of domestic animals or
property. This is assumed to be given if:
|
- The equipment has been constructed in accordance with
good engineering
practice in safety matters
- The equipment has been properly installed and maintained
- The equipment is used for the purpose the equipment was made for
|
According to the directive 93/68/EEC, the manufacturer or his authorised representative
within the EU draws up the Declaration of Conformity and affixes the CE marking on the
product to show conformity with the LVD and its requirements. From the time the product is
put on the market, the manufacturer keeps Technical Documentation at the disposal of the
relevant authorities for inspection purposes. The report is kept for a period of ten years
after the product was put on the market.
What Equipment is covered by the Directive?
Broadly, it covers consumer goods and equipment designed to operate within those voltage
limits, including domestic electrical appliances, hand tools, lighting equipment, electric
wiring, cables and piping, and installation equipment. It covers all safety aspects of
this equipment, including protection from hazards of mechanical origin.
Exclusions to the LVD:
|
- Equipment for use in an explosive atmosphere.
- Equipment for radiology and medical purposes.
- Parts for goods lifts and passenger lifts.
- Electricity supply meters.
- Plugs and socket outlets for domestic use.
- Fence controllers.
- Specialised electrical equipment for use on ships, aircraft or railways, which complies
with the safety provisions drawn up by international bodies in which the Member States
participate.
- Electrical equipment supplied for export to a country who is not a Member of the
European Union or who is not a Contracting Party to the EEA Agreement.
|
What are the Requirements?
All electrical equipment must:
|
- Be safe.
- Be constructed with principles constituting good engineering practice in relation to
safety.
- Be safe when connected to the electricity supply by providing protection against
electric shock using a combination of insulation and the protective earthling conductor
contained within the electrical supply system.
- Achieve the same level of safety by other means.
- Be designed and constructed to conform to the principle safety objectives.
|
 How To
Comply.
Design and build the equipment to the nearest applicable standards, the order of
preference being as follows:
|
- EN Standards
- International Standards (where no EN exists), e.g. IEC, ISO
- National Standards (where no EN or International exists), e.g. BS, DIN
|
Where there are no applicable standards:
|
- The equipment must comply with the safety requirements
by an assessment from a independent party (in particular a Notified Body)
- The supplier will have to show by documentary evidence how compliance has been achieved
(check list)
|
Contents of the Technical Documentation:
The technical documentation must contain details of the design, manufacture and operation
of the electrical equipment in so far as these details are needed to assess the conformity
of the electrical equipment with the requirements of the directive. Accordingly, it
contains:
|
- A general description of the product.
- Design and manufacture drawings plus diagrams of components, sub-assemblies, circuits
etc.
- Descriptions and explanations needed to understand the above mentioned drawings and
diagrams plus the operation of the electrical equipment.
- A list of the standards used, in full or in part, and a description of the solutions
employed to meet the safety aspects of this directive when standards have not been
applied.
- The results of design calculations and of checks carried out, etc.
- Test reports (in fact, the test reports which may be available, either established by
the manufacturer or a third party).
|
Who must keep the technical documentation and where?
The manufacturer or his authorised representative established in the Community must keep
this documentation at the disposal of the national Authorities for inspection purposes for
at least ten years from the last date of manufacture of the product. The technical
documentation may be kept on electronic support provided that it is easily accessible for
inspection. Where the manufacturer is not established in the Community and he has no
authorised representative in the Community, this obligation is incumbent upon the importer
or the person responsible for placing the product on the Community market.
Created By Brett Walton
For more information about how Wemtech can help, please contact Mike Foster on 01527
595066.
|
|
