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Electrical equipment designed for use within certain voltage limits

The rules relating to low-voltage electrical equipment in the Member States often differ, thus impeding the free movement of this of equipment. This Directive therefore aims at further harmonisation of the safety requirements with which this equipment must comply in order to move freely in the internal market.

Directive 2006/95/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 2006 on the harmonisation of the laws of Member States relating to electrical equipment designed for use within certain voltage limits (codified version) (Text with EEA relevance).

This Directive aims at ensuring that electrical equipment may be placed on the market only if it does not, when installed and maintained, endanger the safety of persons, domestic animals or property, and at promoting the free movement of this equipment in the European Union.

Scope

This Directive applies 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.

It does not apply to:

  • electrical equipment for use in an explosive atmosphere;
  • 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;
  • electrical equipment for use on ships, aircraft or railways;
  • electrical equipment intended for export to third countries.

Safety objectives

Electrical equipment may be placed on the market if it complies with the safety objectives laid down in Annex I to this Directive concerning:

  • general safety conditions applying to equipment;
  • hazards arising from electrical equipment;
  • hazards caused by external influences on electrical equipment.

The free movement of electrical equipment must not be hindered if it meets the safety objectives defined in the Directive. Manufacturers may choose how they comply with safety objectives.

Presumption of conformity

Electrical equipment which complies with the provisions of the harmonised standards should be subject to a presumption of conformity with the safety objectives established by this Directive and be able to move freely.

Standards shall be regarded as harmonised if they are drawn up by common agreement between the bodies notified by the Member States and published under national procedures. Their references shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union.

If standards have not yet been harmonised, Member States should take measures to ensure that their competent administrative authorities regard electrical equipment as complying with the safety objectives of the Directive if the electrical equipment complies with the safety provisions of the International Commission on the Rules for the Approval of Electrical Equipment (CEEel) or of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).

If harmonised standards or safety provisions do not yet exist, Member States shall take measures to ensure that their competent administrative authorities regard electrical equipment as complying with the safety objectives of the Directive if the electrical equipment is in accordance with the safety standards in force in the Member State of manufacture.

Placing on the market

Before placing electrical equipment on the market:

  • the manufacturer or his authorised representative established in the European Union must affix the “CE” marking to each product and draw up a written “EC” declaration of conformity;
  • the manufacturer must establish the technical documentation.

The “EC” declaration of conformity must contain:

  • the name and address of the manufacturer or his authorised representative established in the European Union;
  • a description of the electrical equipment;
  • a reference to the harmonised standards;
  • if required, references to the specifications with which conformity is declared;
  • identification of the signatory who has been empowered to enter into commitments on behalf of the manufacturer or his authorised representative established in the European Union;
  • the last two digits of the year in which the “CE” marking was affixed.

Safeguard

If, for safety reasons, a Member State prohibits the placing on the market of any electrical equipment or impedes its free movement, it shall inform the Commission and the other Member States concerned.

The Directive codifies and repeals Directive 73/23/EEC .

Electrical safety: low-voltage electrical equipment

European Union policy on the sale of electrical equipment designed for use within certain voltage limits aims to ensure high levels of protection of health and safety of persons, and of domestic animals and property.

Directive 2014/35/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014 on the harmonisation of the laws of the Member States relating to the making available on the market of electrical equipment designed for use within certain voltage limits.

European Union policy on the sale of electrical equipment designed for use within certain voltage limits aims to ensure high levels of protection of health and safety of persons, and of domestic animals and property.

Key Points

The directive creates uniform conditions throughout the EU for the sale of electrical equipment designed for use within certain voltage limits. It applies to electrical equipment designed for use with a voltage rating of between 50 and 1 000 V for alternating current and between 75 and 1 500 V for direct current.

It covers all health and safety risks, thus ensuring that electrical equipment is used safely and for the applications for which it was made.

The directive lays down the responsibilities of manufacturers, importers and distributors in regard to the sale of electrical equipment designed for use within certain voltage limits:

all electrical equipment on sale in the EU must bear the CE conformity marking to show it meets all the essential safety requirements of EU legislation;
before obtaining the CE marking, the manufacturer must conduct a safety and conformity assessment, establish the technical documentation demonstrating the compliance of the equipment and issue and sign a EU declaration of conformity;
importers must check whether manufacturers have carried out the conformity assessment procedure correctly and inform the authority monitoring safety if they consider that equipment does not conform to the essential safety requirements;
the EU declaration of conformity and the technical documentation must be kept for 10 years;
instructions and safety information must be written in a language easily understood by end users as determined by the national authority concerned;
manufacturers and importers must indicate their contact details on their electrical equipment;

In addition, the directive specifies the steps to be taken by national authorities who monitor safety to identify and prevent the sale of dangerous electrical equipment in the EU.

Application & Background

This directive applies from 20 April 2016. It repeals Directive 2006/95/EC with effect from 20 April 2016.

The directive updates EU rules for the sale of electrical equipment designed for use within certain voltage limits. This is part of the effort to modernise EU law in a wide variety of industrial sectors in order to reduce administrative burdens and to establish clearer and more consistent rules.

Further information is available on the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs website.

References

Directive 2014/35/EU

Electromagnetic compatibility of electrical and electronic apparatus

Directive 2004/108/EC aims to harmonise the provisions of national law ensuring the protection of equipment * against electromagnetic disturbance *. The Directive is based on the principles of the “new approach” to technical harmonization and standards. In accordance with this new approach, the design and manufacture of equipment is subject to essential requirements in relation to electromagnetic compatibility *.

ACT

Directive 2004/108/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 December 2004 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to

Electromagnetic compatibility

and repealing Directive 89/336/EEC.

The purpose of this Directive is to regulate the electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) of equipment *.

It aims to harmonise the provisions of national law ensuring the protection of equipment against electromagnetic disturbance in order to guarantee the free movement of electrical and electronic apparatus within the internal market.

The “EMC Directive” also seeks to create an electromagnetic environment in the EU, without lowering justified levels of protection in the Member States.

In accordance with the principles of the ” new approach ” to technical harmonization and standards, the design and manufacture of equipment is subject to essential requirements in relation to electromagnetic compatibility.

Scope

The Directive applies to equipment, i.e. apparatus * and fixed installations *. Member States shall take all appropriate measures to ensure that equipment placed on the market and/or put into service complies with the requirements of the Directive. At the same time, Member States shall not impede the placing on the market and/or the putting into service in their territory of equipment which complies with the Directive.

The “EMC Directive” shall not apply to:

  • equipment covered by Directive 1999/5/EC on radio equipment and telecommunications terminal equipment;
  • aeronautical products, parts and appliances as referred to in Regulation (EC) No 1592/2002;
  • radio equipment used by radio amateurs within the meaning of the Radio Regulations adopted by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU);
  • equipment which, by its very nature, is incapable of generating electromagnetic emissions which exceed a level allowing radio and telecommunication equipment and other equipment to operate as intended;
  • equipment which, by its very nature, operates without unacceptable degradation in the presence of the electromagnetic disturbance normally consequent upon its intended use.

Essential requirements

Some of the provisions of the Directive apply in common to both apparatus * and fixed installations *. This is especially the case for the provisions on essential requirements in terms of generic electromagnetic protection. These stipulate that equipment should be designed and manufactured in such a way that:

  • the electromagnetic disturbance generated does not exceed the level above which radio and telecommunications equipment or other equipment cannot operate as intended;
  • it has a level of immunity to electromagnetic disturbance which allows it to operate without unacceptable degradation of its intended use.

Conformity assessment

A distinction is made between apparatus and fixed installations, particularly with regard to the procedure forassessing conformity with the essential requirements of the directive. For apparatus, it is up to the manufacturer to assess compliance with the requirements of the directive, in accordance with a specific procedure. The conformity has to be demonstrated through a technical file and attested through the issue of a declaration of conformity. Apparatus which complies and can be placed on the European market shall bear the ” CE” marking.

Manufacturers are at liberty to request the assistance of a notified body. Notified bodies can issue certificates confirming compliance with the essential requirements of the directive.

Such formalised conformity assessment procedures were not considered appropriate for fixed installations (such as electricity distribution networks and telecommunications networks). Nor are they obliged to bear the CE marking. However, these fixed installations should be set up in accordance with good engineering practice and documentation which is made available to the competent national authorities. Where there are elements indicating non-compliance by the fixed installation (particularly where there are complaints about disturbances being generated), the competent national authorities may request evidence of compliance by the fixed installation, or initiate an assessment. Where non-compliance is established, the competent authorities may impose appropriate measures to bring the fixed installation into compliance with the essential requirements.

Apparatus which may be incorporated into a fixed installation is subject to all relevant provisions for apparatus. However, in the case of apparatus specifically intended to be incorporated into a fixed installation and not otherwise commercially available, it is not compulsory to apply the provisions on:

  • the essential requirements ;
  • the conformity assessment procedure;
  • the “CE” marking;
  • the provision of product information.

Product information

In accordance with Decision 93/465/EEC, each apparatus shall be accompanied by information (such as type or batch number) allowing the product to be clearly identified, including the name and address of the manufacturer. The manufacturer shall provide information on any specific precautions that have to be taken when the apparatus is assembled, installed, maintained or used. If the manufacturer is not established within the EU, the apparatus shall be accompanied by the name and address of his authorised representative or the person in the Community responsible for placing the apparatus on the Community market.

Repeal of Directive 89/336/EEC

Directive 2004/108/EC repeals Directive 89/336/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to electromagnetic compatibility as from 20 July 2007.

References

Act Entry into force Deadline for transposition in the Member States Official Journal
Directive 2004/108/EC [adoption : Codecision COD/2002/0306] 20.01.2005 20.01.2007 OJ L 390 of 31.12.2004

Reducing interference between electrical and electronic devices

Directive 2014/30/EU on electromagnetic compatibility

— It aims to ensure that electrical and electronic equipment complies with an adequate level of electromagnetic compatibility.
— It lays down uniform rules to ensure protection against electromagnetic disturbance so as to guarantee the free movement of electrical and electronic equipment within the EU’s internal market.
— The equipment covered by this directive includes both apparatus and fixed installations.
—

It does not apply to:
— radio and telecommunications terminal equipment;
—aircraft or equipment intended to be fitted in aircraft;
— custom-built evaluation kits for professional use at research and development facilities;
— radio equipment used by radio amateurs, unless the equipment is made available on the market.

Key Points

The directive defines the responsibilities of manufacturers, importers and distributors in regard to the sale of electromagnetic equipment.

— All apparatus on sale in the EU must bear the CE conformity marking to show it meets all the essential requirements of EU legislation.
—Before obtaining the CE marking, the manufacturer must conduct a conformity assessment and establish the technical documentation for the equipment. Equipment placed on the market for incorporation into a given fixed installation is exempt from this assessment.
— Importers must check whether manufacturers have carried out conformity assessments correctly and inform the national body responsible for market surveillance if they consider that equipment does not conform with the essential requirements.
— All necessary documentation must be kept for 10 years.
— Manufacturers may use electronic means to demonstrate conformity in a language easily understood by the competent national authority.
— Manufacturers and importers must indicate their postal address on the apparatus.
In addition, the directive specifies how national authorities must identify apparatus which is not in conformity with the essential requirements and prevent it from being put on the market.

Application & Background

This directive entered into force on 18 April 2014 and is applicable from 20 April 2016. It repeals Directive 2004/108/EC.

The directive updates EU rules on placing electromagnetic equipment on the market. This is part of the effort to modernise EU law in a wide variety of industrial sectors so as to simplify the rules, reduce administrative burdens and establish clearer and more consistent rules.

Electromagnetic compatibility
Directive 2014/30/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014 on the harmonisation of the laws of the Member States relating to electromagnetic compatibility (OJ L 96, 29.3.2014, pp. 79-106)

RELATED ACT

Directive 2004/108/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 December 2004 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to electromagnetic compatibility and repealing Directive 89/336/EEC (OJ L 390, 31.12.2004, pp. 24-37)

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