LVD guideline - en - 图文

GUIDELINES ON THE APPLICATION OF DIRECTIVE 2006/95/EC (ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT DESIGNED FOR USE WITHIN CERTAIN VOLTAGE LIMITS)

AUGUST 2007 (Last Modified: January 2012)

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Dear User,

The provisions of the Low Voltage Directive (LVD) 2006/95/EC have been in force for thirty years and have been pivotal in promoting the Single Market for electrical equipment in Europe and assuring that citizens are provided with a high level of protection.

I am therefore very pleased to have been asked to introduce this third edition of the LVD Guidelines, which seeks to provide a “user friendly” reference to issues regarding the Directive. The fact that it is not greatly different from previous editions shows that consensus has been relatively easily achieved in this sector and there exits a stability of understanding as to how the Directive needs to be applied in practical terms. The main purpose of the amendments is to deal with the codification of the previous Directive 73/23/EEC and the interface with the “new” Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC. It highlights the editorial corrigendum1 to Directive 93/68/EC, that clarifies Article 10 (1) regarding the placing of the CE marking and also touches upon the interface with the General Product Safety Directive 2001/95/EC, reflecting guidance issued by DG SANCO.

Whilst stakeholders should note that this text is not legally binding in the sense of legal acts in the Community, it does provide a very good insight into the views of those stakeholders – representatives from the member states, industry, users, standardisation and notified bodies – who were involved in its development.

Any further suggestions on the content of the guidelines are most welcome.

Luis Montoya

(Head of Unit I/4, DG Enterprise and Industry) August 2007

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See corrigendum in OJ L299/32 of 28.10.2006.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

SECTION I SECTION II SECTION III SECTION IV Safety requirements for placing on the EU market electrical equipment covered by the “LOW VOLTAGE” Directive Scope of the “LOW VOLTAGE” Directive Introduction The “LOW VOLTAGE” Directive (Paragraphs 5-6) (Paragraphs 7-12) (Paragraphs 13-19) (Paragraphs 1-4) SECTION V SECTION VI ANNEX I ANNEX II ANNEX III Criteria applied for the allocation of products covered by standards in the EN 60335 series under LVD or MD Conformity assessment procedures under the “LOW VOLTAGE” Directive (Paragraphs 20-27) Relationship between the “LOW VOLTAGE” Directive and certain other Union Directives (Paragraphs 28-39) Additional Information Examples of products within or outside the scope of LVD 3

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INTRODUCTION

These guidelines have been prepared with a view to assist all parties2 directly or indirectly involved in the application of Directive 2006/95/EC, the \Voltage\Directive3. They supersede guidance on the application of that Directive which was given in the Commission’s communication of 15 December 19814 and the “Guidelines on the application of Council Directive 73/23/EEC” of February 2001.

They have been drawn up by European Commission services and discussed with a Working Party of Government Experts, representatives of European industry, consumer protection organisations and European standardisation bodies. These guidelines, which are updated when necessary, reflect the consensus views reached between Commission services and representatives of the Member States in the LVD Working Party and LVD ADCO.

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Readers' attention is drawn to the fact that this Guide is intended only for facilitating the application of the “Low Voltage” Directive and it is the text of the Directive that is legally binding.

This document is not a legally binding interpretation of the Directive. However, it represents a reference for ensuring consistent application of the Directive by all those involved.

These guidelines are not exhaustive: they focus on certain issues only, which, in the light of the experience, are of direct and specific interest for the application of the “Low Voltage” Directive. They are intended to complement the “Guide to the implementation of Union harmonisation directives”, edition 20005, as far as issues related in particular to the application of this Directive are concerned. In particular, for the definitions of concepts like “placing on the market”, “manufacturer”, authorised representative”, “importer or person responsible for placing the product on the market”, the Guide mentioned above should be consulted.

The issues covered by these guidelines are:

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By virtue of the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA), electrical equipment that complies with the

Low Voltage Directive also benefits from free movement in Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. The same is true in Switzerland by virtue of the mutual recognition agreement with the EU and in Turkey by virtue of the EU-Turkey Customs Union. So the relevant references of the Low Voltage Directive and its Guide should be read in conjunction with these Agreements.

3. 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) OJEU L 374, 27.12.2006 4

OJ L 374, 27.12.2006, p. 10–19 5

European Commission “Guide to the implementation of directives based on the new approach and the global approach – 2000 Edition” - Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities - ISBN 92-828-7500-8. The catalogue number is CO-22-99-014-EN-C. It can be obtained through sale points of the Official Journal of the EC.

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the scope of the ”Low Voltage” Directive the safety requirements applicable

the conformity assessment procedure applicable, including CE marking the relationships with certain other Directives.

Reader’s attention is drawn to the fact that certain products subject to the “Low Voltage” Directive are also subject to other directives. In order to be allowed on the EU market these products must comply also with the provisions of those directives. These guidelines refer to the application of the “Low Voltage” Directive and clarify the relationship between that Directive and certain other directives.

Additional documents which relate to the application of the new approach directives or of the Low-Voltage Directive are available on the Commission website (see Annex I).

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