DIRECTIVE 2014/35/EU: LOW-VOLTAGE EQUIPMENT

The EU Member States take all measures to ensure that only electrical equipment manufactured at a good engineering level in accordance with the safety regulations in force in the EU is supplied to their market. Electrical equipment should not pose a threat to the safety of people, pets and property, provided that it has been properly installed, properly maintained and used for its intended purpose. One of the measures adopted for this purpose is Directive 2014/35/EU.

Scope of application

The Directive applies to low-voltage equipment put into circulation in the EU, which is intended for use at rated voltages from 50 to 1000 V (inclusive) of alternating current and from 75 to 1500 V (inclusive) of direct current. The list of this equipment is given below.

The scope of the directive does not include:

  • Electrical equipment that is intended for use in an explosive atmosphere
  • Special electrical equipment that is intended for use on ships, aircraft and railways, in accordance with safety regulations
  • Electrical equipment for radiology and medical purposes
  • Electrical parts of products and passenger elevators
  • Electric meters
  • Household plugs and sockets
  • Electric fence regulators
  • Radio and electrical interference
  • Conformity assessment
  • Electrical equipment undergoes conformity assessment in the form of internal production control. This is the procedure by which the manufacturer or his representative ensures that the electrical equipment meets the requirements of this Directive. The manufacturer applies the CE marking to each product and draws up a written declaration of conformity.
In addition, the manufacturer must prepare the technical documentation described in paragraph 3 of the Directive and keep it for at least 10 years from the last date of manufacture of the product. The documentation makes it possible to assess that the electrical equipment meets the requirements of this Directive. To do this, it must be sufficiently complete, covering aspects of the design, manufacture and operation of equipment.

How to get a certificate

Only accredited bodies can issue a certificate of conformity.
The procedure for obtaining a certificate includes the following steps:
Preparation of documentation (experts study the application and the attached technical documentation for the products)
Conducting tests and drawing up a protocol:
The selected samples are sent to our accredited laboratories for testing
The tests are carried out according to the standards set out in the European Directive)
Customer consultation at all stages of work (experts take into account the specifics of each order)
Registration of the certificate
What is the advantage of getting a certificate?
The applicant, having issued a certificate for the product, immediately receives the following advantages:
There is no need to issue a document for each country separately
Significant reduction in the time required to complete the certification procedure
Acceleration of trade turnover between states, which has a positive impact on their economies
A significant increase in sales for his company and the emergence of new development prospects