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The Low Voltage Directive (safety of electrical materials):
regulations, standards and practical application

■ On 1 January 1997, a new aspect of CE marking came into force in European Union countries: the safety of electrical products, standardised by the “Low Voltage Directive” (LVD) 73/23/CEE and applied according to the conditions modified by Directive 93/68/CEE.

All industrial sectors that make and use electrical products are concerned by this regulation. The main requirements that products have to satisfy concern electrical safety and other aspects. Standards, to be chosen from published lists, must be applied by manufacturers, which have to compile a Technical Dossier to prove the product’s conformity and consequently write a CE Declaration.

All elements of these new European regulations are presented and analysed: the different European directives, their transposition into National Law (Decree 95-1081 in France), European and national standards and their practical application, manufacturers’ obligations and their technical and legal responsibilities (infractions and sanctions), specialised technological resources, the Technical Dossier, the Declaration and the CE mark. The majority of products concerned are also subject to the EMC Directive (Electromagnetic Compatibility): a connection between LVD and EMC compliance has been established for consistency.