EUROPEAN SAFETY REQUIREMENTS

1. Introduction

The European Low Voltage Directive, 73/23/EEC, was adopted by the Council on 19 February 1973 with the aim of harmonizing the laws of the Member States relating to electrical equipment designed for use within certain voltage limits.

In 1993 that Directive was amended by Directive 93/68/EEC, the so-called “CE Marking Directive”, solely in respect of the procedures for conformity assessment and conformity marking. The objective of this amendment was to align the provisions concerning conformity assessment and the CE marking of electrical equipment on those introduced for the “new approach” directives. The provisions introduced by the amendment mentioned became mandatory with effect from 1 January 1997.

The “Low Voltage” Directive is a “total” harmonization directive in the sense that it has superseded existing national regulations in the field covered: electrical equipment may only be put on the market if it is in conformity with the requirements of the Directive and, on the other hand, Member States may not impede free circulation or the marketing of conforming equipment.

2. SCOPE OF THE LOW VOLTAGE DIRECTIVE

The Directive applies to all electrical equipment designed for use with a voltage rating of between 50 and 1000 V for alternating current and between 75 and 1500V for direct current. Voltage ratings refer to the voltage of the electrical input or output, not to voltages, which may appear inside the equipment.

Battery operated equipment outside the voltage rating is obviously outside the scope of the LVD. Nevertheless, the accompanying battery-charger as well as equipment with integrated power supply unit within the voltage ranges of the Directive are in the scope of the LVD. This applies also, in the case of battery-operated equipment with supply voltage rating under 50 V AC and 75 V DC, for their accompanying power supply unit (e.g. Notebooks).

Information Technology Equipment (ITE) comes under the scope of the Directive.

2.1 Components

Generally, the scope of the Directive includes both electrical equipment intended for incorporation into other equipment and equipment intended to be used directly without being incorporated.

2.2 Ensuring Conformity

Products are presumed to conform to the safety objectives of the “Low Voltage” Directive where the equipment has been manufactured in accordance with technical standards, which, in the order laid down by the Directive, are as follows:

European standards (EN or HD), which are referred to as harmonized standards in the Directive, drawn up in accordance with Article 5 by the bodies notified by the Member States (in fact, these are standards made by CENELEC);
Where standards as defined in Article 5 have not yet been drawn up and published, international rules issued by the two international bodies, the International Commission on the rules for the approval of electrical equipment or the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) (Article 6(1)), and published in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 6(2) and
Where standards as defined in Article 5 or international standards as defined in Article 6 do not yet exist, the national standards of the Member State of manufacturer (Article 7).

The presumption of conformity provided by harmonized standards arises at the moment of national publication of standards, according to article 5; the listing in the Official Journal of the EC is only for information

2.3 Low Voltage Directive Guidelines

A copy of the Low Voltage Directive guidelines may be found at http://europa.eu.int
These guidelines provide information on:

The scope of the ”Low Voltage” Directive
The safety requirements applicable
The conformity assessment procedure applicable
The relationships with certain other Directives
Conformity assessment procedure
Technical documentation
Declaration of conformity
CE marking

2.4 Safety Standard

The harmonized standard within the EU for ITE is EN 60950. This standard is based on IEC 60950 but does contain national differences.

2.5 Sources of Information

Existing standards are often amended, and new harmonized standards are constantly being added. It is the manufacturer's responsibility to apply the correct standards. The EU's official list of LVD harmonized standards are available directly from: http://europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/newapproach/

The UK’s DTI also has a useful guide, at: http://www.dti.gov.uk/strd/strdpubs.htm under the obscure heading “Product Standards”.

2.6 Low Voltage Directive

A copy of the Low Voltage Directive (73/23/EEC) may be found at the official EU web site, http://europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/newapproach/

If it's really URGENT

Call any time on: +61 418 566 466

EMC Technologies - Victoria (Head Office)

176 Harrick Road Keilor Park Victoria 3042 Australia
Ph: +61 3 9365 1000 Fax: +61 3 9331 7455

EMC Technologies - New Zealand

47 MacKelvie Street, Grey Lynn, Auckland New Zealand Ph: + 64 93600 862 Fax: + 64 93600 861

EMC Technologies - New South Wales

Unit 3, 87 Station Road, Seven Hills NSW 2147 Australia Ph: + 612 9624 2777 Fax: + 612 9838 4050

EMC Technologies - Queensland

Unit 1 / 15 Success Street, Acacia Ridge 4110 Qld Australia Ph: + 617 3875 2455 Fax: + 617 3875 2466